VENOM is usually used by nature to kill you — but some sources can actually help boost your health.
From treating blood clots to erectile dysfunction, deadly toxins in snakes, spiders and Komodo dragons have been harnessed for medical use.
Venom from snakes, spiders and Komodo dragons have a range of medical benefits, including treating high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction
Some could even save lives, by helping prevent heart attacks in the long term.
Snakes
From Harry Potter to the Bible, snakes have always been a symbol of danger and malevolence.
Bites from some types can kill in mere seconds, destroying blood vessels and causing internal bleeding.
However, venom from the Brazilian pit viper — one of the world’s deadliest snakes — has formed the basis of lifesaving drugs.
Captopril is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for treating high blood pressure.
The drug can also be used after a heart attack or for heart failure patients under close medical supervision, although it is rarely prescribed today.
The active ingredient in the drug was originally derived from the snake venom, according to the British Heart Foundation.
Venoms from the dusky pygmy rattlesnake and saw-scaled viper have also been used in drugs like eptifibatide and tirofiban, which are used for chest pain.
Research has also shown snake venoms can help treat blood clots without the risk of additional bleeding.
A study, published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, showed purified snake venoms helped patients without putting them at risk.
Dr Tur-Fu Huang, of National Taiwan University, said: “Snake venoms contain many biological components that affect hemostasis.”
Spiders
Scientists have been puzzled for decades by the Brazilian wandering spider’s ability to cause “long and painful erections”.
A bite from the creepy crawly can be deadly, as well as causing the strange symptom.
However, they now believe they can harness the power of the spider with a rub-on gel for erectile dysfunction.
Brazilian researchers are currently trialling the gel, with 72 men undergoing tests and results expected in the spring.
Professor Maria Elena De Lima, of Federal University of Minas Gerais, said: “Tests have demonstrated that the compound works without any toxicity, as it is practically not detected in the bloodstream.
“The big advantage is that the approval of topical medications tends to be much faster, due to the lower possibility of adverse side effects.”
Trials in 2019 showed the molecule improved blood flow to the penis by 113 per cent when applied as a gel.
The compound, called BZ371A, helped men achieve erections within half an hour.
It is thought to work by boosting levels of nitric oxide, which opens the blood vessels in the penis — allowing more blood in during arousal.
Scientists are now preparing phase 2 clinical trials to test the drug on men who have had prostate removal surgery because of cancer.
If successful, tests will be expanded and carried out at hospitals before the manufacturer Biozeus seeks approval for use more widely.
Komodo dragons
The largest lizard on earth — the Komodo dragon — has venom glands loaded with toxins that lower blood pressure, cause massive bleeding, prevent clotting and induce shock.
In the wild, the three-metre, 14 stone beasts use this to kill prey, including deer, pigs, water buffalo and even other dragons.
However, like with the pit viper, scientists have found the venom can be used to treat excessive blood clotting.
Researchers from the University of Queensland in Australia studied a range of lizard venoms including the Mexican beaded lizard and earless monitor lizard.
Their study, published in the journal Toxins, found the venoms could hold potential for blood thinning drugs in future.
Dr Ivan Koludarov said: “While snake venoms have been the subject of intense study, comparatively little work has been done on lizard venoms.
“The high level of venom chemistry variation in varanid lizards compared to that of helodermatid lizards suggests that venom may be subject to different selection pressures in these two families.
“These results not only contribute to our understanding of venom evolution but also reveal anguimorph lizard venoms to be rich sources of novel bioactive molecules with potential as drug design and development lead compounds.”