POTENCIAIS TERAPÊUTICOS DA PEÇONHA DE SERPENTES NO TRATAMENTO DA DOENÇA DE ALZHEIMER

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease has been claiming more victims each year. In Brazil, it is estimated that more than 1 million people live with this condition. Researchers have been making efforts to analyze snake venom as a potential therapeutic resource for Alzheimer’s treatment. The aim of this study is to examine the scientific evidence on the use of toxins present in snake venom for the treatment of AD. A literature review was conducted in the following databases: PubMed (National Library of Medicine), LiLACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature), and Scopus Elsevier, using the descriptors: “Alzheimer”, “venom” and “snake”. A total of 48 publications were found, and 8 were selected. Several toxins present in snake venom have relevant biochemical activities for modulating pathological processes of the disease, such as acetylcholinesterase inhibition, reduction of β-amyloid peptide aggregation, and antioxidant effects. Although most of the analyzed studies were carried out in vitro or in silico, the findings indicate that snake venoms represent a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential for the development of new therapies against Alzheimer’s disease.