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Ullah A, Aldakheel FM, Anjum SI, Raza G, Khan SA, Tlak Gajger I. Pharmacological properties and therapeutic potential of honey bee venom. Saudi Pharm J 2023; 31:96-109. [PMID: 36685303 PMCID: PMC9845117 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bee venom (BV) is a valuable product, and has a wide range of biological effects, and its use is rapidly increasing in apitherapy. Therefore, the current study, we reviewed the existing knowledge about BV composition and its numerous pharmacological properties for future research and use. Honey bee venom or apitoxin is produced in the venom gland in the honey bee abdomen. Adult bees use it as a primary colony defense mechanism. It is composed of many biologically active substances including peptides, enzymes, amines, amino acids, phospholipids, minerals, carbohydrates as well as some volatile components. Melittin and phospholipase A2 are the most important components of BV, having anti-cancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritis, anti-nociceptive and other curative potentials. Therefore, in medicine, BV has been used for centuries against different diseases like arthritis, rheumatism, back pain, and various inflammatory infections. Nowadays, BV or its components separately, are used for the treatment of various diseases in different countries as a natural medicine with limited side effects. Consequently, scientists as well as several pharmaceutical companies are trying to get a new understanding about BV, its substances and its activity for more effective use of this natural remedy in modern medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amjad Ullah
- Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Fahad Mohammed Aldakheel
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia,Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz Research Chair for Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
| | - Syed Ishtiaq Anjum
- Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan,Corresponding author.
| | - Ghulam Raza
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Baltistan, Skardu, Pakistan
| | - Saeed Ahmad Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Ivana Tlak Gajger
- Department for Biology and Pathology of Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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Organic acids and their derivatives: minor components of bee pollen, bee bread, royal jelly and bee venom. Eur Food Res Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00217-022-04110-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Soares-Silva B, Beserra-Filho JIA, Morera PMA, Custódio-Silva AC, Maria-Macêdo A, Silva-Martins S, Alexandre-Silva V, Silva SP, Silva RH, Ribeiro AM. The bee venom active compound melittin protects against bicuculline-induced seizures and hippocampal astrocyte activation in rats. Neuropeptides 2022; 91:102209. [PMID: 34808488 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2021.102209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Epilepsy is a chronic neuropathology characterized by an abnormal hyperactivity of neurons that generate recurrent, spontaneous, paradoxical and synchronized nerve impulses, leading or not to seizures. This neurological disorder affects around 70 million individuals worldwide. Pharmacoresistance is observed in about 30% of the patients and long-term use of antiepileptics may induce serious side effects. Thus, there is an interest in the study of the therapeutic potential of bioactive substances isolated from natural products in the treatment of epilepsy. Arthropod venoms contain neurotoxins that have high affinity for molecular structures in the neural tissue such as receptors, transporters and ion channels both in glial and neuronal membranes. This study evaluated the potential neuroprotective effect of melittin (MEL), an active compound of bee venom, in the bicuculline-induced seizure model (BIC) in rats. Male Wistar rats (3 months, 250-300 g) were submitted to surgery for the implantation of a unilateral cannula in the lateral ventricle. After the recovery period, rats received a microinjection of saline solution or MEL (0.1 mg per animal). Firstly, rats were evaluated in the open field (20 min) and in the elevated plus maze (5 min) tests after received microinjection of saline or MEL. After, 30 min later animals received BIC (100 mg/ml) or saline, and their behaviors were analyzed for 20 min in the open field according to a seizure scale. At the end, rats were euthanized, brains collected and processed to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunohistochemistry evaluation. No changes were observed in MEL-treated rats in the open field and elevated plus maze. However, 90% of MEL-treated animals were protected against seizures induced by BIC. There was an increase in the latency for the onset of seizures, accompanied by a reduction of GFAP-immunoreactivity cells in the dentate gyrus and CA1. Thus, our study suggests that MEL has an anticonvulsant potential, and further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in this action.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - José Ivo Araújo Beserra-Filho
