Anemones, corals and jellyfishes: cnidarians and its medical importance
Keywords:
cnidarians, venom, toxins, ion, channels, therapeuticsAbstract
Cnidarians are considered the most beautiful and eccentric organisms in the ocean. They have inhabited Earth’s seas for millions of years at many depths and latitudes. However, since they are venomous and contact with them might produce pain and burning sensation for a while, just a few species have been considered of medical importance for humans.
As with other venomous species, cnidarian toxins are studied in order to know their mechanisms of action and to find new therapeutic agents. Many research works describe some cnidarian compounds that have pharmacological properties against viral and autoimmune diseases, and even gastritis. Even more important, since many of this species are severely endangered, it is important to fight for its conservation, not only due to its pharmacological potential, but also because some species are the basis for marine ecosystems with greatest diversity.
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Revista Digital Universitaria es editada por la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México se distribuye bajo una Licencia Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial 4.0 Internacional. Basada en una obra en http://revista.unam.mx/.