200 times more powerful than morphine and extremely rare, how deadly is the dart frog toxin that killed Putin’s opponent Alexei?

Russia: Russia Britain and some of its European allies have made big claims regarding the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. They say that Navalny was murdered with a very deadly toxic substance, which is found in the skin of poisonous dart frogs found in South America.

According to Britain’s Foreign Ministry, traces of a neurotoxin called epibatidine were found in the samples taken from Navalny’s body. The statement said that the same substance had caused his death in Siberia two years ago. Allied countries have blamed Russia for this. However, Russia has rejected these allegations. According to Russian news agency Tass, Moscow has called it an information campaign.

What is epibatidine?

According to BBC report, toxicology expert Jill Johnson says that epibatidine is a natural neurotoxin, which was isolated from the skin of poison dart frog found in Ecuador. It is approximately 200 times more powerful than morphine.

Where is epibatidine toxin found?

This poison is found naturally in some dart frogs found in the forests of South America, although it can also be prepared in the lab. The European allies said in a statement that captive dart frogs do not produce this poison and the substance is not found naturally in Russia.

Species like Anthony’s poison arrow frog and phantasmal poison frog release this poison on their skin. Epibatidine was researched as a pain relief and treatment for inflammatory lung diseases. But due to its high toxicity, it was not considered suitable for medical use.

How does this poison work?

According to Jill Johnson, this toxin affects the nicotinic receptors in the nervous system. This over-stimulates these receptors. When given in the right doses, it can cause muscle tremors, paralysis, seizures, slow heartbeat, respiratory arrest, and ultimately death.

Due to its effect, the process of breathing can stop and if poison is given, the person dies due to suffocation. He said that the presence of this poison in a person’s blood indicates that it was given intentionally. Professor Hay also told that its toxicity can increase further when mixed with some medicines.

How rare is this poison?

According to Johnson, epibatidine is extremely rare and is found only in very small quantities in a specific geographical area. It is believed that the frog mentioned by the British Foreign Ministry is Anthony’s Poison Arrow Frog, which is found in Ecuador and Peru.

These frogs eat special kind of food. Due to which a chemical called alkaloid is formed in their body and it produces epibatidine. If there is a change in their diet then the amount of this poison in their body also reduces.

What did Russia say?

European laboratories confirmed on Saturday that Navalny died from this rare poison. Earlier, Moscow had claimed that Navalny died due to natural causes. Navalny’s wife Yulia Navalnaya has been continuously saying that her husband was murdered by poisoning. The Russian Embassy in London denied any Moscow involvement and described the announcement as ‘Western fantasy’ and ‘necro-propaganda’.

Where was Alexey Navalny at the time of his death?

Navalny, 47, had been in jail for three years at the time of his death and was later shifted to a penal colony in the Arctic region. According to Russian officials, he complained of feeling unwell after walking for a while, then collapsed and never regained consciousness.