Editing Frog (section)

===Pharmaceutical===
[[File:Schrecklicherpfeilgiftfrosch-01.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Golden poison frog]] (''Phyllobates terribilis'')]]

Because frog toxins are extraordinarily diverse, they have raised the interest of biochemists as a "natural pharmacy". The alkaloid [[epibatidine]], a painkiller 200 times more potent than [[morphine]], is made by some species of [[poison dart frog]]s. Other chemicals isolated from the skins of frogs may offer resistance to [[HIV]] infection.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=VanCompernolle |first1=S. E. |last2=Taylor |first2=R. J. |last3=Oswald-Richter |first3=K. |last4=Jiang |first4=J. |last5=Youree |first5=B. E. |last6=Bowie |first6=J. H. |last7=Tyler |first7=M. J. |last8=Conlon |first8=M. |last9=Wade |first9=D. |last10=Aiken |first10=C. |last11=Dermody |first11=T. S. |last12=KewalRamani |first12=V. N. |last13=Rollins-Smith |first13=L. A. |last14=Unutmaz |first14=D. |display-authors=9 |date=2005 |title=Antimicrobial peptides from amphibian skin potently inhibit human immunodeficiency virus infection and transfer of virus from dendritic cells to T cells |journal=Journal of Virology |volume=79 |issue=18 |pages=11598–11606 |doi=10.1128/JVI.79.18.11598-11606.2005 |doi-access=free |pmid=16140737 |pmc=1212620}}</ref> Dart poisons are under active investigation for their potential as therapeutic drugs.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Phillipe |first1=G. |last2=Angenot |first2=L. |date=2005 |title=Recent developments in the field of arrow and dart poisons |journal=Journal of Ethnopharmacology |pmid=15993556 |volume=100 |issue=1–2 |pages=85–91 |doi=10.1016/j.jep.2005.05.022|url=http://orbi.ulg.ac.be/handle/2268/16897 }}</ref>

It has long been suspected that pre-Columbian [[Mesoamerica]]ns used a toxic secretion produced by the cane toad as a [[hallucinogen]], but more likely they used substances secreted by the [[Colorado River toad]] (''Bufo alvarius''). These contain [[bufotenin]] (5-MeO-DMT), a [[psychoactive drug|psychoactive compound]] that has been used in modern times as a [[recreational drug]]. Typically, the skin secretions are dried and then smoked.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Lyttle, T. |author2=Goldstein, D. |author3=Gartz, J. |year=1996 |title=''Bufo'' toads and bufotenine: fact and fiction surrounding an alleged psychedelic |journal=Journal of Psychoactive Drugs |volume=28 |issue=3 |pages=267–290 |pmid=8895112 |doi=10.1080/02791072.1996.10472488 |citeseerx=10.1.1.688.5926 }}</ref> Illicit drug use by licking the skin of a toad has been reported in the media, but this may be an [[urban myth]].<ref>{{cite journal |author=Lyttle, T. |year=1993 |title=Misuse and legend in the "toad licking" phenomenon |journal=International Journal of the Addictions |volume=28 |issue=6 |pages=521–538 |pmid=8486435 |doi=10.3109/10826089309039645}}</ref>

Exudations from the skin of the [[golden poison frog]] (''Phyllobates terribilis'') are traditionally used by native Colombians to poison the darts they use for hunting. The tip of the projectile is rubbed over the back of the frog and the dart is launched from a [[blowgun]]. The combination of the two alkaloid toxins [[batrachotoxin]] and [[homobatrachotoxin]] is so powerful, one frog contains enough poison to kill an estimated 22,000 mice.<ref name=dartpoison>{{cite journal |author1=Myers, Charles W. |author2=Daly, John W. |author3=Malkin, Borys |year=1978 |title=A dangerously toxic new frog (''Phyllobates'') used by Emberá Indians of western Colombia, with discussion of blowgun fabrication and dart poisoning |journal=Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History |volume=161 |pages=307–366 |hdl=2246/1286 |hdl-access=free}}</ref>  Two other species, the [[Kokoe poison dart frog]] (''Phyllobates aurotaenia'') and the [[black-legged dart frog]] (''Phyllobates bicolor'') are also used for this purpose. These are less toxic and less abundant than the golden poison frog. They are impaled on pointed sticks and may be heated over a fire to maximise the quantity of poison that can be transferred to the dart.<ref name=dartpoison/>
[[File:Toadlarcomuseum.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Moche culture|Moche]] frog sculpture]]