- Departament of Biosciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, Brazil; Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Amanda Maria-Macêdo
- Departament of Biosciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, Brazil
| | | | | | - Sara Pereira Silva
- Departament of Biosciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Santos, Brazil
| | - Regina Helena Silva
- Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Avram S, Puia A, Udrea AM, Mihailescu D, Mernea M, Dinischiotu A, Oancea F, Stiens J. Natural Compounds Therapeutic Features in Brain Disorders by Experimental, Bioinformatics and Cheminformatics Methods. Curr Med Chem 2020; 27:78-98. [PMID: 30378477 DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666181031123127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Synthetic compounds with pharmaceutical applications in brain disorders are daily designed and synthesized, with well first effects but also seldom severe side effects. This imposes the search for alternative therapies based on the pharmaceutical potentials of natural compounds. The natural compounds isolated from various plants and arthropods venom are well known for their antimicrobial (antibacterial, antiviral) and antiinflammatory activities, but more studies are needed for a better understanding of their structural and pharmacological features with new therapeutic applications. OBJECTIVES Here we present some structural and pharmaceutical features of natural compounds isolated from plants and arthropods venom relevant for their efficiency and potency in brain disorders. We present the polytherapeutic effects of natural compounds belonging to terpenes (limonene), monoterpenoids (1,8-cineole) and stilbenes (resveratrol), as well as natural peptides (apamin, mastoparan and melittin). METHODS Various experimental and in silico methods are presented with special attention on bioinformatics (natural compounds database, artificial neural network) and cheminformatics (QSAR, drug design, computational mutagenesis, molecular docking). RESULTS In the present paper we reviewed: (i) recent studies regarding the pharmacological potential of natural compounds in the brain; (ii) the most useful databases containing molecular and functional features of natural compounds; and (iii) the most important molecular descriptors of natural compounds in comparison with a few synthetic compounds. CONCLUSION Our paper indicates that natural compounds are a real alternative for nervous system therapy and represents a helpful tool for the future papers focused on the study of the natural compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Speranta Avram
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alin Puia
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Ana Maria Udrea
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Dan Mihailescu
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Maria Mernea
- Department of Anatomy, Animal Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Anca Dinischiotu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Florin Oancea
- Bioproducts Lab, Bioresource Department, National Research and Development Institute for Chemistry and Petrochemistry, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Johan Stiens
- Department of Electronics and Informatics - ETRO, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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de Oliveira Amaral H, Monge-Fuentes V, Biolchi Mayer A, Alves Campos GA, Soares Lopes K, Camargo LC, Ferroni Schwartz M, Galante P, Mortari MR. Animal venoms: therapeutic tools for tackling Parkinson's disease. Drug Discov Today 2019; 24:2202-2211. [PMID: 31539640 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2019.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative pathology of the central nervous system, mainly involving the selective and progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons from the substantia nigra, resulting in motor and non-motor symptoms. PD remains an incurable ailment; thus, treatments are limited to symptom alleviation. With long-term use, conventional treatments can become inefficient, often triggering possible side effects. Considering these drawbacks, drug discovery constantly turns to nature as a source of efficient therapeutics. Thus, this review explores animal venoms as a rich source of bioactive compounds with potent neuropharmacological profiles for the development of effective adjuvant treatments with fewer side effects, ultimately aiming for the neuroprotection of dopaminergic neurons and the symptomatic relief of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique de Oliveira Amaral
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Victoria Monge-Fuentes
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil.
