Anti-proliferative Effects of Androctonus amoreuxi Scorpion and Cerastes cerastes Snake Venoms on Human Prostate Cancer Cells

Snake venom toxins as potential therapeutic agents in the treatment of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a significant global health concern and one of the leading causes of death from diseases in men. There is a growing interest in exploring new therapeutic approaches to enhance patient treatment outcomes and quality of life. Snake venom-derived compounds have emerged as promising candidates for anticancer treatment due to their potential to be selective and reduce adverse effects. In this article, we conduct a literature review on prostate cancer and discuss the investigation of snake venoms as potential alternatives in treatments to minimize toxicity and maximize efficacy. The potential of snake venom toxins in modulating key processes such as cell apoptosis, inhibition of cell migration, and angiogenesis is highlighted. This comprehensive exploration reaffirms the importance of advancing research into snake venom-based therapies to combat prostate cancer, transform treatment paradigms, and improve the well-being of affected individuals.

Beyond the venom: Exploring the antimicrobial peptides from Androctonus species of scorpion

Prevalent worldwide, the Androctonus scorpion genus contributes a vital role in scorpion envenoming. While diverse scorpionisms are observed because of several different species, their secretions to protect themselves have been identified as a potent source of antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-like compounds. Distinctly, the venom of these species contains around 24 different AMPs, with definite molecules studied for their therapeutic potential as antimicrobial, antifungal, antiproliferative and antiangiogenic agents. Our review focuses on the therapeutic potential of native and synthetic AMPs identified so far in the Androctonus scorpion genus, identifying research gaps in peptide therapeutics and guiding further investigations. Certain AMPs have demonstrated remarkable compatibility to be prescribed as anticancer drug to reduce cancer cell proliferation and serve as a potent antibiotic alternative. Besides, analyses were performed to explore the characteristics and affinities of peptides for membranes. Overall, the study of AMPs derived from the Androctonus scorpion genus provides valuable insights into their potential applications in medicine and drug development.

Astragaloside IV-PESV inhibits prostate cancer tumor growth by restoring gut microbiota and microbial metabolic homeostasis via the AGE-RAGE pathway

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) is becoming the most common malignancy in men worldwide. We investigated the effect of astragaloside IV combined with PESV on the gut microbiota and metabolite of PCa mice and the process of treating PCa.

METHODS

Nude mice were genetically modified to develop tumors characteristic of PCa. The treatment of PCa mice involved the administration of a combination of astragaloside IV and peptides derived from scorpion venom (PESV). Feces were collected for both 16 S rDNA and metabolic analysis. Fecal supernatant was extracted and used for fecal transplantation in PCa mice. Tumor development was observed in both PCa mice and nude mice. Tumor histopathology was examined, and the expression of inflammatory factors and the AGE-RAGE axis in PCa tissues were analyzed.

RESULTS

PCa mice treated with Astragaloside IV in combination with PESV showed a significant reduction in tumor volume and weight, and stabilization of gut microbiota and metabolites. At the Genus level, significant differences were observed in Porphyromonas, Corynebacterium, Arthromitus and Blautia, and the differential metabolites were PA16_016_0, Astragaloside+, Vitamin A acid, Nardosinone, a-Nortestoster, D-Pantethine, Hypoxanthine, Pregnenolone, cinnamic acid, Pyridoxa, Cirtruline and Xanthurenate. There was a correlation between gut microbiota and metabolites. After the fecal transplantation, tumor growth was effectively suppressed in the PCa mice. Notably, both the mRNA and protein levels of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) were significantly decreased. Furthermore, the expression of inflammatory factors, namely NF-κB, TNF-α, and IL-6, in the tumor tissues was significantly attenuated. Conversely, upregulation of RAGE led to increased inflammation and reversed tumor growth in the mice.

CONCLUSION

Astragaloside IV combined with PESV could treat PCa by intervening in gut microbiota composition and metabolite by targeting RAGE.

