Snail toxin offers pain relief hopes
A sea snail from the Great Barrier Reef could be set to revolutionise pain relief treatments.
University of Queensland researchers have found a toxin in the marine creature Conus marmoreus has the ability to target chronic pain without severe side effects.
Dr Jenny Ekberg says it could be developed for use instead of drugs like morphine and local anaesthetics.
"They cause a lot of side effects and they're not very effective, and you have problems with tolerance, etcetera," she said
"But this new toxin that we've found, it targets something called voltage-gated sodium channels, and because it only targets this one and not other channels in the body, it means that you can get pain relief and you don't get all those nasty side effects."
But she says it could be a while before the treatment will be available at pharmacies.
"First of all, we need to learn to synthesise this toxin so we can get lots of it," she said.
"And it's a lot of trouble at the moment but we're getting there.
"And also, of course, before you can use it as a drug, there are a series of clinical trials and it takes many, many years before it's actually out on the market, but this looks really promising."
Toxins from other sea snails have been trialled but Dr Ekberg says this is the first that has not caused side-effects in initial tests.
The toxin has so far been tested on rats.
link
Full Version: Snail toxin offers pain relief hopes
Medical and research uses
http://www.answers.com/topic/amphibians-and-humans
Amphibians have been employed for medicinal purposes for millennia. The Chinese brown frog (Rana chensinensis) has long been used in traditional medicine in the three northeastern provinces of the country. An oil called "Ha Shi Ma Yu," derived from the dried oviducts, is believed to cure nervous exhaustion. Until the 1970s, as many as 72 million frogs were collected annually for the purpose of obtaining this oil, but the yields have now dropped below five million as the result of habitat loss and overcollecting. Until a century ago frog egg clutches were used as plaster in Russia, frog meat was put on snakebite wounds in western Siberia, and teas made from dried and powdered hynobiid salamanders (Ranodon sibiricus) were used to treat bone fractures and malaria in northwestern China. Amphibians continue to be an important part of traditional medicine in many parts of the world.
More than 200 psychoactive alkaloids have been extracted from the skin of frogs and toads. For these amphibians, they act as natural chemical defenses by affecting the muscles and nerves of would-be predators. Scientists have been able to synthesize many of these alkaloids for research. One of them, batrachotoxin (found only in the skin of the dendrobatid frog Phyllobates), causes ion channels in nerve and muscle cells to fail, resulting in heart failure; when it is labeled radioactively the toxin becomes a very useful tool for medical research. Another alkaloid, epibatidine (from the skin of another dendrobatid, Epipedobates tricolor), is a highly effective painkiller; it is 200 times stronger than morphine, but it is not addictive and has no sedating effects. Epibatidine is produced synthetically and is being tested as a drug for humans. Skin secretions from the green treefrog (Litoria caerulea), called caeruletide, stimulate activity in the pancreas and intestine, and synthetic versions of it are commercially available for human use for these purposes.
The large parotid glands of toads of the genus Bufo, located just behind the eyes, produce two substances—bufogenin and bufotoxin—that affect the adrenal and cardiovascular systems in humans. A third parotoid secretion—bufotenin, an alkaloid—is a powerful hallucinogen. The Colorado River toad (Bufo alvarius) possesses the specific enzyme for production of this sub-stance, and the parotoids, which can contain large amounts of the hallucinogen, can produce hallucinations when the skin is dried and smoked. The hallucinogenic properties of toad parotoid glands were well known to the native peoples of Central America, and images of toads with prominent parotoid glands are a common feature on bowls and other objects found at archeological sites.
Frog skin secretions also can have powerful antimicrobial properties. The skin of African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) produces peptides called magainins that assist in the natural healing of cuts and bruises. These peptides have potential as a new class of antibiotics. Glues extracted from frog skin can be used to fix crockery, and research suggests that skin secretions may help repair human internal organs.
Among the many medical and research applications of amphibians, frogs and salamanders have been standard laboratory preparations for studies in embryology and physiology. Amphibians are also highly useful model organisms for many field studies of behavior and ecology. Xenopus frogs were the first test organisms to be used for determining pregnancy in humans. Frogs and salamanders are commonly found in biology teaching laboratories throughout the world.
