Biochemical characterization of proteins and enzymes of Bungarus caeruleus venom

Bungarus caeruleus (Common Krait) is a nocturnal venomous snake that is responsible for many snakebites in India. In the present study, we report the biochemical parameters involved in the neurotoxicity of the venom. The purpose of this study was to characterize the toxic enzymes and proteins in crude krait venom. The results of this study indicate that crude venom consists of proteases esterases, oxidases and nucleotidases enzymes. The highly prominent enzymes responsible for toxicity was found to be hyaluronidases and phospholipases. Crude venom on electrophoresis under reduced conditions showed more number of low molecular weight proteins than high molecular weight proteins.