Black mamba bite packs potent painkiller

ScienceNews ^ | October 4, 2012 | Tanya Lewis

[neverdem]

Study of snake venom in mice reveals potential new strategy for relieving agony

A snakebite may bring on a world of hurt, but a substance found in black mamba venom could actually relieve pain. The finding reveals a new possible approach for pain treatment, researchers report online October 3 in Nature.

The black mamba, Dendroaspis polylepis polylepis, is one of the most lethal snakes on Earth. But a team of researchers in France found that compounds in the snake’s venom have the same pain-banishing effect on mice that morphine does.

The compounds, called mambalgins, appear to work by blocking certain channels in nerve cells. Under acidic conditions, these channels open up, triggering pain signals. By preventing the flow of charged atoms through these channels, the mambalgins stop pain signals in their tracks.

The work highlights such acid-sensing channels as a potential target for pain treatment, says neuroscientist Candice Askwith of Ohio State University, who was not involved in the study. Morphine and other opioids work well, she says, “but they do have limitations and they do have side effects. So having an alternative chemical or pathway that could be manipulated would be a great advantage clinically.”

Molecules found in the venom of snakes, predatory sea snails and many other animals have been widely studied for their therapeutic effects in conditions ranging from diabetes to cardiovascular disease. The venom toxins home in on specific nerve channels, activating or deactivating them. While some snake venom compounds cause pain, the researchers noticed those in black mamba venom seem to do the reverse...

[neverdem]

So the idea is to modify the neurotoxins of the Black Bamba?

"But a team of researchers in France found that compounds in the snake’s venom have the same pain-banishing effect on mice that morphine does."

That implies they separated at least two potential analgesics in their venom, and they found some way to separate and purify it, or the rats should be dead.

My guess is they used high pressure liquid chromatography for starters, and if they got nice distinct fractions that would show up on a graph as peaks, then they tested each serially collected fraction according to its peak for analgesia.

Once they got the molecular structure nailed down with other analytical techniques, they might try to modify chemically whatever analgesics they found.

[Salamander]

I have snakes.

I wouldn’t say I’m “fanatical” about them.

I like them and am fascinated by their incredible biomechanics.

However, snake venom is already being used in blood thinners, cancer treatments, stroke treatments and many other ‘medical miracles’.

Funny how God would create such a wonderous creature, full of potential medical breakthroughs yet so many people stomp them wholesale out of fear and ignorance.

[Salamander]

Along with albino Diamondbacks, my friend/feeder supplier/snake breeder has Gaboons.

Beautiful things....viewed from outside their enclosures.

He has a tub full of Gaboon fangs.

Impressive things.

[Salamander]

A little known fact about Mambas; they’re avid soccer fans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rnpYGKqpdk