Then thought of possible healing benefits of snails.?? and viola!!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/900869.stm
Researchers have discovered unusual properties in the mucus secreted by giant African land snails which they believe might have important applications in medical science.
It could lead to a new treatment for broken bones.
http://www.free-news-release.com/Elicina-S...etail_5528.html
Descrption:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
02/03/2006
Snails Enter the Anti-ageing Race
Chilean snail farmers noticed softer skin and rapid healing of minor cuts and scars without infection after handling the snails and Elicina Cream was born.
London, England
Elicina Cream is a natural, skin regeneration cream having a fascinating origin. Containing 80% snail secretion, Elicina treats a variety of skin conditions including environmental damage such as fine facial lines and hyper-pigmentation.
Rigorous testing of the 'Helix Aspersa Muller' snail's secretion found it contained the most valued ingredients known for the regeneration, healing and protection of human skin. The snail itself utilises these ingredients to restore its shell, if broken.
Discovery occurred as Chilean snail farmers noticed softer skin and rapid healing of minor cuts without infection after handling the snails. Elicina was tested at the Occupational Therapy Unit in Chile for children with burns. The results proved that Elicina Cream has significant skin rejuvenation properties essential to reducing the signs of ageing.
Numerous Elicina Cream testimonials can be found here: http://www.elicinaeurope.com/customer.html
Elicina is hypo allergenic and its ingredients are bio compatible, meaning little risk of sensitive or allergic reaction. It has not undergone the harsh chemical and physical processing typically used to produce protein supplements, so is an ideal solution for those looking for a natural anti-ageing product.
Skin ages because collagen and elastin - components in the skin's support structure - start to break down. This degeneration is caused by free radicals and ultra violet light and causes the skin to sag and wrinkle. Collagen and Elastin production and cell turnover slows with age and skin also becomes drier as it is less efficient at moisture retention. Ingredients contained within the natural snail secretion are helpful in reducing the signs of ageing:
Elicina includes vitamins vital for repair and protection of human skin. Elicina was launched into the UK market with a history of professional and consumer testimonials and has been adopted by a number of London based aesthetic plastic surgeons, skin specialists and dermatologists.
http://showbizandstyle.inq7.net/lifestyle/...rticle_id=18543
Dr. Lourdes “Luly” Cruz, a biochemist, is a world-renowned specialist on the venom of conus snails, which abound in Philippine waters. These snails use poison to protect themselves against predators and to paralyze prey, and their venom is deadlier than that of the cobra. From her base at the Marine Science Institute at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Dr. Cruz has spent most of her career analyzing this area.
The venom affects our nervous system, and of course, it has killed people (including careless fisherfolk). But this deadly poison can also be beneficial. It has been used as a diagnostic tool for small cell carcinoma of the lung, and experiments are underway to determine if it can be used to help stroke patients. The poison can ironically also become a drug. Since the venom contains substances targeted to specific sites, then it may have fewer side effects than ordinary drugs, whose effects are not limited to one site.
Research and funding in the country remain a challenge, but Dr. Cruz is not fazed. In fact, her group has already identified more than 200 toxins from around 30 species. “But there are more than 200 species in Philippine waters alone!” she laughs. “There is still so much to be discovered.”
Healing powers
Speaking of drugs, Dr. Fabian “Toby” Dayrit, son of outstanding physician, herbal medicine and coconut oil researcher Dr. Conrado Dayrit, has also investigated the healing powers of local herbs. Dr. Dayrit is also the Dean of the Ateneo School of Science and Engineering. Many years ago, Toby and his team already worked on lagundi, ampalaya, malunggay, achuete, dita and Cinchona trees.
Take the lagundi shrub, with blue flowers, small black fruit and leaves arranged like the palm of the hand. Toby has lagundi shrubs in his backyard, and when he has a cold, he boils the leaves, adds luya and calamansi, and drinks the tea. The leaves can also heal wounds and clean ulcers, provide aromatic baths, bring down inflammations and rheumatic swellings. The roots can aid indigestion, leprosy, hemorrhage. The flowers supposedly help the heart, the fruit the eyes, the seeds the skin, the oil the sinuses.
