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Exploring the Unique Australian Cane Toad By-Product:
Dried Venom of the Marine Toad
Australia's diverse ecosystem is home to a multitude of unique flora and fauna, some of which have captivated the attention of researchers and enthusiasts alike. Among these fascinating creatures is the marine toad (Bufo marinus), an amphibian species known for its distinctive features and intriguing characteristics. While the marine toad itself has garnered interest for its biology and ecology, it is also associated with a remarkable by-product: dried venom, a potential equivalence of the valued Chinese medicine of Shan Su. Let's delve into the world of Australian pest - marine toad by-product, the dried venom of the marine toad.
Introduction of the Marine Toad
The marine toad, also known as the cane toad, is native to Central and South America but was introduced to Australia in the 1930s to control sugarcane pests. However, the introduction of this amphibian had unintended consequences, as the toads quickly spread across the continent, becoming an invasive species and a significant environmental concern.
Dried Venom: Unveiling a Unique By-Product
One of the intriguing aspects of the marine toad is its venom, which contains a potent cocktail of toxins known as bufotoxins. While these toxins serve as a defence mechanism for the toad, they have also piqued the interest of researchers and entrepreneurs for their potential applications. In recent years, dried venom extracted from marine toads has gained attention for its diverse uses.
In China, the dried venom from the species of both Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor and Bufo melanostictus Schneider has been included in the Chinese Pharmacopeia and it has been long used in the Chinese medicine pharmaceutical industry.
Applications and Benefits
Medical Research: Dried marine toad venom is valued for its chemical composition, which includes compounds with potential pharmaceutical properties. Researchers are exploring its use in studies related to pain management, cancer treatment, and neuroscience.
Biomedical Applications: The unique properties of marine toad venom make it a subject of interest for biomedical applications. It has been studied for its antimicrobial properties and its potential role in drug delivery systems.
Potential Export Opportunities
The overwhelming spread of the marine toad in Australian North-East may provide a potential resource to convert the pest into a human healthcare opportunity. Some studies revealed a positive finding by the University of Queensland for both the toad skin and venom. Once studies could successfully demonstrate the bio-equivalence for the marine toad with the Asian toad, then the wider utilization could be developed.
More information:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6115759/
https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2015/03/cane-toads-potentially-lucrative-export-cancer-fight
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6337282/