Boosting curcumin activity against human prostatic cancer PC3 cells by utilizing scorpion venom conjugated phytosomes as promising functionalized nanovesicles

Prostate cancer (PC) is emerging as one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Curcumin (CUR) is a well-known phytochemical, and scorpion venom (SV) is a natural peptide with proven anticancer properties. However, these natural bioactive agents are limited by low solubility, low bioavailability, poor thermal stability, and short half-lives. Therefore, the aim of this study was to fabricate SV-conjugated CUR phytosomes as promising functionalized nanovesicles and assess their anticancer efficacy in human prostatic cancer PC3 cells. CUR-Phytosome-SV was fabricated using experimental design software in which the zeta potential and particle sizes were used as dependent variables. The anticancer effect of the fabricated formulation was determined by performing a tetrazolium (MTT) assay, cell cycle analysis, annexin V staining, and examining the expression levels of Bcl-associated X-protein (Bax), p53, caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kB), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). The particle size of the nanoconjugates was found to be in the range of 137.5 ± 7.9 to 298.4 ± 11.9 nm, and the zeta potential was 2.9 ± 0.1 to 26.9 ± 1.2 mV. The outcome of the MTT assay showed that curcumin-Phospholipon®-scorpion venom (CUR-PL-SV) exhibited a satisfactory level of cytotoxicity, and the IC50 was found to be lower than CUR and PL-SV individually. Cell cycle analysis showed predominantly cell cycle arrest at the G2-M and pre-G1 phases. In contrast, annexin V staining showed significant early and late apoptosis events in addition to increased necrosis when PC3 cells were treated with CUR-PL-SV. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis showed a reduction in expression of Bax, p53, caspase-3, NF-kB, TNF-α, and an increase in Bcl-2 expression. Moreover, a MMP analysis showed a reduction in mitochondrial permeability and hence confirmed the superior anticancer potential of CUR-PL-SV. Thus, the present study showed significant anticancer potency of SV-conjugated CUR phytosomes against human prostatic cancer PC3 cells, making it a novel treatment approach for PC.

Astragalus-Scorpion Drug Pair Inhibits the Development of Prostate Cancer by Regulating GDPD4-2/PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway and Autophagy

Objective: Prostate cancer (PCa) is an epithelial malignancy of the prostate that currently lacks effective treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can play an anticancer role through regulating the immune system, anti-tumor angiogenesis, regulating tumor cell apoptosis, autophagy dysfunction, and other mechanisms. This study attempted to explore the active ingredients and potential mechanism of action of the Astragalus-Scorpion (A-S) drug pair in PCa, in order to provide new insights into the treatment of PCa. Methods: Network pharmacology was used to analyze the A-S drug pair and PCa targets. Bioinformatics analysis was used to analyze the LncRNAs with significant differences in PCa. The expression of LC3 protein was detected by immunofluorescence. CCK8 was used to detect cell proliferation. The expressions of GDPD4-2, AC144450.1, LINC01513, AC004009.2, AL096869.1, AP005210.1, and BX119924.1 were detected by RT-qPCR. The expression of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and autophagy-related proteins were detected by western blot. LC-MS/MS was used to identify the active components of Astragalus and Scorpion. Results: A-S drug pair and PCa have a total of 163 targets, which were mainly related to the prostate cancer and PI3K/AKT pathways. A-S drug pair inhibited the formation of PCa, promoted the expression of LC3Ⅱ and Beclin1 proteins, and inhibited the expression of P62 and PI3K-AKT pathway proteins in PCa mice. Astragaloside IV and polypeptide extract from scorpion venom (PESV) were identified as the main active components of the A-S drug pair. GDPD4-2 was involved in the treatment of PCa by Astragaloside IV-PESV. Silencing GDPD4-2 reversed the therapeutic effects of Astragaloside IV-PESV by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Conclusion: Astragaloside IV-PESV is the main active components of A-S drug pair treated PCa by regulating the GDPD4-2/PI3K-AKT/mTOR pathway and autophagy.

Antiproliferative and Antimigratory Effects of Isoeugenol-Based Polyphenolic Compounds

In this research, the effect of synthesized polyphenolic compounds 4 and 5 at the cellular and molecular levels was examined. Within this framework, related substances effects on prostate cell (PC3) viability were evaluated by MTT analysis, and their effects on migration were examined by in vitro scratch analysis. Additionally, mRNA expression levels of gene regions known to be associated with metastasis and apoptosis were determined by real-time quantitative PCR. DNA binding researches have also been carried out to determine the DNA compound interactions. As a consequence, it was determined that 4 and 5 obstructed the PC3 cell viability in a manner that is dose- and time-dependent. The IC₅₀ dose of 4 and 5 in PC3 cell was found to be 60.14 μM, 15.51 μM for 48 h, respectively. 4 and 5 substances showed suppressive effect on migration of PC3 cancer cells in the in vitro scratch model created at IC₅₀ concentrations. Compared to the negative control, PC3 cancer cells treated with 4 and 5 showed 24 % and 46 % closure, respectively, at the wound site at 48 h. 4 and 5 compounds were treated at IC₅₀ concentrations with PC3 cancer cells for 48 h, and then the effects of both compounds on the gene expression, that have been linked to metastasis and apoptosis, at the mRNA level were evaluated. It was determined that 4 decreased the expression of the HIF1-α gene 294 times and 5 decreased the expression of the said gene 30 times. In addition, both 4 and 5 were able to significantly increase the Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA expression ratio (32.65 and 10.46 fold, P<0.0001) in PC3 cells as compared to untreated cells after 48 h. Finally, when DNA binding analysis results were evaluated, it was determined that both polyphenolic compounds did not bind to DNA at the tested time and concentrations and did not cause DNA breaks.

Scorpion Venom-Functionalized Quercetin Phytosomes for Breast Cancer Management: In Vitro Response Surface Optimization and Anticancer Activity against MCF-7 Cells

Breast cancer is a dangerous type of cancer in women. Quercetin (QRT), a naturally occurring flavonoid, has wide biological effects including antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, and antiviral activities. The anticancer activity is considered the most valuable effect of QRT against several types of cancer, including prostate, liver, lung, colon, and breast cancer. Scorpion venom peptides (SV) has been found to induce apoptosis and aggravate cancer cells, making it a promising anticancer agent. QRT, SV, and Phospholipon® 90H (PL) were incorporated in a nano-based delivery platform to assess QRT's cellular uptake and antiproliferative efficacy against a lung cancer cell line derived from human breast cancer cells MCF-7. Several nanovesicles were prepared and optimized, using four-factor Box-Behnken, in an experimental design. The optimized phytosomes showed vesicle size and zeta potential values of 116.9 nm and 31.5 mV, respectively. The IC50 values revealed that MCF-7 cells were significantly more sensitive to the optimized QRT formula than the plain formula and raw QRT. Cell cycle analysis revealed that optimized QRT formula treatment resulted in significant cell cycle arrest at the S phase. The results also indicated that treatment with QRT formula significantly increased caspase-9, Bax, Bcl-2, and p53 mRNA expression, compared with the plain formula and QRT. In terms of the inflammatory markers, the QRT formula significantly reduced the activity of TNF-α and NF-κB, in comparison with the plain formula and QRT only. Overall, the findings from the study proved that a QRT formulation could be a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of breast cancer.

Effect of Bitis gabonica and Dendroaspis angusticeps snake venoms on apoptosis-related genes in human thymic epithelial cells

Background:

Certain environmental toxins permanently damage the thymic epithelium, accelerate immune senescence and trigger secondary immune pathologies. However, the exact underlying cellular mechanisms and pathways of permanent immune intoxication remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate gene expressional changes of apoptosis-related cellular pathways in human thymic epithelial cells following exposure to snake venom from Bitis gabonica and Dendroaspis angusticeps.

Methods:

Snake venoms were characterized by analytical methods including reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, then applied on human thymic epithelial cells (1889c) for 24 h at 10 μg/mL (as used in previous TaqMan Array study). Gene expressional changes restricted to apoptosis were assayed by TaqMan Array (Human Apoptosis Plate).

Results:

The most prominent gene expressional changes were shown by CASP5 (≈ 2.5 million-fold, confirmed by dedicated quantitative polymerase chain reaction) and CARD9 (0.016-fold) for B. gabonica, and BIRC7 (6.46-fold) and CASP1 (0.30-fold) for D. angusticeps.

Conclusion:

The observed apoptotic environment suggests that pyroptosis may be the dominant pathway through which B. gabonica and D. angusticeps snake venoms trigger thymic epithelial apoptosis following envenomation.

