Scorpion venom component: AGAP exhibits local anaesthetic effects and attenuates nociceptive pain

Abstract

Background: The incidences of systemic toxicity and other complications associated with existing local anaesthetics can occur at clinical  concentration level and vary with the anaesthetic techniques, types of surgery and patient factors. This evidence suggests the need for  therapeutic interventions in peripheral and regional anaesthesia. Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK) scorpion venom is a compound that  contains mixtures of peptides that have analgesic properties. This study aimed to investigate the local anaesthetic activity of scorpion  venom peptide, AGAP (analgesic-antitumor peptide) in mechanical hyperalgesia or acute inflammatory pain.

Method: Formalin was  injected into the left hind paw after 20 minutes of infiltration of drugs. The time of licking or flinching of the injected hind paw was  recorded as indicative of nociceptive or acute inflammatory pain. Paw flinching or quick withdrawal was considered a positive response to  pain in the partial sciatic nerve ligation. The paw-withdrawal threshold (PWT) was determined by consecutively increasing and  decreasing the magnitude of the stimulus.

Results: The results indicated that AGAP exhibited a 67.9% inhibition in licking or flinching  time and an 88.1% inhibition in paw withdrawal in mechanical hyperalgesia. The addition of AGAP to lidocaine showed an 89.5% inhibition  in paw withdrawal.

Conclusion: The data presented in this study suggest that local infiltration of AGAP significantly reduced  mechanical hyperalgesia and acute inflammatory pain.