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Epipedobates tricolor, the Ecuadorian Poison Dart Frog,
secretes a toxin that may one day prove extremely valuable to the medical
community and to those suffering from severe chronic pain. The toxin
contains the alkaloid compound, epibatidine, which was discovered by John
Daly, and several other researchers from the National Institute of Health,
in 1992. Epibatidine is the most potent nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
agonist discovered to date and has an effect on the body that is120 times
greater than that of nicotine (Qian, 1993). To learn more about epibatidine,
its analgesic properties, and the organism from which it was obtained,
click on the links above.
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College in Davidson, North Carolina. All questions and/or comments
should be directed to Amy Johnston.