| | - Andréia Biolchi Mayer
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Avohay Alves Campos
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Kamila Soares Lopes
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Luana C Camargo
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Matheus Ferroni Schwartz
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Priscilla Galante
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Márcia R Mortari
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia, Brazil
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6
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Neurotherapeutic Effects of Bee Venom in a Rotenone-Induced Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease. NEUROPHYSIOLOGY+ 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s11062-019-09777-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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7
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Luo L, Wu W, Sun D, Dai HB, Wang Y, Zhong Y, Wang JX, Maruf A, Nurhidayah D, Zhang XJ, Wang Y, Wang GX. Acid-Activated Melittin for Targeted and Safe Antitumor Therapy. Bioconjug Chem 2018; 29:2936-2944. [PMID: 30148623 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.8b00352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Melittin (MLT), as a natural active biomolecule, can penetrate the tumor cell membrane to play a role in cancer treatment and will attract more attention in future development of antitumor drugs. The main component of natural bee venom MLT was modified by introducing a pH-sensitive amide bond between the 2,3-dimethyl maleimide (DMMA) and the lysine (Lys) of MLT (MLT-DMMA). MLT and its corresponding modified peptide MLT-DMMA were used for antitumor and biocompatibility validation. The biomaterial characteristics were tested by MALDI-TOF MS, 1H NMR, IUPAC and HPLC, cell viability, hemolytic and animal experiment safety evaluation. Compared with the primary melittin, the modified peptide showed decreased surface charge and low cytotoxicity in physiological conditions. Moreover, cell assays confirmed the acid-activated conversion of amide bond resulting in adequate safety during delivery and timely antitumor activity in tumor lesions. Thus, MLT-DMMA provided a feasible platform to improve the targeted and safe antitumor applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Luo
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants , Bioengineering College of Chongqing University , Chongqing 400044 , China
| | - Wei Wu
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants , Bioengineering College of Chongqing University , Chongqing 400044 , China
| | - Da Sun
- Institute of Life Sciences , Wenzhou University , Wenzhou 325000 , China
| | - Han-Bin Dai
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants , Bioengineering College of Chongqing University , Chongqing 400044 , China
| | - Yi Wang
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants , Bioengineering College of Chongqing University , Chongqing 400044 , China
| | - Yuan Zhong
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants , Bioengineering College of Chongqing University , Chongqing 400044 , China
| | - Jin-Xuan Wang
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants , Bioengineering College of Chongqing University , Chongqing 400044 , China
| | - Ali Maruf
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants , Bioengineering College of Chongqing University , Chongqing 400044 , China
| | - Deti Nurhidayah
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants , Bioengineering College of Chongqing University , Chongqing 400044 , China
| | - Xiao-Juan Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants , Bioengineering College of Chongqing University , Chongqing 400044 , China
| | - Ying Wang
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Research for Cancer Metastasis and Individualized Treatment , Chongqing University Cancer Hospital , Chongqing , 400030 , China
| | - Gui-Xue Wang
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Vascular Implants , Bioengineering College of Chongqing University , Chongqing 400044 , China
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Pineda Guerra Y, Betancur Echeverri J, Pedroza-Díaz J, Delgado-Trejos E, Röthlisberger S. Análisis proteómico del veneno de la abeja africanizada: comparación de métodos de extracción. ACTA BIOLÓGICA COLOMBIANA 2016. [DOI: 10.15446/abc.v21n3.54046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
La abeja africanizada es la más común en la apicultura colombiana y a su veneno (apitoxina) se le han atribuido propiedades terapéuticas para diferentes enfermedades, sin mayor soporte científico. Al revisar en la literatura los reportes publicados sobre el análisis proteómico de la apitoxina, se encontraron cuatro métodos distintos para la extracción de proteínas de la apitoxina. El primer método consiste en resuspender la apitoxina en Urea 7 M, precipitar con acetona y finalmente resuspender en Urea 7 M y CHAPS 4 %. Para el segundo método se resuspende la apitoxina en buffer de lisis, se precipita con ácido tricloroacético, y luego se resuspende en Urea 7 M y CHAPS 4 %. El tercer método es igual al anterior, excepto que la precipitación se realiza con acetona en vez de ácido tricloroacético. Finalmente, el cuarto método consiste en resuspender la apitoxina en agua destilada, precipitar con acetona y resuspender en Urea 7 M y CHAPS 4 %. Este trabajo se enfocó en comparar el desempeño de estos cuatro métodos de extracción y determinar el método con el mejor resultado en cuanto a la concentración e integridad obtenida de las proteínas. De los distintos métodos evaluados, se encontró que los mejores resultados en cuanto a concentración de proteínas se obtuvieron con la resuspensión de apitoxina en buffer de lisis y precipitación con acetona (método 3) y con el método de resuspensión de apitoxina en agua destilada y precipitación con acetona (método 4). De estos, el mejor método de extracción en cuanto a integridad de las proteínas y perfil proteómico fue el de resuspensión de apitoxina en buffer de lisis seguido de precipitación con acetona (método 3).
