Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Spin doctors: Spiders enrolled in pain relief

Researchers in their quest to find a secret ingredient for an effective, long-term painkiller screened venom from 206 spider species, and found seven compounds that could block human Nav1.7 channels in lab tests Spider venom may contain a long-sought secret ingredient for an effective, long-term painkiller, researchers said Wednesday. In lab-dish tests, seven compounds obtained from venom blocked a protein crucial for transmitting the sensation of pain to the human brain. "The hunt for a medicine based on just one of these compounds, which would open up a new class of potent painkillers, is now a step closer," said a statement issued with the study published by the British Journal of Pharmacology. If it could be targeted and controlled, this "off switch" may be the solution for millions of chronic pain sufferers.








via Health News Headlines - Yahoo News http://ift.tt/1BGDDDK

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