Making a difference
But Dr. Dayrit is careful. “Choosing between synthetic drugs and herbal treatments is not either-or. However expensive they may sometimes be, manufactured medicines have been proven to work for certain diseases. Although herbal products may work, if we were to rely solely on natural sources for our medicines, we may not have enough. For example, although we can obtain the starting material for aspirin from trees, we will probably not get enough. Thus, we had to chemically synthesize aspirin to meet demand.”
Like Dr. Cruz, who studies other organisms (anticancer effects of green algae and anti-TB effects of other marine life), Dr. Dayrit is also active in other fields, such as instrumentation and the environment. “In this century, human resources are our most viable resources, and people who can handle science and technology can make a difference. There is a lifetime of interesting things here.”
“Ten Outstanding Filipino Scientists” is available in most bookstores. Or call Anvil Publishing at 637-3621, 637-5141, 747-1622.
* * *
http://www.businessdayonline.com/?c=55&a=9093
NLNG sets a new milestone in Nigerian literary prize
While presenting the winner, David Okali, president, Nigeria Academy of science, explained that the prize was awarded to Adikwu for his work, Wound Healing Devices (Formulations) Containing Snail Mucin, which established the beneficial effects of snail mucin for the topical treatment of wounds and burns.
Snail mucin, he explained, is a waste product usually washed away when snails are being prepared for cooking. "Specifically, Adikwu’s work established that snail biopolymer mucin can be made into various pharmaceutical formulations such as ointments, creams for healing of wounds as well as faciliatory agent for the absorption of pharmaceutical preparations. Tests of his products on rats and rabbits showed no serious allergy or toxic effects," he said.
http://www.bibletopics.com/biblestudy/14.htm
Ancient Dyes
In Biblical times, the distinction between colors was not as definite as it is today, when we can even choose between various shades of white for decorating our homes! The blue color that Moses described for the cloths that were to cover the Tabernacle furniture before it could be removed to a new site (Num. 4:6,7) was almost certainly what we would call violet, or bluish-purple, while the purple used for the embroidery would be a reddish-purple, and the scarlet a true bright red. These three basic colors as used for the priest's garments and the hangings of the Tabernacle were all extremely expensive, and were all obtained from small living creatures.
The blue was only obtained from the hypobranchial gland of a Murex marine snail that only lives in deep water in the Mediterranean. The purple was obtained from another variety of Murex snail that could be gathered in shallow coastal waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.
http://www.answers.com/topic/amphibians-and-humans
Amphibians have been employed for medicinal purposes for millennia. The Chinese brown frog (Rana chensinensis) has long been used in traditional medicine in the three northeastern provinces of the country. An oil called "Ha Shi Ma Yu," derived from the dried oviducts, is believed to cure nervous exhaustion. Until the 1970s, as many as 72 million frogs were collected annually for the purpose of obtaining this oil, but the yields have now dropped below five million as the result of habitat loss and overcollecting. Until a century ago frog egg clutches were used as plaster in Russia, frog meat was put on snakebite wounds in western Siberia, and teas made from dried and powdered hynobiid salamanders (Ranodon sibiricus) were used to treat bone fractures and malaria in northwestern China. Amphibians continue to be an important part of traditional medicine in many parts of the world.
More than 200 psychoactive alkaloids have been extracted from the skin of frogs and toads. For these amphibians, they act as natural chemical defenses by affecting the muscles and nerves of would-be predators. Scientists have been able to synthesize many of these alkaloids for research. One of them, batrachotoxin (found only in the skin of the dendrobatid frog Phyllobates), causes ion channels in nerve and muscle cells to fail, resulting in heart failure; when it is labeled radioactively the toxin becomes a very useful tool for medical research. Another alkaloid, epibatidine (from the skin of another dendrobatid, Epipedobates tricolor), is a highly effective painkiller; it is 200 times stronger than morphine, but it is not addictive and has no sedating effects. Epibatidine is produced synthetically and is being tested as a drug for humans. Skin secretions from the green treefrog (Litoria caerulea), called caeruletide, stimulate activity in the pancreas and intestine, and synthetic versions of it are commercially available for human use for these purposes.
