Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2024 Aug;53(4):964-971.
doi: 10.1007/s13744-024-01164-3. Epub 2024 May 15.

Cantharidin: A Multiporpuse Beetlejuice

Melania Edith Safenraiter  1 , María Paula Campos Soldini  2 , María Guadalupe Del Río  3
Affiliations
Review

Cantharidin: A Multiporpuse Beetlejuice

Melania Edith Safenraiter et al. Neotrop Entomol. 2024 Aug.

Abstract

Cantharidin is produced by beetles of two families, Meloidae (true blister beetles) and Oedemeridae (false blister beetles). Nevertheless, it is mainly members of the meloid family that have been widely studied in the traditional medicines and pharmacology of different cultures and countries. The meloids cantharidin's role is going to be reviewed in this paper, including the cantharidin discovery, its adaptative function, and worldwide uses. Finally, we recovered information on the implementation of this compound in South American civilizations in different therapeutic treatments as well as sexual stimulants and aphrodisiacs.

Keywords: Defense; Meloidae; Oedemeridae; Toxin; Uses; Vesicant.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Adams CL, Selander RB (1979) The biology of blister beetles of the Vittata group of the genus Epicauta (Coleoptera, Meloidae). Bull Am Mus Nat Hist 162(4):141–261
    1. Al-Binali AM, Shabana M, Al-Fifi S, Dawood S, Shehri AA, Al-Barki A (2010) Cantharidin poisoning due to blister Beetle ingestion in children: two case reports and a review of clinical presentations. Sul Qab Univ Med J 10:258–261
    1. Andrewes CH (1921) A case of poisoning by cantharidin. The Lancet 198(5117):654–655. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(01)34188-0 - DOI
    1. Bahme AJ (1968) Cantharides toxicosis in the equine. Southwestern Vet 21:147–149
    1. Beatrice TM, Khoo OT (1961) A case of cantharidin poisoning. Sing Med Jour 2:72–73

LinkOut - more resources