The relaxant effect of the Montivipera bornmuelleri snake venom on vascular contractility

Molecular richness of snake venoms is an important source of proteins and toxins with potent effects on the cardiovascular system. The alteration of the vascular system in the victim after a venomous snake bite is usually expressed by a significant decrease in blood pressure. Therefore, exploring snake venom to extract and characterize its biomolecules is of considerable medical interest, and formed the basis of this study. We assessed the potential of the venom of Montivipera bornmuelleri, a viper from Lebanon, to induce relaxant effect on isolated Wistar rat aorta via several mechanisms of action. The overall hypotensive effect of Montivipera bornmuelleri venom results from its synergetic action on different channels for the reduction of blood pressure. By actions of its metalloproteinases and phospholipase A2, the venom may induce the production of nitric oxide acting accordingly a vasodilator effect. It could act on the voltage-dependent potassium channels and/or the L-type calcium channels, inhibiting angiotensin converting enzyme and/or inhibiting the α1-adrenoceptors. This work demonstrates vasorelaxant effect of the Montivipera bornmuelleri venom acting on different pathways, reducing blood pressure.