Abstract
BackgroundScorpion 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.MethodologyFor 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 LD50 (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.ResultsOur in vitro results revealed that the A. australis venom had a selective promising activity against MCF-7 cells (IC50 = 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.ConclusionThe 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.
Highlights
According to the WHO agency and international cancer agencies, cancer is considered as the second most lethal disease in humans (about 9.6 million cancer deaths in 2018 (Bray et al 2018))
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
Summary
According to the WHO agency and international cancer agencies, cancer is considered as the second most lethal disease in humans (about 9.6 million cancer deaths in 2018 (Bray et al 2018)). Scorpion venoms obtained from various scorpion species (L. quinquestriatus, A. crassicauda, and A. amouroxi) revealed potential anticancer effects using in vitro (MDA-MB-231, HCT-8, and MCF-7) and in vivo approaches. The venoms induced cytotoxicity, elevated the reactive oxygen species, and enhanced apoptotic pathways in these cancer cell lines (Salem et al 2016; Al-Asmari et al 2018). From the scorpion of A. australis (one of the most common species in North Africa), the venom fraction F3 induced apoptosis in human lung cancer cell line (NCI-H358) via generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species resulted in mitochondrial malfunction (Béchohra et al 2016). The current study was conducted to evaluate the anticancer efficacy of A. australis venom against various cancer cell lines (in vitro study) and against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma bearing mice (in vivo study). The present study was carried out to assess the antitumor efficacy of Androctonus australis crude venom using both in vitro and in vivo approaches
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