Brazilian researchers are exploring whether venom from the banana spider could provide a new treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Known for causing painful, prolonged erections in its bite victims, the venom is now being used to develop a synthetic molecule that may offer relief for men suffering from this condition.
Scientists at the Ezequiel Dias Foundation (FUNED) began studying the venom’s effects three decades ago after noticing that patients bitten by the spider often experienced priapism, a painful and persistent erection.
The molecule derived from the venom triggers the release of nitric oxide, a key chemical that increases blood circulation and relaxes blood vessels, making erections possible. This discovery could be particularly beneficial for men who have undergone prostate removal, a surgery that often leads to erectile dysfunction, according to Maria Elena, a professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG).
The banana spider, also known as the wandering or armed spider, is one of the world’s most venomous arachnids. Found in South American banana plantations, including in urban and rural areas of Brazil’s Minas Gerais state, researchers are carefully harvesting its venom for medical use.
The treatment has shown significant potential and Brazil’s regulatory agency, Anvisa, has approved the first phase of clinical trials.
[Image via MidJourney]