The large parotid glands of toads of the genus Bufo, located just behind the eyes, produce two substances—bufogenin and bufotoxin—that affect the adrenal and cardiovascular systems in humans. A third parotoid secretion—bufotenin, an alkaloid—is a powerful hallucinogen. The Colorado River toad (Bufo alvarius) possesses the specific enzyme for production of this sub-stance, and the parotoids, which can contain large amounts of the hallucinogen, can produce hallucinations when the skin is dried and smoked. The hallucinogenic properties of toad parotoid glands were well known to the native peoples of Central America, and images of toads with prominent parotoid glands are a common feature on bowls and other objects found at archeological sites.
Frog skin secretions also can have powerful antimicrobial properties. The skin of African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) produces peptides called magainins that assist in the natural healing of cuts and bruises. These peptides have potential as a new class of antibiotics. Glues extracted from frog skin can be used to fix crockery, and research suggests that skin secretions may help repair human internal organs.
Among the many medical and research applications of amphibians, frogs and salamanders have been standard laboratory preparations for studies in embryology and physiology. Amphibians are also highly useful model organisms for many field studies of behavior and ecology. Xenopus frogs were the first test organisms to be used for determining pregnancy in humans. Frogs and salamanders are commonly found in biology teaching laboratories throughout the world.
Then thought of possible healing benefits of snails.?? and viola!!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/900869.stm
Researchers have discovered unusual properties in the mucus secreted by giant African land snails which they believe might have important applications in medical science.
It could lead to a new treatment for broken bones.
http://www.free-news-release.com/Elicina-S...etail_5528.html
Descrption:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
02/03/2006
Snails Enter the Anti-ageing Race
Chilean snail farmers noticed softer skin and rapid healing of minor cuts and scars without infection after handling the snails and Elicina Cream was born.
London, England
Elicina Cream is a natural, skin regeneration cream having a fascinating origin. Containing 80% snail secretion, Elicina treats a variety of skin conditions including environmental damage such as fine facial lines and hyper-pigmentation.
Rigorous testing of the 'Helix Aspersa Muller' snail's secretion found it contained the most valued ingredients known for the regeneration, healing and protection of human skin. The snail itself utilises these ingredients to restore its shell, if broken.
Discovery occurred as Chilean snail farmers noticed softer skin and rapid healing of minor cuts without infection after handling the snails. Elicina was tested at the Occupational Therapy Unit in Chile for children with burns. The results proved that Elicina Cream has significant skin rejuvenation properties essential to reducing the signs of ageing.
Numerous Elicina Cream testimonials can be found here: http://www.elicinaeurope.com/customer.html
Elicina is hypo allergenic and its ingredients are bio compatible, meaning little risk of sensitive or allergic reaction. It has not undergone the harsh chemical and physical processing typically used to produce protein supplements, so is an ideal solution for those looking for a natural anti-ageing product.
Skin ages because collagen and elastin - components in the skin's support structure - start to break down. This degeneration is caused by free radicals and ultra violet light and causes the skin to sag and wrinkle. Collagen and Elastin production and cell turnover slows with age and skin also becomes drier as it is less efficient at moisture retention. Ingredients contained within the natural snail secretion are helpful in reducing the signs of ageing:
Elicina includes vitamins vital for repair and protection of human skin. Elicina was launched into the UK market with a history of professional and consumer testimonials and has been adopted by a number of London based aesthetic plastic surgeons, skin specialists and dermatologists.
http://showbizandstyle.inq7.net/lifestyle/...rticle_id=18543
Dr. Lourdes “Luly” Cruz, a biochemist, is a world-renowned specialist on the venom of conus snails, which abound in Philippine waters. These snails use poison to protect themselves against predators and to paralyze prey, and their venom is deadlier than that of the cobra. From her base at the Marine Science Institute at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Dr. Cruz has spent most of her career analyzing this area.
The venom affects our nervous system, and of course, it has killed people (including careless fisherfolk). But this deadly poison can also be beneficial. It has been used as a diagnostic tool for small cell carcinoma of the lung, and experiments are underway to determine if it can be used to help stroke patients. The poison can ironically also become a drug. Since the venom contains substances targeted to specific sites, then it may have fewer side effects than ordinary drugs, whose effects are not limited to one site.
