known asic inhibitors which have been in the micromolar range. in addition, pctx1 does not inhibit other voltage-gated ion channels or ligand-gated channels. the structure of this inhibitor is 40 amino acids linked with disulfide bonds. it was identified as a peptide toxin from the south american tarantula psalmopoeus cambridge. when pctx1 was administered within the basolateral amygdala of rats, the emotion and anxiety related symptoms associated with pain were significantly decreased. mambalgins isolated from the venom of the black mamba have also been identified as potent inhibitors of asics. commonly used non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids) have been found to play a role in asic inhibition which contributes to pain modulation. the well-known mechanism for nsaid function is their inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis, a major inflammatory compound. however, findings show that nsaids ibuprofen and aspirin inhibit asics with ic50 values of 350µm and 260µm, respectively. nsaids likely inhibit the asic current during acute pain, particularly that caused by tissue inflammation, and thus inhibit the signal to pain-sensing neurons. by furthering research on the pharmacological potential in asic inhibition, patients suffering with chronic pain and various pathologies associated with acidosis may have greater treatment options in the future. additionally, drug discovery studies of asics provide greater knowledge on the function of the channels themselves and their physiological significance.