New drug containing nitric oxide boosts snakebite survival time

Washington, June 27 : A new study has shown that a class of compounds called nitric oxide donors delays the entry of toxins from potentially deadly snakebites.
Australian researchers, who conducted experiments on humans and mice, revealed that rubbing snakebites with an ointment that slows the functioning of lymph glands could boost survival times by 50 percent.
This could save many lives out of the 100,000 people who every year die from snakebites, worldwide.
Scientists explained that nitric oxide slows down a pumping mechanism within the lymphatic system, a part of the body's immune system that carries a clear fluid called lymph toward the heart.
"We hypothesized that a nitric oxide-releasing agent applied topically would slow lymphatic transit time and entry of the venom into the circulation, delaying onset of toxicity," Discovery News quoted Dirk van Helden, a researcher at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales as saying.
The researchers injected a venom-like substance into one foot of 15 volunteers and measured the time it took for the toxin substitute to reach lymph nodes in the groin.
The experiment was repeated, however, this time the drug-laced ointment was spread around the puncture within one minute of the injection.
The results showed that the transit time dropped from an average of 13 minutes to 54 minutes, which is four times slower.
"These results point to a new method of snakebite first aid that may also be useful for bites to the torso or head," the researchers concluded. (Agencies)


2011-06-27



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