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J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis. Vol.9, No.2, p.571, 2003. Poster - ISSN 1678-9199. |
ANGEL, R.
Instituto Colombiano de MedicinaTropical, Medellín, Colombia.
Colombia is one of the richest countries of the world in biodiversity. It has the first place in amphibia, both in species number and in toxicity. Dendrobatidae family is represented by the Phyllobates, Dendrobates, Epipedobates and Minyobates genera. Among the five species of the Phyllobates genus, there are three in Colombia: P.aurotaenia, P. bicolor, P. terribilis. The Dendrobates genus has 7 species, the Epipedobates 8 species and the Minyobates genus has 7 species. The mayority of the total species are distributes in the Colombian West and along the Pacific Coast. The natives Embera tribe are in the Colombian West and they use poisoned darts with skin extracts from the Phyllobates species, through the “bodoquera or cerbatana” (blowgun), in order to capture animals for their feeding and also for self-defence and revanche against their enemies. This poison is stored in the cutaneous glands that cover the dorsal skin and are two types: serouses and mucouses. The principal component of the poison from Phyllobates species, is batrachotoxin (BTx- C24H33N05-), and steroidal alkaloid wich acts as an activator of the Na+ ion conducts of the neurons and muscle cells, wich increases the permeability to Na+ and induce permanent depolarization. From D. histrionicus it has been isolated histrionicotoxins , potents blockers non competitives of nicotinic channels. From D. lehmani it has been isolated a new alkaloid by the name of lehmizidine. From some species of Epipedobates genus it has been isolated epibatidine, a potent analgesic in experimentation. The poison study of frogs could conduct to new tools for biological investigation and perhaps as medicaments. From the ecological point or view, the deforesting accelerated rhythm, and illegal commerce of the frogs towards other countries, are carrying factors to the extinction of these beautiful jewels of nature.
CORRESPONDENCE TO:
ANGEL, R., Instituto Colombiano de Medicina Tropical, Medellín, Colombia, Email: matigel@epm.net.co