Researchers Closer to Developing Fish Toxin Antidote

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By Tayo Adelaja

Published: June 12, 2010

Researchers Closer to Developing Fish Toxin Antidote

Tayo Adelaja

Scientists believe they have found an antidote to a form of food poisoning from tropical fish that prevents millions of people from eating fish. According to a report on the online news website SciDev.net, ciguatera fish poisoning affects more than 100,000 islanders in the Pacific, the Atlantic and the Indian oceans each year. It is caused by ciguatoxins produced by microscopic Gambierdiscus algae. The toxins move up the food chain and cannot be eliminated by conventional cooking. Although rarely deadly the toxins cause diarrhoea, vomiting and neurological symptoms which can last for years. Researchers from the Institute of Research for Development, the Louis Malarde Institute in French Polynesia and the Pasteur Institute in New Caledonia, Melanesia, analysed extracts from the octopus bush. The plant is a local remedy for ciguatera fish poisoning but because the plant is also toxic the researchers say local people are put off from using it. The researchers now hope to detoxify the plant and improve its efficacy.

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