CNRS,INSTITUT DE PHARMACOLOGIE MOLECULAIRE ET CELLULAIRE, VALBONNE, FRANCE; UNIVERSITE DE NICE-SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS, VALBONNE, FRANCE; LABEX ION CHANNEL SCIENCE AND THERAPEUTICS, VALBONNE, FRANCE; CLERMONT UNIVERSITE & UNIVERSITE D’AUVERGNE, CLERMONT-FERRAND, FRANCE. Mambalgins is the black Mamba’s pain-killing proteins found in its venom. It is has been found out to be as strong as morphine without most of its side-effects. This discovery is a better alternative than morphine that is addictive and has numerous side-effects like vomiting, difficulty in thinking, headaches and muscle twitching.

The black mamba is the longest venomous snake in Africa. It is known for its aggressiveness and it is one of the world’s most venomous land snakes. It is the second-longest venomous snake in the world. This predator uses neurotoxins to paralyze and kill small animals.

The tests on mice conducted by French scientists revealed that the black mamba’s venom contained a potent painkiller. The mambalgins in its venom act as an analgesic that is potent as morphine but without most of its side-effects. They completely act through a different route which produce minimal side effects.

The tests conducted on human cells in the laboratory showed that the mambalgins have the same chemical effects in humans. Further tests and developments will be conducted to make sure that this new class of analgesic from a venom will be suitable to humans.