What are the dangers of snake venom?

I believe everyone is very clear about the harm of snake venom, because we often hear about people who have been bitten by venomous snakes. If they do not seek medical treatment in time after being bitten by venomous snakes, delaying the treatment will cause death. This is because the snake venom in their bodies has begun to be slowly absorbed, which will cause their internal organs to slowly fail, and eventually even their breathing will fail.

Snake venom is a toxic protein and polypeptide substance secreted by venomous snakes that contains a variety of enzymes. It is also the substance that causes poisoning reactions after venomous snakes bite people. Fresh snake venom is a viscous liquid like egg white with a slightly fishy smell. It is yellow, light yellow, green, or even colorless. It has a neutral or weakly acidic reaction when fresh, and becomes alkaline after being left for a while. The water content is 50%~75%, and the specific gravity is between 1.030~1.080. Fresh venom tends to produce foam when it comes into contact with air and tends to spoil and lose its toxicity if left at room temperature for 24 hours. It can be kept in the refrigerator for 15 to 30 days, and can be stored for a longer time at -40℃. Snake venom that has been vacuum-dried or freeze-dried can be stored at room temperature for 20 to 30 years, but the toxicity and activity of some enzymes will be reduced to varying degrees, and it can still dissolve in water. The toxicity of snake venom disappears after exposure to ultraviolet light and heating. Any strong acid, strong alkali and heavy metal salt that can precipitate and denature protein can destroy snake venom. Snake venom is also easily decomposed and destroyed by oxidants, reductants, proteolytic enzymes, etc., thereby losing its toxicity. After being treated with formaldehyde, it will lose its toxicity, but the antigens will still be retained.

The highly toxic substances produced by venomous snakes to kill their prey are not produced by them in order to survive, but are mysteriously concocted by nature in them. They are divided into neurotoxins and hemolytic venoms. Neurotoxins are mainly secreted by an African tree cobra, and hemolytic toxins are mainly produced by vipers (pit vipers) and rattlesnakes. Hemolytic venom is more effective than neurotoxins, and it takes effect almost immediately on prey such as rodents.

The characteristic of snake venom is its complex composition. The toxic components of venom secreted by different snake species, subspecies, and even the same snake in different seasons still vary to a certain extent. Snake venom is separated and purified, and its main components are currently known to include neurotoxins, cardiotoxins, coagulant toxins, hemorrhagic toxins and enzymes. In addition, it also contains some small molecule peptides, amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleosides, biogenic amines and metal ions; some of them have biological activity or are related to biological activity. After snake venom is purified, its toxic components can be 5 to 20 times greater than crude venom, and the toxic components are also different.

The above article explains to us in detail the dangers of snake venom. In fact, snake venom is a highly toxic protein secreted from the body of a venomous snake. The venom can kill people and gradually destroy people's internal organs and even cause tissue necrosis.