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Lee G, Bae H. Anti-Inflammatory Applications of Melittin, a Major Component of Bee Venom: Detailed Mechanism of Action and Adverse Effects. Molecules 2016; 21:molecules21050616. [PMID: 27187328 PMCID: PMC6273919 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21050616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Revised: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is a pervasive phenomenon triggered by the innate and adaptive immune systems to maintain homeostasis. The phenomenon normally leads to recovery from infection and healing, but when not properly phased, inflammation may cause immune disorders. Bee venom is a toxin that bees use for their protection from enemies. However, for centuries it has been used in the Orient as an anti-inflammatory medicine for the treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. Bee venom and its major component, melittin, are potential means of reducing excessive immune responses and provide new alternatives for the control of inflammatory diseases. Recent experimental studies show that the biological functions of melittin could be applied for therapeutic use in vitro and in vivo. Reports verifying the therapeutic effects of melittin are accumulating in the literature, but the cellular mechanism(s) of the anti-inflammatory effects of melittin are not fully elucidated. In the present study, we review the current knowledge on the therapeutic effects of melittin and its detailed mechanisms of action against several inflammatory diseases including skin inflammation, neuroinflammation, atherosclerosis, arthritis and liver inflammation, its adverse effects as well as future prospects regarding the use of melittin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gihyun Lee
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoeki-Dong, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
| | - Hyunsu Bae
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoeki-Dong, Dongdaemoon-gu, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
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Vongsak B, Kongkiatpaiboon S, Jaisamut S, Machana S, Pattarapanich C. In vitro alpha glucosidase inhibition and free-radical scavenging activity of propolis from Thai stingless bees in mangosteen orchard. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE FARMACOGNOSIA-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOGNOSY 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bjp.2015.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Pharmacological Alternatives for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders: Wasp and Bee Venoms and Their Components as New Neuroactive Tools. Toxins (Basel) 2015; 7:3179-209. [PMID: 26295258 PMCID: PMC4549745 DOI: 10.3390/toxins7083179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Revised: 08/01/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are relentlessly progressive, severely impacting affected patients, families and society as a whole. Increased life expectancy has made these diseases more common worldwide. Unfortunately, available drugs have insufficient therapeutic effects on many subtypes of these intractable diseases, and adverse effects hamper continued treatment. Wasp and bee venoms and their components are potential means of managing or reducing these effects and provide new alternatives for the control of neurodegenerative diseases. These venoms and their components are well-known and irrefutable sources of neuroprotectors or neuromodulators. In this respect, the present study reviews our current understanding of the mechanisms of action and future prospects regarding the use of new drugs derived from wasp and bee venom in the treatment of major neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
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Monge-Fuentes V, Gomes FMM, Campos GAA, Silva JDC, Biolchi AM, Dos Anjos LC, Gonçalves JC, Lopes KS, Mortari MR. Neuroactive compounds obtained from arthropod venoms as new therapeutic platforms for the treatment of neurological disorders. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2015; 21:31. [PMID: 26257776 PMCID: PMC4529710 DOI: 10.1186/s40409-015-0031-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of neurological disorders in society is growing with alarming estimations for an incidence increase in the next decades. These disorders are generally chronic and can affect individuals early during productive life, imposing real limitations on the performance of their social roles. Patients can have their independence, autonomy, freedom, self-image, and self-confidence affected. In spite of their availability, drugs for the treatment of these disorders are commonly associated with side effects, which can vary in frequency and severity. Currently, no effective cure is known. Nowadays, the biopharmaceutical research community widely recognizes arthropod venoms as a rich source of bioactive compounds, providing a plethora of possibilities for the discovery of new neuroactive compounds, opening up novel and attractive opportunities in this field. Several identified molecules with a neuropharmacological profile can act in the central nervous system on different neuronal targets, rendering them useful tools for the study of neurological disorders. In this context, this review aims to describe the current main compounds extracted from arthropod venoms for the treatment of five major existing neurological disorders: stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and pathological anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Monge-Fuentes
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, DF CEP 70.910-900, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Flávia Maria Medeiros Gomes
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, DF CEP 70.910-900, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Gabriel Avohay Alves Campos
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, DF CEP 70.910-900, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Juliana de Castro Silva
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, DF CEP 70.910-900, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Andréia Mayer Biolchi
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, DF CEP 70.910-900, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Lilian Carneiro Dos Anjos
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, DF CEP 70.910-900, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Jacqueline Coimbra Gonçalves
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, DF CEP 70.910-900, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Kamila Soares Lopes
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, DF CEP 70.910-900, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Márcia Renata Mortari
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, DF CEP 70.910-900, Brasília, Brazil
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