Compound Monograph
Bombesin
Bombesin is a 14-amino-acid peptide first isolated from frog skin that stimulates gut hormone release and has a counterpart system in mammals.
Where Does It Come From? (2)
Bombesin is a naturally occurring peptide, found in European fire-bellied toad and Phyllomedusa frog skin secretions. It is flagged as moderately toxic.
Research & Evidence
Bombesin is a fourteen-amino-acid peptide originally isolated from the skin of the European fire-bellied toad and related amphibians, including the Phyllomedusa frogs whose secretions are used in the kambô practice. It stimulates the release of gastrin and other gut hormones and acts on a family of bombesin receptors; mammals possess closely related peptides such as gastrin-releasing peptide. It is widely used as a research tool in studies of appetite, gut physiology and certain cancers.
Toxicity & Safety
Bombesin is a pharmacologically active peptide rather than a casual dietary substance, and in experimental settings it produces effects on the gut, blood pressure and body temperature. It is used essentially only in research, and its inclusion among amphibian skin peptides is part of why crude frog-secretion practices carry physiological risk.