The very common ACE inhibitor medications for high blood pressure (lisinopril and the others that end in -pril) are synthetic analogs of a compound found in the

The very common ACE inhibitor medications for high blood pressure (lisinopril and the others that end in -pril) are synthetic analogs of a compound found in the South American pit viper Bothrops jararaca. Scientists noted that being bitten by one of these snakes produces a rapid and profound drop in blood pressure. In the wild, of course, this causes the snake's natural prey animals to pass out so they can be eaten. So it's not like snake venom-related drugs are unprecedented.