American Friends of Tel Aviv University. “Pinch Away Pain: Scorpion Venom Could Be an Alternative to Morphine.” Science Daily. February 21, 2010. [Internet]. [accessed Feb 21, 2010] Available from:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100216163341.htm
Pinch Away the Pain: Scorpion Venom Could Be an Alternative to Morphine
Everyone knows that scorpions are poisonous and that one sting could deliver a dangerous dose of deadly venom, but could that venom be effectively used as an alternative to addictive painkillers such as morphine? According to Prof. Michael Gurevitz of Tel Aviv University’s Department of Plant Sciences, he believes it can.
Prof. Gurevitz has studied the peptide toxins in scorpion venom with regard to their interactions with the sodium channels of nervous and muscular systems. Mammals have nine of these sodium channels, not all of which deliver pain signals to our brain. Some of the peptide toxins in scorpion venom are programmed to interact with particular sodium channel subtypes in mammals, while others are programmed to interact with insects and other invertebrates. It is hoped that through genetic engineering, scientists may be able to manipulate these toxins to effectively be used as a potent painkiller, while eliminating or reducing harmful side effects.
The Chinese are way ahead of us when it comes to the use of natural medicines. They practice what we refer to as “alternative medicine,” using nature to fight disease and in some cases to fight pain. For hundreds of years, they have been using scorpion venom as an analgesic. If we can develop a safe and effective, natural medicine from scorpion venom, it could be a superior replacement to dangerous, addictive drugs such as morphine
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