The Sunday Sidebar – Frogs and Health.
I’ve developed a sudden fascination with frogs. It started the other day when I came across this headline “Doctors Evaluate Toad Venom as Potential Cancer Cure.” Frogs as a cancer cure wasn’t something that I had ever considered. But there, in black and white, was a whole article on toad venom and it’s possible use in treating cancer.
Last time I had given any thought to frogs was when I was watching the ‘raining frogs’ scene in the movie Magnolia. My thoughts then were along the lines of ‘how gross is that.’ Now I’m thinking, frogs might do more than just drop out of the sky.
Turns out that scientists are looking to frogs to help with various medical conditions…
Scientists studying the South American jungle frog Pseudis Paradoxa (Paradoxical Frog) have determined that the slimy goo from the skin of this exotic green frog has protein-building properties that stimulate the release of insulin. Research continues to determine the potential of this in helping create new diabetes medications.
Frog Egg Cells and Brain Tumors
A molecule isolated from the egg cells of the Northern Leopard Frog has the potential to help treat brain tumors. According to UK and US scientists, this molecule is able to recognize the sugary coating found on the tumor cell and can attach to the tumor cell and actually kill it.
Research Professor Ravi Acharya calls this molecule “mother nature’s very own magic bullet…highly specific at hunting and destroying tumor cells…easily synthesised in the laboratory and offers great hope as a therapeutic treatment for the future.”
Australian researchers have found that the secretions of the bottle green Dumpy Tree Frog are effective at repelling mosquitos.
And finally…
Kermit the frog has the last word…
I love frogs! And I have type 2 diabetes. And I think those scientists should leave little Mr. Paradoxical alone, unless disease progression is the goal. Although the method may be different, if the aim of an incretin memetic is stimulating the already-overworked type-2 beta cells, how could the expected long-term outcome be better than what’s been seen from sulfonylureas?
Hi Sam, as far as I know the scientists are trying to create an artifical copy of the peptide that the paradoxical frog’s skin secretes. Which, I too hope means that they will be leaving the frogs themselves alone.