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It's a fact!
Pain-relieving compounds - called mambalgins - isolated from the venom of Africa's black mamba snake are as strong as some opiates, including morphine, without the risk of respiratory distress and other side effects common with pain-reducing drugs. "It is remarkable that this was made possible from the deadly venom of one of the most venomous snakes," said study leader Anne Baron, of France's Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology. Prior studies have shown that certain snake venoms contain toxins that can evoke pain by activating acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) in the central and peripheral nervous system. Baron and colleagues discovered that with the isolation of peptides they named mambalgins, pain can be minimised or even stopped by targeting and inhibiting certain ASICs within the body. Natural toxins long used as drugs Venom from snakes and other creatures like spiders and scorpions have long been used for medicinal purposes, and much modern research has focused on the development of the poisonous substance into pharmaceuticals for a wider market. Aspects of king cobra, copperhead, rattlesnake and viper venom have been found to have an effect on a wide range of medical maladies, ranging from the dissolution of blood clots to possibly slowing the growth of cancer cells. "Animal venom toxins have a solid success rate [becoming] major drugs," said Zoltan Takacs, a herpetologist and toxinologist. "There's no question this will continue, as the vast majority of toxins remain unexplored." Animal toxins are especially valuable to biomedicine, Takacs explained, thanks to their selectivity and affinity. "Toxins are used for both drug target validation, to learn where exactly to aim your drug," he said, "and as a blueprint for crafting the actual drug." Baron and colleagues plan to advance their findings to clinical levels, though any development will take a number of years. Source: National Geographic |
