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Updated: Jun 23, 2025

Harvesting Venom Toxins from Assassin Bugs and Other Heteropteran Insects
Published on: April 21, 2018
Animal Venoms as Potential Source of Anticonvulsants
Syafiq Asnawi Zainal Abidin1, Anthony Kin Yip Liew1, Iekhsan Othman1
1Monash University Malaysia, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, 47500, Malaysia.
Abstract:
Epilepsy affects millions of people worldwide, and there is an urgent need to develop safe and effective therapeutic agents. Animal venoms contain diverse bioactive compounds like proteins, peptides, and small molecules, which may possess medicinal properties against epilepsy. In recent years, research has shown that venoms from various organisms such as spiders, ants, bees, wasps, and conus snails have anticonvulsant and antiepileptic effects by targeting specific receptors and ion channels. This review underscores the significance of purified proteins and toxins from these sources as potential therapeutic agents for epilepsy. In conclusion, this review emphasizes the valuable role of animal venoms as a natural resource for further exploration in epilepsy treatment research.
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