Fibrinolytic and Coagulant Activities of Certain Snake Venoms and Proteases.

Of the 16 snake venoms studied, 11 actively lysed human blood clots. However, only one of these, C. basiliscus, was devoid of thrombic, hemolytic, and hemaggluti-nating properties. This venom was fibrino-genolytic as well as fibrinolytic. The possible therapeutic use of certain venoms as dissolving agents for intravascular clots presents a theoretical advantage over most other fibrinolytic agents in that their fibrinolytic activity is not readily inhibited by human serum. Fractionation of a pure fibrinolytic principle may be possible.