Research and funding in the country remain a challenge, but Dr. Cruz is not fazed. In fact, her group has already identified more than 200 toxins from around 30 species. “But there are more than 200 species in Philippine waters alone!” she laughs. “There is still so much to be discovered.”
Healing powers
Speaking of drugs, Dr. Fabian “Toby” Dayrit, son of outstanding physician, herbal medicine and coconut oil researcher Dr. Conrado Dayrit, has also investigated the healing powers of local herbs. Dr. Dayrit is also the Dean of the Ateneo School of Science and Engineering. Many years ago, Toby and his team already worked on lagundi, ampalaya, malunggay, achuete, dita and Cinchona trees.
Take the lagundi shrub, with blue flowers, small black fruit and leaves arranged like the palm of the hand. Toby has lagundi shrubs in his backyard, and when he has a cold, he boils the leaves, adds luya and calamansi, and drinks the tea. The leaves can also heal wounds and clean ulcers, provide aromatic baths, bring down inflammations and rheumatic swellings. The roots can aid indigestion, leprosy, hemorrhage. The flowers supposedly help the heart, the fruit the eyes, the seeds the skin, the oil the sinuses.
Making a difference
But Dr. Dayrit is careful. “Choosing between synthetic drugs and herbal treatments is not either-or. However expensive they may sometimes be, manufactured medicines have been proven to work for certain diseases. Although herbal products may work, if we were to rely solely on natural sources for our medicines, we may not have enough. For example, although we can obtain the starting material for aspirin from trees, we will probably not get enough. Thus, we had to chemically synthesize aspirin to meet demand.”
Like Dr. Cruz, who studies other organisms (anticancer effects of green algae and anti-TB effects of other marine life), Dr. Dayrit is also active in other fields, such as instrumentation and the environment. “In this century, human resources are our most viable resources, and people who can handle science and technology can make a difference. There is a lifetime of interesting things here.”
“Ten Outstanding Filipino Scientists” is available in most bookstores. Or call Anvil Publishing at 637-3621, 637-5141, 747-1622.
* * *
http://www.businessdayonline.com/?c=55&a=9093
NLNG sets a new milestone in Nigerian literary prize
While presenting the winner, David Okali, president, Nigeria Academy of science, explained that the prize was awarded to Adikwu for his work, Wound Healing Devices (Formulations) Containing Snail Mucin, which established the beneficial effects of snail mucin for the topical treatment of wounds and burns.
Snail mucin, he explained, is a waste product usually washed away when snails are being prepared for cooking. "Specifically, Adikwu’s work established that snail biopolymer mucin can be made into various pharmaceutical formulations such as ointments, creams for healing of wounds as well as faciliatory agent for the absorption of pharmaceutical preparations. Tests of his products on rats and rabbits showed no serious allergy or toxic effects," he said.
http://www.bibletopics.com/biblestudy/14.htm
Ancient Dyes
In Biblical times, the distinction between colors was not as definite as it is today, when we can even choose between various shades of white for decorating our homes! The blue color that Moses described for the cloths that were to cover the Tabernacle furniture before it could be removed to a new site (Num. 4:6,7) was almost certainly what we would call violet, or bluish-purple, while the purple used for the embroidery would be a reddish-purple, and the scarlet a true bright red. These three basic colors as used for the priest's garments and the hangings of the Tabernacle were all extremely expensive, and were all obtained from small living creatures.
The blue was only obtained from the hypobranchial gland of a Murex marine snail that only lives in deep water in the Mediterranean. The purple was obtained from another variety of Murex snail that could be gathered in shallow coastal waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas.
Snake venom is also being tried out for pain killer usage. Various species of viper have been tried and they show the pain relieving effects of morphine but are not sedative and non-addictive. I'll try and find the papers relating to this.
QUOTE(Mattshark @ Feb 11 2007, 12:34 AM) [snapback]1537323[/snapback]
Snake venom is also being tried out for pain killer usage. Various species of viper have been tried and they show the pain relieving effects of morphine but are not sedative and non-addictive. I'll try and find the papers relating to this.
pad
Snake & Scorpion Venom Therapy
A protein in the venom of southern US copperhead snakes is an effective inhibitor of tumor growth and metastasis, researchers from the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles report.
