Abstract

COAGULATION STUDIES OF BUNGARUS CAERULEUS VENOM IN-VIVO

Sheeja S Rajan a*, Albert Rajendran a, B.S Viswanath b, J.P Jose Merlin c

aResearch Department of Zoology, St. Johns College, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu,India.

bDepartment of studies in Biochemistry, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore,Karnataka, India.

cResearch Department of Zoology, Muslim Arts College, Thiruvithancode, Nagercoil,Tamilnadu, India.

Abstract

Bungarus caeruleus is a venomous snake that is responsible for most of the snakebites in India. In the present study, we report the coagulative study of B. caeruleus venom. The purpose of this study was to characterize the coagulation in crude krait venom. The results of this study indicate that hydrolysis of human fibrinogen, hydrolysis of casein and hydrolysis of gelatin. B. caeruleus venom proteases hydrolyse A and B subunits of human fibrinogen. B. caeruleus venom upon re-calcification of citrated human plasma induces clot formation and reduces the clotting time. B. caeruleus venom also reduces the prothrombin time. These data indicates the involvement of B. caeruleus venom in inducing clot formation by activating Factors X and / or subsequent clotting factors in the down stream of coagulation pathway.

Keywords: Bungarus caeruleus, coagulation, fibrinogen, thrombin, prothrombin and recalcification.