For erectile problems, medications such as sildenafil can be used to increase blood flow to the penis. But a new alternative for treating erectile dysfunction uses the venom of a spider from Brazil… The spider is called Phoneutria nigriventer, or Brazilian wandering spider, as well as banana spider. It is seen around banana plantations in South and Central America. The spider is also called banana because, in between catching other spiders and insects, it likes to eat fruits like bananas. Phoneutria nigriventer ranks among the most toxic spiders in the world. Although they do not hunt mammals, banana spiders do not hesitate to bite them if they feel threatened. When they bite, they release large amounts of poison, which significantly increases the heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. In addition to these effects of the poison on the body, it causes extreme pain as well as a painful erection that lasts for hours before it subsides. It was the erection that provoked the interest in the poison on the part of Brazilian researchers. They have taken some of the properties of Phoneutria nigriventer venom and developed a synthetic molecule that mimics the molecule in the venom that causes an erection. Applying a gel containing this molecule directly to the groin is said to produce an erection. The synthetic gel works differently than standard erectile dysfunction treatments. Drugs like sildenafil work by relaxing the blood vessels in the penis, allowing more blood to flow in, which in turn makes an erection possible. But spider venom works in a different way – it causes the body to release nitric oxide, which directly increases blood flow to the genitals. The newly developed drug also has good results in cases of high blood pressure or diabetes, making it suitable for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in the presence of such conditions. This makes the treatment a better option than medications to date, which carry potential risks when taken by people with diabetes or hypertension. Using the venom of various animals to develop medicines has been a practice for hundreds of years. Snake venom is used in traditional medicine as a pain reliever, and there is evidence of the beneficial effects on the body of some species of spiders. References: Nield, D. (2023, September 29) Spider Venom That Causes Penile Necrosis Could Work as an Alternative to Viagra. Retrieved 2023, October 2 from https://www.sciencealert.com/spider-venom-that-causes-penile-necrosis-could-work-as-an-alternative-to-viagra