Nyloxin is a commercially available source of Cobratoxin

By Rohan Steel

Racing Analytical Services Ltd

 

Alpha-cobratoxin is a venom component from cobra venom that acts as an nicotinic adrenergic receptor antagonist. There have been allegations that alpha-cobratoxin has been used as an illegal pain relief medication in racehorses but the supply of this venom component has always restricted the use of this potential doping agent. Mass spectrometry analysis has shown that Nyloxin, an over the counter pain-relief medication from the USA contains alpha-cobratoxin as well as two other cobra venom proteins, cardiotoxin and phospholipase a2. The Nyloxin also contained a number of closely related peptides, suggesting that the venom was obtained from a variety of different snake species.

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