A simple method to determine proteolytic activity of snake venoms

In this work, we describe an easy, simple, and cost-effective method to assess the proteolytic activity of snake venoms. The method is based on measuring the hydrolytic halo formed by gelatin radial hydrolysis following the incubation of venoms on a solid gelatin-agarose plate. Venoms from Bothrops (B.) alternatus, B. diporus, B. neuwiedi, B. jararaca, B. jararacussu, Crotalus atrox, and Trimeresurus albolabris were tested. A dose-response relationship was observed for each venom tested, with proteolytic capacity values, determined as GD (gelatinolytic dose, the dose causing a 15 mm hydrolytic halo) ranging from 21 to 222 μg. A correlation between hydrolysis and hemorrhagic activity in rat skin (minimal hemorrhagic dose) was found, with an r² value of 0.8774 (p < 0.0001). The venoms’ hydrolytic activity was significantly, though not completely, inhibited by EDTA. This methodology was also deployed to assess venom neutralization by antivenoms on the hydrolytic activity of the different venoms, demonstrating its usefulness in evaluating antivenom neutralizing capacity. The method presented is simple, cheap and useful for preliminary screening of venom proteolytic activity and its inhibition and may also predict gross differences in hemorrhagic activity, contributing to the reduction of the number of animals used for these determinations.