What is Botox? How does it work?

Botulinum toxin; It was discovered by German doctor Justinus Kerner in 1793. Since it was first found in spoiled sausage, it was named after the Latin word for sausage, "botulus".

For the first time in 1897, Emile von Ermengen associated the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum with the disease.

Botulinum toxin or BoNT; works by preventing the release of the neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (the substance that transmits the signal from the nerve cell to the muscle cell). It has 7 subtypes, named from A to G, with the most effective being "A".

Botulinum toxin; has a structure consisting of Light and Heavy chains - The light chain has Zinc endopeptidase enzyme activity and breaks down the SNARE proteins required for the release of acetylcholine vesicles. Thus, Ach (acetylcholine) cannot be released.

It has been used for medical treatment, especially in neurological diseases and spasticity, for more than 50 years. Since 2002, it has been used by millions of people for aesthetic purposes and to remove wrinkles.