American Society of Hirudotherapy

Biochemical and biological characterization of the venoms of Bothriopsis bilineata and Bothriopsis taeniata (Serpentes: Viperidae)

Research article published in Toxicon (2007)

Last Updated: June 18, 2026Reviewed by: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Observational studyDrug DevelopmentPorto BN et al. · Toxicon, 2007

Abstract

Snake venom is a complex mixture containing diverse protein components with different structures and functions that are used for prey immobilization and death. Snake venoms from the family Viperidae cause pronounced local and systemic effects, such as pain, edema, hemorrhage and necrosis. Here, we investigated the enzymatic and biological activities of venoms from two Amazonian snakes, Bothriopsis bilineata and Bothriopsis taeniata. Both venoms presented high enzymatic activities for proteases kallikrein, thrombin and plasmin, low levels of trypsin, cathepsin C and leucine aminopeptidase activities, while lacked acetylcholinesterase activity. B. taeniata and B. bilineata crude venoms caused inflammation inducing neutrophil recruitment into peritoneal cavity of mice 4h after injection. Neutrophil recruitment induced by B. taeniata venom was accompanied by hemorrhage. EDTA treatment profoundly impaired neutrophil recruitment, suggesting the involvement of a metalloproteinase on venoms-induced neutrophil recruitment. Pretreatment with dexamethasone and zileuton, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, significantly reduced neutrophil migration, but indomethacin and montelukast, a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, had no effect, suggesting the involvement of lipoxygenase-derived metabolites, probably LTB(4). Together, these results show that B. bilineata and B. taeniata venoms induce a marked inflammatory reaction, with leukocyte recruitment, and hemorrhage, which parallels to a high proteolytic activity found in these venoms.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Publication typeComparative StudyJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Indexed MeSH termsAnimalsBothropsCell MovementCrotalid VenomsEdetic AcidFreeze DryingInflammationMiceMice, Inbred C57BLNeutrophil InfiltrationNeutrophilsSouth America

Summary

Biochemical and biological characterization of the venoms of Bothriopsis bilineata and Bothriopsis taeniata (Serpentes: Viperidae).

Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy

This comparative study examined the enzymatic and biological activities of venoms from two Amazonian viper snakes, Bothriopsis bilineata and Bothriopsis taeniata. The abstract reports that both venoms exhibited high proteolytic activity and induced inflammatory reactions with neutrophil recruitment in mice, with hemorrhage observed specifically accompanying B. taeniata venom-induced neutrophil recruitment. EDTA treatment profoundly impaired neutrophil recruitment, suggesting the involvement of a metalloproteinase in venoms-induced neutrophil recruitment. The study is entirely focused on snake venom pathology and contains no leech-related data, offering no direct relevance to hirudotherapy or the leech secretome.

Citation

Biochemical and biological characterization of the venoms of Bothriopsis bilineata and Bothriopsis taeniata (Serpentes: Viperidae)

Porto BN et al. · Toxicon, 2007

DOI

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