United News of Bangladesh

A rare and powerful toxin found in South American poison dart frogs was allegedly used to kill Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, according to claims by the UK Foreign Office and several European allies. They said traces of epibatidine  a highly toxic natural substance  were detected in samples taken from Navalny’s body and were very likely the cause of his death at a Siberian penal colony two years ago. The allies also stated that only the Russian state had the “means, motive and opportunity” to use such a rare toxin. The Kremlin rejected the allegation, calling it an information campaign, Russian state news agency Tass reported. Epibatidine is a natural neurotoxin found in the skin of certain poison dart frogs living in parts of South America. Toxicology expert Jill Johnson said it is about 200 times stronger than morphine. The chemical can also be produced in laboratories, but it does not occur naturally in Russia, European allies noted. The toxin affects the nervous system by overstimulating nerve receptors. Experts say this can cause muscle spasms, seizures, slowed heart rate, breathing failure and ultimately death. Professor Alastair Hay of the University of Leeds explained that victims may die from suffocation as breathing becomes blocked. Epibatidine is extremely rare and naturally found only in limited regions, mainly in frogs from Ecuador and Peru. The frogs produce the toxin based on their diet in the wild, making it very difficult to obtain naturally. Chinese scientists identify key brain network in Parkinson’s disease European laboratories reportedly confirmed the presence of the toxin. Moscow has previously claimed Navalny died of natural causes, while his widow has insisted he was poisoned. The Russian embassy in London denied any involvement, while a former senior officer linked to Nato said evidence suggests state involvement in the killing. Navalny, 47, had been imprisoned for three years before his death. Russian officials said he fell ill after a walk and collapsed without regaining consciousness. With inputs from BBC