Marta Gichko15:16, 14.02.26

It is a highly toxic substance found in the skin of South American frogs that affects the nervous system and can cause respiratory paralysis.

The highly toxic substance epibatidine was detected in Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny’s biopsy specimens . According to The Insider , this was confirmed by laboratories in five European countries: the UK, Sweden, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Several independent laboratories analyzed the samples and found the presence of epibatidine, a toxin found in the skin of the American poison dart frog and considered extremely dangerous.

According to The Insider, representatives of the five countries plan to make a joint statement during the Munich Security Conference.

Resuscitation specialist Alexander Polupan, who previously treated Navalny after he was poisoned with Novichok, told the publication that the politician’s publicized symptoms are consistent with known data on the effects of epibatidine.

What is known about epibatidine

Epibatidine is a highly toxic alkaloid that occurs naturally in the skin of certain South American poison dart frogs.

The substance affects the nervous system by acting on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In very small doses, it can have a strong analgesic effect, but even a slight overdose causes seizures, respiratory paralysis, and can be fatal.

Due to its high toxicity, it is not used in medicine.

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