Nature-derived products and peptides: emerging insights into the mechanisms of visceral pain

Naturally derived products, including plant- and venom-derived peptides, have played an instrumental role in identifying the ion channels, receptors and signalling pathways involved in visceral pain. Although crude venoms are traditionally known for their harmful effects, research into their molecular composition has uncovered a diverse array of peptide components with high specificity for particular ion channels and receptors. These peptide components exhibit potent excitatory and inhibitory pr