Incredibly, the venom of a Southern copperhead snake may hold a cure for cancer. The saliva of a gila monster could help diabetics produce their own insulin. Puffer fish might provide relief for sufferers of chronic pain. Today, scientists are learning that venoms have a flipside buried deep in their chemistry – lifesaving components with promising medical uses and impressive new possibilities – new drugs, new cures, new ways to save lives.
For instance, researchers have discovered that molecules called peptides, secreted by rain forest frogs to ward off predators, have the potential to:
- Dramatically reduce high blood pressure
- Stop blood clotting, an effective tool in the fight against Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and heart disease
- Tackle conditions that are resistant to treatment by conventional antibiotics
- Help tackle cancer tumors and leukemia and protect bone marrow against damage during chemotherapy
Peptides obtained from the Giant Mexican Leaf Frog have been found to reduce blood pressure by 50% when administered in very low doses under laboratory conditions. This unlocks the potential for new drugs to help people suffering from high blood pressure.
The same frog also produces a peptide which stops blood from clotting, opening the way for new treatments for Deep Vein Thrombosis – also known as ‘economy class syndrome‘ – lethal blood clots affecting passengers on long haul aircraft flights. Until this is perfected, don’t forget to wear your travel socks.
A Tree Frog from Australia has peptides which are effective in tackling conditions which are resistant to conventional antibiotics, an increasingly alarming problem in medicine. The peptides work in a novel way embedding themselves in the membrane of the bacteria and effectively bursting the cell. Bacteria cannot become resistant to them.
Molecules from a North American Pond Frog are similar to messenger molecules in the human body which are known to stimulate or inhibit the growth of cancer tumors. This could lead to the development of treatments for tackling tumors. Other potential uses are in the fight against leukemia and reducing the damage to bone marrow from chemotherapy treatment.
If we can use the biological weaponry evolved in the frog’s venom to fight against cancer, heart disease and neuro-degenerative diseases, this could be a giant leap forward for medicine.
To learn more about these amazing discoveries in nature, checkout The Venom Cure on PBS.
