Antitumor efficacy of the Egyptian Scorpion Venom Androctonus Australis: in vitro and in vivo study

Abstract

Background: Scorpion venom contains various biomolecules with potential therapeutic values against different diseases, including cancer. The present study was carried out to assess the antitumor efficacy of Androctonus australis crude venom using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. Methodology: For in vitro assay, the cytotoxic effect of different venom concentrations was determined against HCT116, HepG2, MCF-7, and PC-3 as cancer cell lines and normal WISH cell line. The in vivo assay was carried out by the I.P. transplantation of EAC into Swiss albino female mice, followed by the I.P. injection of the venom at the sublethal dose 1/10 LD 50 (0.025 mg/kg BW) compared to cisplatin (2 mg/kg BW), and both normal and EAC control groups were also included. The analysis of ascetic fluid tumor, survival study, and hematological, biochemical, antioxidant, and histopathological assays was evaluated in control and treated animal groups. Results: Our in vitro results revealed that the A. australis venom had a selective promising activity against MCF-7 cells (IC 50 = 19.71 μg/mL). Moreover, it was less cytotoxic on WISH cells. The in vivo data showed that A. australis venom exhibited a highly significant decrease in tumor volume, and viable tumor cell count, and increased the duration of lifespan compared to the EAC control group. The venom significantly enhanced both hematological and biochemical measurements compared to the EAC control group. Conclusion: The results revealed that the A. australis venom exhibited in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities. Further venomics studies are needed to functionally characterize the active molecules from this scorpion venom and study their mode of action on cancer cells to develop them into potential anticancer agents.

Antitumor activity of a whey peptide‐based enteral diet in C26 colon tumor‐bearing mice

“…Cancer‐related anemia is the most common hematological manifestation in patients with cancer and animal cancer models and may worsen with disease progression (Gaspar et al., 2015; M. Liu et al., 2015). Anemia occurring in tumor‐bearing mice is mainly due to a reduction in RBC counts and hemoglobin levels, and this may occur because of hemolytic or myelosuppression (Aravind et al., 2012; Nafie et al., 2020). As shown in Table 2, the whey peptide‐based enteral diet significantly increased the RBC count, HCT, and MCV value ( p < 0.05) and increased HGB value with no significance, which relieved chemotherapy‐related anemia.…”

A Fast Method for Detection of Fake Venoms and Investigation of Interspecies Variation Using Venoms of Androctonus, Buthus, and Leiurus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) Species

“…Many studies have been conducted for the identification of scorpion venoms( 13 – 22 ). Although most of these were investigated the pharmacological properties of Buthidae scorpion venoms ( 7 , 14 , 15 , 17 , 19 , 23 – 25 ), some recent studies focused on the identification and characterization of Buthidae scorpion venoms using state-of-the-art devices ( 4 , 26 – 30 ).…”

“…Studies on both A.ausralis and L.q. quinquestriatus venom have focused mainly on its channel blocker (K + and Na + ) properties and its therapeutic use ( 14 , 23 , 24 , 31 ). Al-Asmari et al ( 31 ) have conducted an elemental analysis of L.q.…”

Anti-Glioma Effect of Pseudosynanceia Melanostigma Venom on Isolated Mitochondria from Glioblastoma Cells

“…Research on Rhopalurus junceus venom demonstrated the cytotoxic effect of this venom against cancer cell lines of epithelial origin (Dioguardi et al, 2020). Scorpion venom Androctonus Australis has shown that has anti-tumor activity on HCT116, HepG2, MCF-7, and PC-3 as cancer cell lines (Nafie et al, 2020). Lorena Polloni and colleagues reported that Bothrops Pauloensis venom has Antiangiogenic effects on endothelial cells (Polloni et al, 2021).…”