The
medicinal value
of venoms has been known from ancient times. The active principles in venoms have been extensively investigated for their target specificity. Affinity for the primary sites responsible for lethality and efficacy at extremely low concentrations made these agents valuable tools or surrogates for basic biomedical research. The therapeutic effects of these agents are usually achieved by mechanisms that are different from that of conventional therapeutic agents. In the present paper, nonherbal natural therapeutic alternatives approved by the FDA, those that have undergone extensive clinical evaluation and shown promise in preclinical evaluation, or those that are isolated in pure form or subjected for the treatment to venoms are reviewed. These agents are suggested for the treatment of various diseases, including inflammatory, hematological, autoimmune, infectious, cardiovascular, malignant, neuromuscular, and psychotic diseases.
