The introduction of marine cone snail species from the coast of the Qeshm Island, contains conotoxin palliative pain in mice

Conotoxins are small toxic peptides that are synthesized in cone snail venom ducts. Conotoxins have analgesic effects in models animal. In this study, the analgesic effects with no toxicity of Persian Gulf cone snails, Conus coronatus, and Conus frigidus were studied and compared with the same dose of morphine. Conotoxins extraction was performed using acetonitrile solvent, from the cone snail venom ducts. Their molecular weight was determined using SDS-PAGE and the conotoxins Profile was evaluated by RP-HPLC. Evaluation of the analgesic effect was conducted with formalin test in mice models. Conotoxins toxicity effects were conducted on the hemolytic test. The results showed that conotoxin extracts have a weight range of about 5-180 kDa with no hemolytic effects and could reduce the painful effects of formalin, in the first phase, equal to the effect of morphine in reducing pain. Therefore, taking into account the effects of opioid pain medications, if purification, toxicology, and clinical studies of these extracts are taken, they can be a good candidate for the production of natural painkillers used.