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BackgroundIt is estimated that venoms of marine cone snails (genus Conus) contain more than 100,000 different small peptides with a wide range of pharmacological and biological actions. Some of these peptides were developed into potential therapeutic agents and as molecular tools to understand biological functions of nervous and cardiovascular systems. In this study we examined the cytotoxic and anticancer properties of the marine vermivorous cone snail Conus vexillum (collected from Hurgada and Sharm El-Shaikh, Red Sea, Egypt) and suggest the possible mechanisms involved. The in vitro cytotoxic effects of Conus venom were assessed against Ehrlich’s ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells.ResultsConus venom treatment resulted in concentration-dependent cytotoxicity as indicated by a lactate dehydrogenase leakage assay. Apoptotic effects were measured in vivo by measuring levels of reactive oxygen species and oxidative defense agents in albino mice injected with EAC cells. Conus venom (1.25 mg/kg) induced a significant increase (p < 0.05) in several oxidative stress biomarkers (lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content and reactive nitrogen intermediates) of EAC cells after 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours of venom injection. Conus venom significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the activities of oxidative defense enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) as well as the total antioxidant capacity of EAC cells, as evidenced by lowered levels of reduced glutathione.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate the cytotoxic potential of C. vexillum venom by inducing oxidative stress mediated mechanisms in tumor cells and suggest that the venom contains novel molecules with potential anticancer activity.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is a metabolic condition that induces blood glucose levels to rise due to insulin deficiency and the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The purpose of this study is to assess how efficient the antioxidant extracts Tribulus terrestris (TT) and metformin (MET) are in reducing oxidative stress and histopathology produced by streptozotocin in rat hepatocytes. The 36 male rats weighing 170–190 g of this study were randomly sorted into 6 groups. The first group was considered a normal control group, and the second and third groups were normal and remedy with MET and TT extract, respectively. The fourth group was positive diabetic, and the fifth and sixth groups were diabetic rats that were treated with MET and TT extract, respectively. Lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and glutathione (GSH) were detected, and the histopathology of the liver was evaluated after 8 weeks of treatment. Compared to regulation, morphological changes in the liver were found in diabetic animals, with a rise in LPO and a change in GSH levels as well as CAT and GST activities. The oxidative stress and histological architecture of the hepatocytes caused by hyperglycemia were improved as a result of therapy in the rats with MET and TT extract. Because of its antioxidant activities, diabetic rats with TT extract are more effective than MET in normoglycemia and hepatocyte reconditioning. Beneficial intervention tends to benefit primarily from direct ROS scavenging and CAT, GST, and GSH regeneration.

All venomous animals can produce venoms consisting of a highly complex mixture of biologically active compounds (Fry et al., 2009). Snake, scorpion, and cone snail venoms became the topic of new studies for understanding biochemical composition, and the mechanisms by which their venoms cause harmful effects, in order to apply their pharmacological activities in the clinical benefits (Lewis and Garcia, 2003).

Background A combination of pharmacological and biomedical assays was applied in this study to examine the bioactivity of Conus virgo crude venom in order to determine the potential pharmacological benefit of this venom, and its in vivo mechanism of action. Methods Two doses (1/5 and 1/10 of LC 50 , 9.14 and 4.57 mg/kg) of the venom were used in pharmacological assays (central and peripheral analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic), while 1/2 of LC 50 (22.85 mg/kg) was used in cytotoxic assays on experimental animals at different time intervals, and then compared with control and reference drug groups. Results The tail immersion time was significantly increased in venom-treated mice compared with the control group. Also, a significant reduction in writhing movement was recorded after injection of both venom doses compared with the control group. In addition, only the high venom concentration has a mild anti-inflammatory effect at the late inflammation stage. The induced pyrexia was also decreased significantly after treatment with both venom doses. On the other hand, significant increases were observed in lipid peroxidation (after 4 hours) and reduced glutathione contents and glutathione peroxidase activity, while contents of lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide (after 24 hours) and catalase activity were depleted significantly after venom administration. Conclusion These results indicated that the crude venom of Conus virgo probably contain bioactive components that have pharmacological activities with low cytotoxic effects. Therefore, it may comprise a potential lead compound for the development of drugs that would control pain and pyrexia.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune systemic complaint. Costus speciosus, an ornamental plant, which traditionally used in urinary diseases, rheumatism, jaundice and dropsy. The purpose of the study is to assess the protective effect of Costus on rheumatoid arthritis induced male rat in fertility. Thirty male adult Wistar rats (190-200 g) were sectioned into 6 groups. They were subdivided into 3 groups; group 1 was control received Distilled water, groups II and III received two various doses of Costus extract (200 and 400 mg/kg, respectively) for 60 days. Another 3 groups were subjected to RA induction via Freund's adjuvant. First group of RA induced rats was given Distilled water. Other two groups were given orally (200 and 400 mg/kg dosage of extract, respectively) from the 2 nd day of RA induction for 60 days. Sex organ relative weight, sperm concentration assay, testicular histopathology and immunohistochemistry of androgen receptors, TNF α and Bax protein were determined. Rheumatoid arthritis caused signi cant decrease in relative weight of sex organs which relatively improved by doses of Costus (200, 400 mg/kg). In addition, RA caused a signi cant reduction in sperm count which was improved via Costus (200, 400 mg/kg). RA induction caused testicular degeneration with marked depletion of spermatozoa, which markedly improved with costus treatment as shown in histopathological sections. Rheumatoid arthritis caused a reduction in %IHC of androgen receptors and increase of %IHC of both TNF α and Bax protein. Costus (200, 400 mg/kg) signi cantly improved %IHC of androgen receptors and signi cantly decreased %IHC of both TNF α and Bax protein, in RA induced groups. We can concluded that Costus speciosus had potentially useful role in improving fertility disorders caused by RA.

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