Snake Venom Peptides That Inspired and Could Inspire Heart Disease Drugs
Snake venoms contain multiple peptide classes — including natriuretic peptides, bradykinin-potentiating peptides, and disintegrins — that target the cardiovascular system and have already inspired drugs like captopril.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Snake venoms contain multiple cardiovascular-active peptide classes: PLA2, natriuretic peptides, bradykinin-potentiating peptides, CRISPs, disintegrins, fibrinolytic enzymes, and three-finger toxins, with mechanisms including vasorelaxation, anti-platelet activity, and cardioprotection.
Key Numbers
7 molecule classes; effects: vasorelaxation, platelet inhibition, cardioprotection; captopril derived from BPPs
How They Did This
Narrative review of snake venom components targeting the cardiovascular system, their molecular targets, and mechanisms of action.
Why This Research Matters
Snake venom already gave us one of medicine's most important drug classes (ACE inhibitors). The remaining venom peptides represent a rich, largely untapped pipeline for new cardiovascular therapeutics.
The Bigger Picture
Venom-derived drugs represent a proven drug discovery pathway. With advanced proteomics and synthesis techniques, the remaining cardiovascular peptides in snake venom could yield the next generation of anti-hypertensive, anti-thrombotic, and cardioprotective medications.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Narrative review with no new data. Most venom peptides discussed are in preclinical stages. Translation from venom components to stable, safe drugs remains challenging.
Questions This Raises
- ?Which snake venom peptides are closest to clinical development for cardiovascular indications?
- ?Could snake venom natriuretic peptides improve on existing natriuretic peptide drugs like nesiritide?
- ?Can venom-derived disintegrins be developed into safer anti-clotting drugs than current options?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 7 cardiovascular peptide classes Snake venoms contain at least 7 distinct molecular classes targeting the heart and blood vessels, including the peptide that inspired ACE inhibitors
- Evidence Grade:
- Not applicable (narrative review). Covers a range of evidence from well-established (captopril) to early preclinical (novel venom peptides).
- Study Age:
- Published 2021. Venom-based cardiovascular drug discovery continues with modern proteomic and synthetic biology approaches.
- Original Title:
- Snake Venom Components: Tools and Cures to Target Cardiovascular Diseases.
- Published In:
- Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 26(8) (2021)
- Authors:
- Frangieh, Jacinthe, Rima, Mohamad, Fajloun, Ziad, Henrion, Daniel, Sabatier, Jean-Marc, Legros, Christian, Mattei, César
- Database ID:
- RPEP-05389
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Are there really heart drugs made from snake venom?
Yes. Captopril, the first ACE inhibitor, was developed from a peptide found in Brazilian pit viper venom. ACE inhibitors are now among the most commonly prescribed medications for high blood pressure and heart failure, used by millions of people worldwide.
What other heart drugs could come from snake venom?
Snake venoms contain natriuretic peptides (for blood pressure), disintegrins (for blood clot prevention), and fibrinolytic enzymes (for dissolving clots). These represent an active pipeline for developing new cardiovascular medications.
Read More on RethinkPeptides
Cite This Study
https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/RPEP-05389APA
Frangieh, Jacinthe; Rima, Mohamad; Fajloun, Ziad; Henrion, Daniel; Sabatier, Jean-Marc; Legros, Christian; Mattei, César. (2021). Snake Venom Components: Tools and Cures to Target Cardiovascular Diseases.. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 26(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26082223
MLA
Frangieh, Jacinthe, et al. "Snake Venom Components: Tools and Cures to Target Cardiovascular Diseases.." Molecules (Basel, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26082223
RethinkPeptides
RethinkPeptides Research Database. "Snake Venom Components: Tools and Cures to Target Cardiovasc..." RPEP-05389. Retrieved from https://rethinkpeptides.com/research/frangieh-2021-snake-venom-components-tools
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkPeptides research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.