A new class of peptides from wasp venom: a pathway to antiepileptic/neuroprotective drugs.

ABSTRACT: The ability of venom-derived peptides to disrupt physiological processes in mammals provides an exciting source for pharmacological development. Our research group has identified a new class of neuroactive peptides from the venom of a Brazilian social wasp, Polybia occidentalis, with the potential pharmacological profile to treat epilepsies. The study was divided into five phases: Phase 1 concerned the extraction, isolation and purification of Occidentalin-1202(n) from the crude venom, followed by the synthesis of an identical analogue peptide, named Occidentalin-1202(s). In Phase 2, we described the effects of both peptides in two acute models of epilepsy-kainic acid and pentylenetetrazole-induced model of seizures-and measured estimated ED₅₀ and therapeutic index values

SUBMITTER: Mortari MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9945850 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature