Snake Venom in Anticancer Drug Development: Potential Targets and Current Perspectives

Abstract

Many animals active secretions have been used to create novel medications to treat ailments such as hypertension and cancer. Snake venom toxins have made major contributions to treating various medical disorders. There have been several research studies that have been published characterizing and clarifying snake venom's anti-cancer potential. Cancer treatment is one of the primary applications for protein peptides and enzymes derived from various animal species. When separated, several of these proteins, peptides, and enzymes from snake venom and assessed may bind selectively to cancer cell membranes, influencing migration and invasion. These cells proliferation Some of the chemicals discovered in snake venom have a high potential. Cystatin-rich snake venom influences tumor invasion and metastasis. A non-cholinesterase Arginine ester hydrolase enzyme in snake venom reported to have increased sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy in animal models. Snake thrombin-like enzymes, are serine proteases found in snake venom that causes haemostasis and hypofibrinogenemia. Cancer-associated fibroblasts was reported to have role in quiescence and also prevents cancer cell migration, in addition to downregulating the epithelial-mesenchymal transitioning. Collagen Tumor-associated hyaluronic acid (HA) and hyaluronidase (HAase) was crucial for tumor growth and metastasis promotion. Phospholipases are enzymes that break down phospholipids, which are key components of cell membranes are involved in cancer cell migration, invasion and metastasis. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a metabolic protein plays a crucial role in energy regulation and cell survival and studies reported its role in tumour suppression. The components of snake venom and its potential as a cancer-fighting agent, we summarised the key findings in this review.