(IN): Cobra venom can provide cure for cancer

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Link: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1115033

 

Cobra venom can provide cure for cancer

PTI

Sunday, August 12, 2007 11:01 IS

 

NEW DELHI: The poisonous venom of snakes like the black cobra and viper may

provide a possible cure for cancer, according to a new research.

 

A team of scientists at the Drug Development Division in the India Institute

of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, has found that proteins present in snake venom

can be used to prepare anti-cancer drugs.

 

The scientists are now trying to single out the proteins in the venom that

have anti-cancer properties and inhibit the growth of malignant cells.

 

" The research can provide clues for development of anti-cancer drugs and our

team is working on developing such drugs, " Aparna Gomes, who led the team,

told.

 

The scientists studied the anti-carcinogenic activities in the crude venom

of Indian Monocellate Cobra and Russell's Viper on cancer of the skin,

tumour (soft tissues) and blood in mice.

 

" Snake venom is a complex mixture of several toxic proteins and enzymes.

These proteins not only inflict death to human beings, but can also be used

for the treatment of cancer and many other diseases, " Gomes said.

 

The study published in the Journal of Ethnophamacology gives an overview of

various snake venom components that have prospects in health and diseases.

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