7 Life-Saving Medicines That Come From Deadly Animals

What is one medical condition that Botox can be used to prevent?

• Heart attacks

• Migraines

• Kidney disease

• Food poisoning

Captopril, a medicine inspired by snake venom, is used to treat what condition?

• Low blood sugar

• High blood pressure

• Chronic pain

• Twitchy eyelids

How does Ziconotide, a pain reliever derived from cone snail venom, work in the body?

• It paralyzes facial muscles.

• It blocks calcium channels in the spinal cord.

• It increases blood sugar levels.

• It constricts blood vessels.

Exenatide, a medicine derived from Gila monster venom, helps people with Type 2 diabetes by doing what?

• Reducing pain directly.

• Lowering blood sugar.

• Preventing migraines.

• Increasing blood pressure.

How do the drugs Linaclotide and Plecanatide help people who are constipated?

• They make the gut absorb more water.

• They cause the gut to release extra water and salt.

• They directly make the gut muscles squeeze harder.

• They kill harmful bacteria in the digestive system.

What is the primary natural use of cantharidin for blister beetles?

• To help them find food.

• To attract other beetles for mating.

• To defend themselves against animals that try to eat them.

• To help their eggs hatch faster.

How can cantharidin be used to treat skin problems like warts?

• It makes the skin stronger and less likely to get infections.

• It causes the outer layers of skin to separate, removing infected cells.

• It helps the body create new, healthy skin cells quickly.

• It stops the growth of all skin cells.

How does the Stichodactyla toxin from sea anemones help treat autoimmune diseases?

• It makes the entire immune system stronger.

• It blocks specific channels in certain immune cells that cause problems.

• It helps the body produce more healthy cells.

• It directly attacks and destroys disease-causing germs.