scholarly journals Snake Venom: Any Clue for Antibiotics and CAM?

2005 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deivy Clementino de Lima ◽  
Paula Alvarez Abreu ◽  
Cícero Carlos de Freitas ◽  
Dilvani Oliveira Santos ◽  
Rodrigo Oliveira Borges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Snake Venom ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Snake Venoms ◽  
Commercial Use ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

Lately several naturally occurring peptides presenting antimicrobial activity have been described in the literature. However, snake venoms, which are an enormous source of peptides, have not been fully explored for searching such molecules. The aim of this work is to review the basis of antimicrobial mechanisms revealing snake venom as a feasible source for searching an antibiotic prototype. Therefore, it includes (i) a description of the constituents of the snake venoms involved in their main biological effects during the envenomation process; (ii) examples of snake venom molecules of commercial use; (iii) mechanisms of action of known antibiotics; and (iv) how the microorganisms can be resistant to antibiotics. This review also shows that snake venoms are not totally unexplored sources for antibiotics and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

scholarly journals Law's Dilemma: Validating Complementary and Alternative Medicine and the Clash of Evidential Paradigms

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ireh Iyioha
Keyword(s):  
Quality Assurance ◽  
Alternative Medicine ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Medicine ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Alternative Therapies ◽  
Complementary And Alternative Therapies ◽  
Regulatory Model ◽  
Scientific Validation ◽  
Complementary And Alternative

This paper examines the (in)compatibility between the diagnostic and therapeutic theories of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and a science-based regulatory framework. Specifically, the paper investigates the nexus between statutory legitimacy and scientific validation of health systems, with an examination of its impact on the development of complementary and alternative therapies. The paper evaluates competing theories for validating CAM ranging from the RCT methodology to anthropological perspectives and contends that while the RCT method might be beneficial in the regulation of many CAM therapies, yet dogmatic adherence to this paradigm as the exclusive method for legitimizing CAM will be adverse to the independent development of many CAM therapies whose philosophies and mechanisms of action are not scientifically interpretable. Drawing on history and research evidence to support this argument, the paper sues for a regulatory model that is accommodative of different evidential paradigms in support of a pluralistic healthcare system that balances the imperative of quality assurance with the need to ensure access.

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