Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Cytotoxic effect of Leurius quinquestratus (scorpion) venom in different human cancer cell lines in vitro

Wesam M Salama , Sabry A El-Naggar

Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt;

For correspondence:- Wesam Salama Email: wesam.hassan@science.tanta.edu.eg Tel:+201200355329

Accepted: 18 January 2021 Published: 28 February 2021

Citation: Salama WM, El-Naggar SA. Cytotoxic effect of Leurius quinquestratus (scorpion) venom in different human cancer cell lines in vitro. Trop J Pharm Res 2021; 20(2):345-350 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v20i2.18

© 2021 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: In this study, the cytotoxicity of scorpion Leurius quinquestratus crude venom (LQCV) was evaluated in vitro in selected human cancer cell lines.

Methods: Breast (MCF-7), hepatocellular (HepG-2), colon (CaCo-2), cervix (HeLa) and alveolar (A-549) adenocarcinoma cell lines were tested. MTT assay and median inhibition concentration (IC₅₀), apoptotic assay, caspase 3, P53, Bcl-2 proteins and cell cycle were determined.

Results: 24 hrs post-treatment, CaCo-2 represented the most sensitive cell line (IC₅₀ of 4.12 µg/mL). Due to the exposure to 1/10 IC₅₀ of LQCV, the percentage of the apoptotic cells, caspase 3, and P53 proteins were increased significantly (P<0.05) while Bcl-2 was decreased in comparison to untreated cells. Treatment with LQCV induced cell cycle arrest at G1 and G2/M phases.

Conclusion: LQCV displays potent cytotoxicity against selected human cell lines in vitro. Thus, the material could become a potent agent for the management of some cancers.

Keywords: Apoptosis, Cytotoxicity, Cancer, Cell cycle, Leiurus quinquestratus, Scorpion venom