Dr. Francis S. Markland presented his group's findings here during the 40th annual meeting of the American Cell Biology Association.
The researchers isolated and purified the copperhead snake venom protein, which they named contortrostatin. I
n initial experiments, contortrostatin hindered the growth and metastasis of several different human tumors implanted in mice, including breast, ovarian and brain tumors.
"We found that the protein acts on the surface of the cancer cells and disrupts the cells structure. It also acts to immobilize the cell, inhibiting the cell's movement and decreasing the cancer's chances for spreading to other areas of the body," Dr. Markland told Reuters Health.
"Not only does the snake protein thwart the spread of new tumors throughout the body, it also stops the growth of existing tumors by inhibiting the formation of blood vessels that feed them," a meeting abstract notes.
"The next step is to get contortrostatin into clinical trials with people with cancer. We think this will happen by 2002," Dr. Markland said.
December 2000, American Cell Biology Association
PLATYPUS VENUM
"We know today that platypus venom is a cocktail of toxins, most of which is a mixture of proteins which resemble no other to date. These have been named the defensin-like proteins, or DLPs, because their three dimensional structure resembles that of an antimicrobial peptide known as beta-defensin."
http://expasy.org/spotlight/back_issues/sptlt029.shtml
.
.there's a patent on snake bite venom...http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6613745.html
http://www.uspharmacist.com/index.asp?show...page=8_1642.htm
Snake toxins have been studied extensively, including their molecular origins, chemical nature, and biologic activities. These toxins are made from the same basic molecules as the proteins of the body.3 They contain short chains of amino acids, called peptides, which poison the victim by causing paralysis. Many act like curare and block the action of acetylcholine at the junction between the nerve and muscle.5
http://news.biocompare.com/newsstory.asp?id=160988
Lately several naturally occurring peptides presenting antimicrobial activity have been described in the literature. However, snake venoms, which are an enormous source of peptides, have not been fully explored for searching such molecules. The aim of this work is to review the basis of antimicrobial mechanisms revealing snake venom as a feasible source for searching an antibiotic prototype. Therefore, it includes (i) a description of the constituents of the snake venoms involved in their main biological effects during the envenomation process; (ii) examples of snake venom molecules of commercial use; (iii) mechanisms of action of known antibiotics; and (iv) how the microorganisms can be resistant to antibiotics. This review also shows that snake venoms are not totally unexplored sources for antibiotics and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).
Keywords: antibacterial – resistance – mechanism – peptide – reptiles
http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/2/1/39
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4126676.html
The present invention relates to a composition, a process of production thereof, and a method for treatment of neurological diseases, and especially to the treatment of such diseases as amyotropic lateral sclerosis, by administering detoxified but neurotropically active modified snake venom neurotoxin composition derived from the venom of the Naja genus, where the composition exhibits at least a 30% inhibition of viral plaques in the Semliki Forest virus test and a bioassay shows the composition to be atoxic.
I have always had the opinion that for every illness in the world there is some kind of plant/animal/bacteria that helps or cures it... There are always new medical findings from little known flowers or plants in the amazon that no one has noticed before...
http://www.brainconnection.com/topics/prin...aralysis-memory
"......Further studies will be needed to fully assess the spectrum of activity of EG-VEGF. Even a selective molecule like VEGF has been found to have mitogenic and non-mitogenic activities in cell types other than endothelial cells, including neuronal cells49.
..
As previously noted, the snake protein VPRA, human EG-VEGF/prokineticin-1 and the closely related homologue Bv8 are able to enhance gastrointestinal motility. The significance of this activity is unclear, but it is noteworthy that even a prototype mitogen like EGF has been shown to have complex effects on gastrointestinal and vascular smooth muscle contractility50.
Notably, Bv8 even though it is predominantly expressed in the testis51 and is able to promote angiogenesis, has been recently reported to regulate such a highly differentiated central function as the transmission of the behavioral circadian rhythm of the suprachiasmatic nucleus52. These findings emphasize not only the importance and versatility of this novel family but also the molecular analogies between neuronal function and angiogenesis, already evidenced with the ephrins and the VEGF family15, 49. In this context, it is also interesting to point out that the neurotrophin BDNF has been shown to have an important developmental role in stabilizing intramyocardial vessels by activating Trk B (ref. 53).
