Occurrence of non-protein low molecular weight cardiotoxin in Indian King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) Cantor 1836, venom.
Pathophysiology due to snakebite is a combined effect of various actions of the complex venom constituents. Importance of protein toxins in snake envenomation is well known. The present investigation reports the existence of nonprotein/nonpetide low molecular weight toxin in Indian King Cobra venom, which plays an important role in envenomation consequences in experimental animal models. A group of non-peptidic toxins (OH-NPT1) was isolated from Indian King Cobra Ophiophagus hannah by thin layer chromatography and silica gel column chromatography. UV, IR, NMR and (ESI) TOF-MS studies characterized the OH-NPT1 as a mixture of aliphatic acids having molecular weights 256, 326 and 340Da. The minimum lethal dose of OH-NPT1 was found to be 2.5 microg/20g (iv) and 4microg/20g (ip) in male albino mice. The cardiotoxic property of OH-NPT1 was established through studies on isolated guinea pig heart and auricle preparations, ECG studies in albino rat and estimation of LDH1/LDH and CPK-MB/CPK ratio in Swiss albino mice. Commercial antiserum failed to neutralize the lethality and cardiotoxicity of the toxin. However, calcium and magnesium effectively neutralized the lethal action.
Saha
Archita
A
Laboratory of Toxinology and Experimental Pharmacodynamics, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India.
Gomes
Aparna
A
Giri
B
B
Chakravarty
A K
AK
Biswas
A K
AK
Dasgupta
S C
SC
Gomes
A
A
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D004179:Cobra Cardiotoxin Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D004546:Elapid Venoms / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D017815:Elapidae; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D004179:Cobra Cardiotoxin Proteins; D004546:Elapid Venoms; D011506:Proteins