Coagulopathy Caused by the Main Anticoagulant Fractions of Echis carinatus Snake Venom on Blood

Background: The venom of Viperidae snakes is a compound liquid rich in medicinally active proteins and peptides. It is an invasive weapon for preys immobilization, killing and digestion. Materials and Methods: With a combination of gel and ion exchange chromatography ten sub-fractions were isolated from the E.carinatus venom. Three sub-fractions as anticoagulant sub-fractions were then intravenously injected to mice. Blood sampling was taken before and after injecting these three sub-fractions. The PT, PTT and FT were recorded. Results: Comparison of the PT before and after injecting three sub-fractions, showed that the blood coagulation time after injection is more than the blood normal coagulation time and also more than the coagulation time after the crude venom injection. This coagulation time difference shows the intense coagulation activity of these sub-fractions which thus significantly decrease the rate of coagulation cascade activity and lead to slow blood coagulation. Conclusion: Comparison of the PT and PTT after injecting three sub-fractions with this test normal time respectively showed that the rate of the mice blood coagulation extrinsic and intrinsic system activity rate considerably decreases. By comparing the FT after injecting with this test normal time, coagulation cascade intense inactivation and the nonproduction of fibrin can be inferred.