Vastness
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2006
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Wasn't sure whether to post this in the Psychedelics forum or here, I figure that this is highly likely to be a purely theoretical topic at the moment though so am posting it here.
Anyway I recently noticed that PsychonautWiki has the "Conantokin Peptides" listed as a pharmacological class of dissociative drugs - a little research and it seems these compounds are peptides derived from the venom of certain species of marine "Cone snails".
From the Wikipedia page on Conantokins:
A little more research, and it seems that there are some "marine derived" drugs under investigation for various conditions - this Researchgate publication lists a few of them, such as Ziconotide, as well as one derived from (the venom of?) a "Nemertine worm". Ziconotide itself is only approved for intrathecal use, ie, injection directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, and seems to have a list of some potentially quite serious side effects so is unlikely to have much recreational potential. As far as I can tell, the effects of being stung by a Cone snail are also pretty serious, potentially fatal, and, therefore, likely not recreational.
However, I am curious, does anyone know of any research into the likely effects of these interesting and unusual substances in humans? Or, if not, would anyone like to speculate as to their potential subjective effects, toxicity, and recreational potential when compared to currently well known dissociatives / NMDA antagonists, ie, ketamine and those from the arylcyclohexylamine class?
Given that humans have found ways to try getting high on a whole bunch of other venomous animals, ie, cane toads, tree frogs, and that there is even that guy who injects himself with small amounts of snake venom, it's kind of surprising to me that no-one has tried to harvest this venom before for self-administration, or that some culture in human history hasn't tried to utilise it in this way, although I guess this is maybe because these Cone snails do not come into contact with humans that often, and/or that the venom in it's natural, unrefined form is just too toxic and dangerous for anyone to bother with. Perhaps also it would just be too difficult to harvest this venom, at least in any kind of humane way. Anyway, I'd be interested to hear anyone's thoughts on this.
Anyway I recently noticed that PsychonautWiki has the "Conantokin Peptides" listed as a pharmacological class of dissociative drugs - a little research and it seems these compounds are peptides derived from the venom of certain species of marine "Cone snails".
From the Wikipedia page on Conantokins:
Conantokins are a small family of helical peptides that are derived from the venom of predatory marine snails of the genus Conus. Conantokins act as potent and specific antagonists of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR).[1] They are the only naturally-derived peptides to do so.[2] The subtypes of conantokins exhibit a surprising variability of selectivity across the NMDAR subunits, and are therefore uniquely useful in developing subunit-specific pharmacological probes.
A little more research, and it seems that there are some "marine derived" drugs under investigation for various conditions - this Researchgate publication lists a few of them, such as Ziconotide, as well as one derived from (the venom of?) a "Nemertine worm". Ziconotide itself is only approved for intrathecal use, ie, injection directly into the cerebrospinal fluid, and seems to have a list of some potentially quite serious side effects so is unlikely to have much recreational potential. As far as I can tell, the effects of being stung by a Cone snail are also pretty serious, potentially fatal, and, therefore, likely not recreational.
However, I am curious, does anyone know of any research into the likely effects of these interesting and unusual substances in humans? Or, if not, would anyone like to speculate as to their potential subjective effects, toxicity, and recreational potential when compared to currently well known dissociatives / NMDA antagonists, ie, ketamine and those from the arylcyclohexylamine class?
Given that humans have found ways to try getting high on a whole bunch of other venomous animals, ie, cane toads, tree frogs, and that there is even that guy who injects himself with small amounts of snake venom, it's kind of surprising to me that no-one has tried to harvest this venom before for self-administration, or that some culture in human history hasn't tried to utilise it in this way, although I guess this is maybe because these Cone snails do not come into contact with humans that often, and/or that the venom in it's natural, unrefined form is just too toxic and dangerous for anyone to bother with. Perhaps also it would just be too difficult to harvest this venom, at least in any kind of humane way. Anyway, I'd be interested to hear anyone's thoughts on this.