Hraoui-Bloquet, Souad Lebanese University - Faculty of Sciences II, Lebanon , Sadek, Riyad American University of Beirut - Biology Department, Lebanon , Accary, Claudine Lebanese University - Doctoral School for Sciences and Technology, Azm Center for the Research in Biotechnology and its Applications, Lebanon , Hleihel, Walid University of Holy Spirit - Faculty of Science, Lebanon , Fajloun, Ziad Lebanese University - Doctoral School forSciences and Technology, Azm Center for the Research in Biotechnology and its Applications, Lebanon

AN ECOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE LEBANON MOUNTAIN VIPER MONTIVIPERA BORNMUELLERI (WERNER, 1898) WITH A PRELIMINARY BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ITS VENOM

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This study concentrates on the Lebanon mountain viper Montivipera bornmuelleri endemic to the Lebanese mountains, in terms of ecology, geographic distribution and preliminary biochemical characterization of its venom. Here, one shows that M. bornmuelleri lives in habitats dominated by a variety of mountain plant species at altitudes ranging from 1900 m to 2200 m. This viper exists in association with endemic lacertid lizards in the Oyoun Al Simane area of Kfardebian in the Sannine mountain and with other snakes (such as Platyceps najadum (Müller, 1878) and Hemorrhois ravergieri (Ménétries, 1832) in the Makmel (Bcharre) mountain. Preliminary analysis of this viper’s venom was conducted using liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The analysis revealed the presence of some bioactive molecules in the crude product. This work constitutes a preliminary study of a research project involving the extraction and characterization of bioactive molecules and potential therapeutic uses of the venom.

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Lebanon viper , Montivipera bornmuelleri , ecology , geographic distribution , venom analysis , liquid chromatography , electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

Lebanese Science Journal

101