Bufo toxins: A boon or bane?

Abstract

Parotid glands of toads are not for the secretion of saliva. However they rather plays a vital role to keep them safe from the hunting predators. The secretion is basically a milky color toxin which provokes neurological, haematological, cardiotoxic etc. signs in intoxicated animals and can even be fatal. The so called deadliest toxin has been widely used in traditional Chinese therapy for a number of ailments. Recent research has proved the toxin posses cardiotonic, analgesic, sedative, anti-tumour and antimicrobial activity.