Toxins from Animal Venoms as a Potential Source of Antimalarials: A Comprehensive Review

  • Toxins (Basel). 2023 Jun 3;15(6):375. doi: 10.3390/toxins15060375.
Zeca M Salimo  1  2  3 ,  André L Barros  4 ,  Asenate A X Adrião  1  3  5 ,  Aline M Rodrigues  3 ,  Marco A Sartim  1  5  6 ,  Isadora S de Oliveira  7 ,  Manuela B Pucca  1  8  9 ,  Djane C Baia-da-Silva  1  2  10  11  12 ,  Wuelton M Monteiro  1  2 ,  Gisely C de Melo  1  2 ,  Hector H F Koolen  1  3  5
Affiliations
  • 1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus 69040-000, Brazil.
  • 2. Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus 69040-000, Brazil.
  • 3. Grupo de Pesquisa em Metabolômica e Espectrometria de Massas, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus 69065-001, Brazil.
  • 4. Setor de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus 69058-030, Brazil.
  • 5. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia-Rede BIONORTE, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus 69065-001, Brazil.
  • 6. Pro-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus 69058-030, Brazil.
  • 7. Departamento de Ciências BioMoleculares, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto 14040-903, Brazil.
  • 8. Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Roraima, Boa Vista 69317-810, Brazil.
  • 9. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Roraima, Boa Vista 69317-810, Brazil.
  • 10. Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus 69058-030, Brazil.
  • 11. Instituto Leônidas e Maria Deane, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Manaus 69057-070, Brazil.
  • 12. Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus 69080-900, Brazil.
PMID: 37368676 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15060375
Abstract

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium spp. and it is mainly transmitted to humans by female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. Malaria is an important global public health problem due to its high rates of morbidity and mortality. At present, drug therapies and vector control with insecticides are respectively the most commonly used methods for the treatment and control of malaria. However, several studies have shown the resistance of Plasmodium to drugs that are recommended for the treatment of malaria. In view of this, it is necessary to carry out studies to discover new antimalarial molecules as lead compounds for the development of new medicines. In this sense, in the last few decades, Animal Venoms have attracted attention as a potential source for new antimalarial molecules. Therefore, the aim of this review was to summarize animal venom toxins with antimalarial activity found in the literature. From this research, 50 isolated substances, 4 venom fractions and 7 venom extracts from Animals such as anurans, spiders, scorpions, snakes, and bees were identified. These toxins act as inhibitors at different key points in the biological cycle of Plasmodium and may be important in the context of the resistance of Plasmodium to currently available antimalarial drugs.

Keywords
Plasmodium; animal venom toxins; antimalarials; malaria; resistance to antimalarials.
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