Science makes new discoveries everyday that advance human health and well being. According to new researches fish poison have huge medical importance. These poisons are examined in several animal models.
1. University of Chakwal, Pakistan
Topic : Medicinal uses of poisonous fishes
Department of Zoology
Presented by: Mehreen Afzal
Roll no# UOC-BSZOL-F2020/031
BS Zoology 8th semester
Session: 2020-2024
Subject: Ichthyology
Instructor Name: Dr. Syeda Nadia Ahmad
2. • Science makes new discoveries every day that
advance human health and well-being.
• Like animal toxins, many medications are
found in nature.
• According to recent studies, there may be a
huge medical potential for the fish poisons.
• The use of marine creatures and their toxins
to identify compounds with therapeutic action
has grown due to the great specificity of their
targets.
• These molecules are then examined in various
animal models of disorders (Brighton
Ndandala et al., 2023)
Introduction
3. Neurotoxins
These poisons attack the nerve system and can result in numbness, tingling,
paralysis, and even fatalities.
• Domoic acid
• Saxitoxin
• Brevetoxins
• Tetradotoxin(Cusick & Sayler, 2013).
Cytotoxins
These poisons can lead to organ failure and destroy cells.
• Mycotoxin
• Ciguatoxin
Fish poisons classified according to their effects
4. Pain relief:
Toxins such as TTX block sodium
channels in nerve cells, preventing the
brain from receiving pain signals. Cone
snails are one example(Ahasan ,2021).
Antitumor activity:
Some cytotoxins, such as CTX, have the ability
to cause ion channel disruption in cancer cells,
which in turn causes apoptosis, or programmed
cell death. For instance, a wolf eel
Possible uses of fish for medicinal purposes
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5. Neurological Disorders:
By interfering with particular neural pathways,
certain fish toxins may provide protection against
neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's
and Alzheimer's. Example: starfish ,
lionfish(UYAN, 2022).
Antimicrobial properties:
A number of fish toxins have antifungal and
antibacterial activity, which may help create
new drugs.
Example: wolf eel, honeycomb moray eel
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6. Disadvantages and
Dangers of Medicinal
Use of Fish Toxins
• Difficulty Isolating and Purifying Specific
Toxins:
Isolating and purifying the desired toxin with
high yield and purity is a significant hurdle.
• Complex Mixtures:
They often contain a cocktail of different toxins
with varying properties and potencies.
• Chemical Instability:
They can degrade rapidly under light, heat, or
exposure to air.
• Limited Sample Availability:
Depending on the fish species and the toxin
itself, extracting large enough amounts for
research and development purposes can be
difficult (Louzao et al., 2022).
7. Potential side effects and dangers of unrefined toxins
1. Unpredictable Cocktail of Toxins
2. Synergistic Effects
3. Difficulty in Dose Control
4. Long-Term Effects Unknown
5. Importance of Proper Research and Development
(R&D)(Charitos et al., 2022).
8. Copper Joe toadfish
The study on a fish called Copper Joe
toadfish (Thalassophryne nattereri) and
found that a small molecule in the fish's
venom, called TnP.TnP is safe and
effective and could be a promising drug
for the treatment of human diseases that
involve inflammation, such as asthma
and multiple sclerosis(Lopes-Ferreira et
al., 2023). TnP as a candidate molecule
for the treatment of airway remodeling
associated with inflammatory diseases,
such as asthma(Lima et al., 2023).
9. • The analysis of the bioactive components and possible
medical applications of the venom of Scorpaena plumieri
fish(Campos et al., 2016).
• Studies have shown that scorpionfish venom contains a
variety of peptides and proteins that have potential
medicinal properties such as
• Analgesics
• Anti inflammatory
• Anticonvulsants.
Scorpion fish
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10. Puffer Fish
The antibacterial properties of tetrodotoxin, which was
derived from several puffer fish components that were
discovered in Egypt's Mediterranean Sea. Although it
is well known for its toxicity, tetrodotoxin is being
investigated for possible medical uses. The study
investigates the antibacterial characteristics of
tetrodotoxin that is isolated from the puffer fish's skin,
muscles, and liver(Alabssawy, 2018).
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11. The allure of
toxins
Although it may seem odd, there is a
lengthy history behind the use of toxins
for medical purposes. Complex chemicals
found in some fish venoms can have
unexpected effects on the body. Certain
toxins can be fatal when taken in small,
regulated doses, whereas others may be
helpful(Hashempour-baltork et al., 2023).
