In Vivo Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Venom Obtained from the Species of the Snake Ophryacus, Cope, Viperidae

The present study was made to determine the mouse in vivo micronuclei induction capacity of the venom obtained from three Mexican endemic snakes: Ophryacus undulatus, Ophryacus smaragdinus, and Ophryacus sphenophrys. A second aim was to determine their capacity to induce bone marrow cytotoxicity in the same animals. Results obtained in mouse peripheral blood showed that O. undulatus venom moderately increased the number of micronuclei and produced cytotoxic damage. The venom of O. smaragdinus was also a moderate micronuclei and cytotoxic inducer, and the venom of O. sphenophrys showed neither genotoxic nor cytotoxic effect.