Black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is a type of venomous snake from Africa that body length can reach 3.2 meters. These snakes are characterized with the inner mouth in solid black so it gets called black-mouthed mamba. Color of scales vary from yellow-green to gray metallic somewhat blackish. One bite of a black mamba snake capable of killing someone in just half an hour. But the deadliest venom in the world, it is also has medicinal properties.
"Black mamba's venom can be used as painkiller which is equivalent to morphine," said Anne Baron from the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Valbonne, France, on Thursday October 4, 2012.
Baron found the efficacy of the black mamba's venom when looking for new analgesics. All humans, when injured, produce certain chemicals which the brain interprets as pain -- and an important part of that process are the acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), which (as the name suggests) lets the brain know if those pain chemicals are present by sensing a rise in the level of acidity in cells. It's been known that certain snake venom can both increase or decrease acidity levels (either increasing or decreasing the pain a victim experiences), and the BBC reports that it was those specific chemicals that the French team were seeking out.
"Compounds that match turned out to be deadly venom from the black mamba," said Baron. The findings are published in the latest issue of the journal Nature. Baron and her team to identify and sort proteins in the black mamba's venom serve closed ion channel. Proteins called mambalgins material was then purified to make painkillers.
To test the efficacy of mambalgins, Baron injecting it into the body of mice. She said the mice was shown to be much more resistant to pain than mice who were given other treatments. "Drugs do not affect opioid receptors targeted by morphine, but effective in reducing pain," Baron explains how these mambalgins work.
The drug did not affect the opioid receptors that are targeted by morphine but was just as effective in relieving pain. Anyone taking the new drug might therefore avoid side effects associated with morphine, which include addiction and breathing problems, says Baron. *** [NEWSCIENTIST | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 4019]
"Black mamba's venom can be used as painkiller which is equivalent to morphine," said Anne Baron from the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Valbonne, France, on Thursday October 4, 2012.
Baron found the efficacy of the black mamba's venom when looking for new analgesics. All humans, when injured, produce certain chemicals which the brain interprets as pain -- and an important part of that process are the acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), which (as the name suggests) lets the brain know if those pain chemicals are present by sensing a rise in the level of acidity in cells. It's been known that certain snake venom can both increase or decrease acidity levels (either increasing or decreasing the pain a victim experiences), and the BBC reports that it was those specific chemicals that the French team were seeking out.
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| A painkiller as powerful as morphine, but without most of the side-effects, has been found in the deadly venom of the black mamba, say French scientists. (Picture from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/) |
To test the efficacy of mambalgins, Baron injecting it into the body of mice. She said the mice was shown to be much more resistant to pain than mice who were given other treatments. "Drugs do not affect opioid receptors targeted by morphine, but effective in reducing pain," Baron explains how these mambalgins work.
The drug did not affect the opioid receptors that are targeted by morphine but was just as effective in relieving pain. Anyone taking the new drug might therefore avoid side effects associated with morphine, which include addiction and breathing problems, says Baron. *** [NEWSCIENTIST | MAHARDIKA SATRIA HADI | KORAN TEMPO 4019]
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