Chemicals In Spider Venom May Prove As An Effective Painkiller

A team of researchers from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland has discovered a class of seven peptide compounds that can be used as an effective painkiller with minimum side effects as compared to the current options of painkiller available in the market and those that are prescribed by physicians.

Biochemically, the newly discovered peptides are thought to block the Nav1.7 channels on the pathway by which nerves send the pain signals to the brain.

The lead researcher on the team, Professor Glenn King, revealed in a statement how an earlier study showed that people who lack Nav1.7 channels in their body due to a genetic mutation are indifferent to pain. Therefore, the researchers firmly believe that the new class of potent painkillers can help provide effective relief without any harmful effects on health.

The researchers conducted their study on 206 spider venom samples. The study findings reveal that around 40 percent of the samples had one of the seven identified chemical compound that was successful in blocking the Nav1.7 channels.

In addition, the identified compounds are believed to have a chemical structure which is highly stable, both chemically and biologically, thus increasing the speculations about its use as a future painkiller.

"Importantly, of the seven promising peptides we identified, we discovered one that had the right structure, stability and potency to form the basis of a future painkiller," said King, reported The Daily Mail.

The research findings have been published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.

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