Toxic Botox escapes into our nervous system: Scientists

Sydney, April 17: Botox users please take note! Researchers from the University of Queensland have found that the potent toxin used for revamping our look and persolity is transported via our nerves back to the central nervous system. Botox - best known for its ability to smooth wrinkles - has been extremely useful for the treatment of over-active muscles and spasticity which promotes local and long-term paralysis. “The discovery that some of the injected toxin can travel through our nerves is worrying, considering the extreme potency of the toxin,” warned professor Frederic Meunier from the University of Queensland’s brain institute laboratory. While no side-effects of using Botox medically have been found yet, finding out how this highly active toxin travels to the central nervous system is vital because this pathway is also hijacked by other pathogens such as West Nile or rabies viruses, he explained.  (IANS)