Biochemical and biological activities of the venom of a new species of pitviper from Vietnam, Triceratolepidophis sieversorum.
Biochemical and biological activities of a venom sample from a recently discovered new genus and species of pitviper from Vietnam, Triceratolepidophis sieversorum, were assayed and compared with those of five other viperid snakes (Bothrops asper, Crotalus atrox, Protobothrops flavoviridis, Trimeresurus insularis, and Vipera ammodytes). The venom had high casein hydrolysis, arginine ester hydrolysis and haemorrhagic activities, lacked measurable phosphodiesterase and L-amino acid oxidase activities, and had no procoagulant activity on either bovine fibrinogen or human plasma. Other enzymatic activities (phospholipase A(2), kallikrein) were moderate. The approximate i.p. LD(50) (mice) of the venom is about 5-6 mg/kg.
Mebs
Dietrich
D
Zentrum de Rechtsmedizin, University of Frankfurt, Kennedyallee 104, D-60596, Frankfurt, Germany. mebs@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Kuch
Ulrich
U
Herrmann
Hans Werner
HW
Ziegler
Thomas
T
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism; D002364:Caseins / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004952:Esters; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000378:metabolism; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014744:Vietnam; D017819:Viperidae / Q000502:physiology*
D002364:Caseins; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D004952:Esters; D001120:Arginine; D010741:Phospholipases A; D007610:Kallikreins