Pain relief with scorpion venom

Extracting, preserving the quality of black scorpion venom successfully, scientists of the Institute of Applied Materials Science have just developed an analgesic, anti-inflammatory medicine.

People often spread pain relievers, reduce swelling from scorpions, the most popular is scorpion wine for massage. Since then, Dr. Hoang Ngoc Anh, Institute of Applied Materials Science has deeply studied the effects of this dangerous insect.

Carefully look for poisonous insects

Dr. Hoang Ngoc Anh said that in the first days of conducting research, her group had to go to many forests to search for scorpions. First, the research team had to go to the forests in Binh Phuoc, then Tay Ninh - places famous for scorpions. However, the amount of scorpions in these places is scarce as people flock to catch them for sale to restaurants.

Fortunately, an acquaintance of Dr. Hoang Ngoc Anh said that in An Giang, the scorpion type, especially the black scorpion (Heterometrus SP) she was looking for, was still very much. Having the supply, Dr. Ngoc Anh tested in the lab every 6 months of scorpion, the main food is grasshopper, crickets. Later, the team collected venom by electrical impulse method.

Use electrical impulses to extract scorpion venom.

Dr. Hoang Ngoc Anh said, each adult scorpion can get 1.22 mg of dry venom and can take venom several times, every two weeks apart. After being taken, the venom is dried before being stored at a temperature of - 20Co.'The success of the research team is to ensure that the venom remains intact after long-term cold storage. It is an important factor to use scorpion venom as a pharmaceutical material , 'said Dr. Hoang Ngoc Anh.

Replace aspirin

According to Dr. Hoang Ngoc Anh, the test results in mice showed that scorpion venom had a better analgesic effect than aspirin at 50 mg per kg without causing side effects. In addition, subcutaneous scorpion venom has a analgesic effect lasting up to 90 minutes, and further has an anti-inflammatory effect equivalent to a dose of 2.5 mg per kg of ketoprofen.

Comments on research by Dr. Hoang Ngoc Anh, Associate Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Chau, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said that the study of Dr. Ngoc Anh is very new, so it is necessary to set up a separate standard for raising and taking venom. scorpion. Agreeing with the above remark, Dr. Tran Cong Luan, Director of the HCM City Ginseng and Medicinal Center, said that the research team must also quantify the diet, ensuring the scorpion's habitat to ensure venom content. When the extract is the highest and the best quality.

According to Dr. Hoang Ngoc Anh, the most difficult of the research group is to have a large campus for scorpion farming, ensuring a stable source of raw materials to produce enough pharmaceutical materials to supply the market.