VEGF is a potent angiogenic molecule that may dominate the initiation of neovascularization. The existence of EG-VEGF and possibly other tissue-specific angiogenic mitogens permits an additional layer of signaling refinement to establish and maintain differentiated endothelial structure and function. The concept of tissue-specific angiogenic factors, along with the phenotypic plasticity of vascular bed endothelial cells also suggests potentially novel approaches to salvage or regenerate tissue. Several attempts have been made to promote new vessel growth using angiogenic factors such as VEGF and bFGF. However, the success of such efforts has been limited by systemic side effects, including hypotension, edema and accelerated atherosclerosis, combined with the difficulty in achieving functional and mature blood vessels11, 16. Mitogens selective for the endothelium of specific tissues like the cardiac or skeletal muscle would potentially offer major advantages. A principal benefit of tissue-specific angiogenic therapeutics could be the elimination of systemic, undesired effects associated with broad-spectrum angiogenic molecules. Potentially, a key attribute of therapies based on angiogenic molecules having a greater degree of specificity would be improved efficacy compared to the conventional angiogenic factors."
http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v8/n9/full/nm0902-913.html
"......Further studies will be needed to fully assess the spectrum of activity of EG-VEGF. Even a selective molecule like VEGF has been found to have mitogenic and non-mitogenic activities in cell types other than endothelial cells, including neuronal cells49.
..
As previously noted, the snake protein VPRA, human EG-VEGF/prokineticin-1 and the closely related homologue Bv8 are able to enhance gastrointestinal motility. The significance of this activity is unclear, but it is noteworthy that even a prototype mitogen like EGF has been shown to have complex effects on gastrointestinal and vascular smooth muscle contractility50. Notably, Bv8 even though it is predominantly expressed in the testis51 and is able to promote angiogenesis, has been recently reported to regulate such a highly differentiated central function as the transmission of the behavioral circadian rhythm of the suprachiasmatic nucleus52. These findings emphasize not only the importance and versatility of this novel family but also the molecular analogies between neuronal function and angiogenesis, already evidenced with the ephrins and the VEGF family15, 49. In this context, it is also interesting to point out that the neurotrophin BDNF has been shown to have an important developmental role in stabilizing intramyocardial vessels by activating Trk B (ref. 53).
VEGF is a potent angiogenic molecule that may dominate the initiation of neovascularization. The existence of EG-VEGF and possibly other tissue-specific angiogenic mitogens permits an additional layer of signaling refinement to establish and maintain differentiated endothelial structure and function. The concept of tissue-specific angiogenic factors, along with the phenotypic plasticity of vascular bed endothelial cells also suggests potentially novel approaches to salvage or regenerate tissue. Several attempts have been made to promote new vessel growth using angiogenic factors such as VEGF and bFGF. However, the success of such efforts has been limited by systemic side effects, including hypotension, edema and accelerated atherosclerosis, combined with the difficulty in achieving functional and mature blood vessels11, 16. Mitogens selective for the endothelium of specific tissues like the cardiac or skeletal muscle would potentially offer major advantages. A principal benefit of tissue-specific angiogenic therapeutics could be the elimination of systemic, undesired effects associated with broad-spectrum angiogenic molecules. Potentially, a key attribute of therapies based on angiogenic molecules having a greater degree of specificity would be improved efficacy compared to the conventional angiogenic factors."
http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/v8/n9/full/nm0902-913.html
I wouldnt doubt it,cone snails have a venom strong enough to kill.So,some snails may be able to create healing chemicals
QUOTE(Mattshark @ Feb 11 2007, 12:34 AM) [snapback]1537323[/snapback]
Snake venom is also being tried out for pain killer usage. Various species of viper have been tried and they show the pain relieving effects of morphine but are not sedative and non-addictive. I'll try and find the papers relating to this.
cool
QUOTE(Fluffybunny @ Feb 11 2007, 10:10 AM) [snapback]1537741[/snapback]
I have always had the opinion that for every illness in the world there is some kind of plant/animal/bacteria that helps or cures it... There are always new medical findings from little known flowers or plants in the amazon that no one has noticed before...
there are scientists right now combing the amazon for a cuure for cancer
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