12. Not quite there yet:
There aren't any FDA-approved drugs made
from toxic fish venom at the moment. To
comprehend the characteristics of these
poisons, scientists are now investigating them.
These findings have potential for the creation
of novel medications in the future(Food and
Drug Administration)
13. Pain Management: Some fish venoms
contain components that could be
developed into painkillers.
Cancer Treatment: Researchers are
investigating whether certain fish
venoms have anti-cancer properties.
Autoimmune Diseases: Some fish
venoms may help regulate the immune
system, potentially aiding in the
treatment of autoimmune diseases
(Charitos et al., 2022).
Why is fish
venom?
14. Challenges and
risks
• It's important to extract and
purify venom in a regulated
and safe manner(Bordon et
al., 2020).
• Determining the
appropriate dosage for a
therapeutic outcome is
essential.
• Venoms should be
carefully reviewed for
any unexpected
outcomes, even if they
appear promising.
15. The future of fish
venom medicine:
Despite the fact that fish venom is not
currently used medicinally, research in this
area is still being conducted. Although fish
venoms present a special source of
potentially medicinal substances, further
clinical trials and scientific investigation are
required before any venom-derived
medicines are made accessible(Bordon et al.,
2020).
16. References
Lopes-Ferreira, M., Disner, G. R., Falcão, M. A. P., & Lima, C. (2023, February 6). A Blessing in
Disguise: From Fish Venom to Novel Medicines. Frontiers for Young Minds, 11.
Lima, C., Falcão, M. A. P., Pinto, F. J., Bernardo, J. T. G., & Lopes-Ferreira, M. (2023, March 17). The
Anti-Inflammatory Peptide TnP Is a Candidate Molecule for Asthma Treatment. Cells, 12(6), 924.
Bordon, K. D. C. F., Cologna, C. T., Fornari-Baldo, E. C., Pinheiro-Júnior, E. L., Cerni, F. A., Amorim,
F. G., ... & Arantes, E. C. (2020). From animal poisons and venoms to medicines: achievements,
challenges and perspectives in drug discovery. Frontiers in pharmacology, 11, 553397.
Ndandala, C. B., Mustapha, U. F., Wang, Y., Assan, D., Zhao, G., Huang, C., ... & Chen, H. (2023).
The perspective of fish venom: An overview of the physiology, evolution, molecular and genetics.
Frontiers in Marine Science.
Food and Drug Administration
17. Alabssawy, A. N. (2017). Antimicrobial activity of Tetrodotoxin extracted from liver, skin and
muscles of puffer fish, Lagocephalus sceleratus inhabiting Mediterranean Sea,
Egypt. International Journal of Cancer and Biomedical Research, 1(1), 2-1
Cusick, K., & Sayler, G. (2013, March 27). An Overview on the Marine Neurotoxin,
Saxitoxin: Genetics, Molecular Targets, Methods of Detection and Ecological
Functions. Marine Drugs, 11(12), 991–1018.
Campos, F. V., Menezes, T. N., Malacarne, P. F., Costa, F. L., Naumann, G. B., Gomes, H. L.,
& Figueiredo, S. G. (2017). A review on the Scorpaena plumieri fish venom and its bioactive
compounds. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases, 22.
Ahasan, F. (2021). Sea snail venom: A potential alternative to Opioid Analgesics (Doctoral
dissertation, Brac University).
Louzao, M. C., Vilariño, N., Vale, C., Costas, C., Cao, A., Raposo-Garcia, S., ... & Botana, L.
M. (2022). Current trends and new challenges in marine phycotoxins. Marine Drugs, 20(3),
198.
18. Ali, U. Y. A. N. (2022). A Review on the Potential Usage of Lionfishes (Pterois spp.) in
Biomedical and Bioinspired Applications. Natural and Engineering Sciences, 7(2), 214-227.
Charitos, I. A., Gagliano-Candela, R., Santacroce, L., & Bottalico, L. (2022). Venoms and
poisonings during the centuries: a narrative review. Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune
Disorders-Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets-Immune, Endocrine & Metabolic
Disorders), 22(6), 558-570.
Hashempour-Baltork, F., Jannat, B., Tajdar-Oranj, B., Aminzare, M., Sahebi, H., Alizadeh, A.
M., & Hosseini, H. (2023). A comprehensive systematic review and health risk assessment of
potentially toxic element intakes via fish consumption in Iran. Ecotoxicology and
Environmental Safety, 249, 114349.
