Scientists are developing a unique painkiller
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In Morocco is growing kaktusovoda plant Euphorbia resinifera (resin spurge) which contains the active substance resiniferatoxin. According to the Scoville scale, this substance is 16 billion units. For comparison, this is 10 000 times more than the "Carolina Reaper" — the hottest in the world pepper; 45,000 sharper than the spiciest Tabasco, which uses the habanero and 4.5 million times spicier than jalapenos.
Euphorbia resinifera for food use in any case impossible. To be honest, it even is not worth watching, for security purposes, however, the toxicity makes it a priceless plant. The fact that on the basis of resiniferatoxin you can create a very effective pain reliever.
Scientists have found that if you enter resiniferatoxin in the body, it reacts with a molecule TRPV1, which is contained in the nerve endings that transmit pain to the brain. As a result, in the nerve ending opens the channel through which will pass the increased influx of calcium. Oversaturation of calcium causes deactivation of the nerve responsible for the pain, but other feelings don't disappear. In other words, the patient doesn't feel pain, but are able to feel even a light touch. However, before entering a drug requires the entry of conventional anesthesia, otherwise the consequences will be dire, because until you deactivate nerve endings the pain will be unbearable.
In the study, scientists tested the efficacy of the drug in dogs suffering from pain in knee joints. Thanks to one such injection pain in animals disappeared for five months.
"the Drug was incredibly effective and played much longer than we expected. Usually pet owners are asked to re-injection five months later. After use of the drug the animals, who were limping, begin to run and live without pain" — says Michael Iadarola from the National Institute of health, USA, who conducted the drug trial.
The Scientist explained that when injected into certain areas of the body substance works as a very long anesthesia. As it turned out, the drug is very effective and late stages of cancer. The researchers conducted an inspection not only on animals but also on people who have observed the late stage of bone cancer.
"We used the same technique as with spinal anesthesia. That is, the introduced substance is not itself in the spinal cord and into the surrounding liquid", — says anesthesiologist Andrew Mannes.
During the operation the patients were under General anesthesia, and then for some time they were given powerful pain medication.
"as a result of a few hours the pain has passed completely. People simply ceased to feel it", — adds the expert.
In this case, resiniferatoxin worked on the same principle as when it was administered in the knee joints. But because the drug is injected into the Central nervous system, it has an effect on the entire body.
The Researchers note that the extremely high efficacy of the drug does not allow it to be used on a regular basis. The fact that along with the pain, the patient ceases to feel the temperature change, since "disabled" molecule TRPV1 responsible for its perception. Since the drug do completely removes any manifestations of pain, that coupled with the rest of the sensitivity it can cause injury because the patient simply did not have discomfort if you do decide to drink, for example, too hot tea, or accidentally touch the hot plate.
At the same time, the researchers say, the advantage of resiniferatoxin over other strong painkillers is that it does not need to use often, it is not addictive and works locally, i.e. only in the place where it entered. Thus, in the future the substance may be a real alternative to all opioids that are typically used in severe diseases.
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