Anxiolytic-like effect of a novel peptide isolated from the venom of the social wasp Synoeca surinama.

Pathological anxiety is among the most common psychiatric illnesses, but current treatment is highly limited. In this study, we investigated the potential anxiolytic-like effects of a peptide isolated from Synoeca surinama venom. Rats treated with this peptide spent more time exploring the open arms of elevated plus maze, which indicates an anxiolytic-like profile for this peptide. This study is the first to show the pharmacological use of S. surinama venom in the treatment of anxiety.