Spiders can inflict a painful bite, but that venom could pave the way for a new class of pain killer.
Seven of the many compounds found in spider venom block a key step in the body's ability to pass pain signals to the brain, researchers from the University of Queensland have discovered.
Their findings, published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, could lead to a new class of potent painkillers with fewer side effects than current medications.
Lead researcher Glenn King says the team is particularly interested in a compound in the venom that blocks Nav1.7 channels - what is known as the pain pathway from nerves to the brain.
"Previous research shows indifference to pain among people who lack Nav1.7 channels due to a naturally-occurring genetic mutation, so blocking these channels has the potential of turning off pain in people with normal pain pathways," Professor King says in a statement.
In their study, venom from 206 species of spider was screened and 40 per cent contained at least one compound that blocked human Nav1.7 channels.
Of the seven promising compounds identified, one was particularly potent.
It had a chemical structure that suggested it would have high levels of chemical, thermal, and biological stability, which would be essential for administering a new medicine.
"Together these properties make it particularly exciting as a potential painkiller," the statement says.
One in five people worldwide suffer from chronic pain, and existing pain treatments often fail to provide relief.
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