The Effect of Arbutin on The Expression of Tumor Suppressor P53, BAX/BCL-2 Ratio and Oxidative Stress Induced by Tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide in Fibroblast and LNcap Cell Lines

Objective

Arbutin (p-hydroxyphenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside) possesses beneficial functions including antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and anti-tumoral activities. Due to the important role of oxidative stress and apoptosis in the successful treatment of cancer, understanding mechanisms that lead to apoptosis in cancer cells, is essential. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of arbutin on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative stress and the related mechanisms in fibroblast and Lymph Node Carcinoma of the Prostate (LNCaP) cells.

Materials and Methods

In this experimental study, the LNCaP and fibroblast cell lines were pre-treated with arbutin (50, 250 and 1000 μM). After 24 hours, t-BHP (30 and 35 μM) was added to the cells. Viability was measured (at 24 and 48 hours) using MTT assay. The antioxidant effect of arbutin was measured by FRAP assay. The mRNA expression of P53 and BAX/BCL-2 ratio were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The percentage of apoptotic or necrotic cells was determined using a double staining annexin V fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) apoptosis detection kit.

Results

Arbutin pre-treatment increased the total antioxidative power and cell viability in the MTT assay and reduced BAX/BCL-2 ratio, P53 mRNA expression and necrosis in fibroblasts exposed to the oxidative agent (P<0.001). In addition, our results showed that arbutin can decrease cell viability, induce apoptosis and increase BAX/BCL-2 ratio in LNCaP cells at some specific concentrations (P<0.001).

Conclusion

Arbutin as a potential functional β-D-glucopyranoside has strong ability to selectively protect fibroblasts against t-BHP-induced cell damage and induce apoptosis in LNCaP cells.

Scorpion venoms and associated toxins as anticancer agents: update on their application and mechanism of action

Cancer remains one of the deadliest non-infectious diseases of the 21^st century, causing millions of mortalities per year worldwide. Analyses of conventional treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, have shown not only a lower therapeutic efficiency rate but also plethora of side-effects. Considering the desperate need to identify promising anticancer agents, researchers are in quest to design and develop new tumoricidal drugs from natural sources. Over the past few years, scorpion venoms have shown exemplary roles as pivotal anticancer agents. Scorpion venoms associated metabolites, particularly toxins demonstrated in vitro anticancer attributes against diversified cell lines by inhibiting the growth and progression of the cell cycle, inhibiting metastasis by blocking ion channels such as K⁺ and Cl^- , and/or inducing apoptosis by intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. This review sheds light not only on in vitro anticancer properties of distinct scorpion venoms and their toxins, but also on their mechanism of action for designing and developing new therapeutic drugs in future.

Remarkable apoptotic pathway of Hemiscorpius lepturus scorpion venom on CT26 cell line

OBJECTIVE

Scorpion venom, considered as a treasure trove of various bioactive molecules, is a new approach to induce cancer cell death via apoptosis pathways. In the present study, we evaluated for first time the anti-proliferative efficacy of Hemiscorpius lepturus scorpion venom and its pathway on a colon carcinoma cell.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The CT26 and VERO cell lines were treated with various concentrations of the venom. The IC50 values were estimated by MTT assay test, and the apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Moreover, RT-PCR analysis was used to investigate the levels of Bax, Bcl2, Trp53, and Casp3 mRNA expression. The mice xenograft model was established to evaluate the therapy efficiency of venom. Some valuable exponential growth parameters were evaluated in treated mice.

RESULT

The scorpion venom inhibited the growth of CT26 cells with an IC50 value about 120 μg/ml. However, VERO cells increased to 896 μg/ml under the same condition. A remarkable apoptotic cells in CT26 cells were revealed by flow cytometry assay. A significant over-expression was observed in Bax, Casp3, and Trp53 and downregulated in Bcl2 mRNA level in tumor tissue after treatment with scorpion venom (p < 0.05). All changes of valuable exponential growth parameters showed a shrinking tumor size.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicated that Hemiscorpius lepturus venom has a special anti-proliferative effect on CT26 cells via Trp53/Bcl2/Casp3 pathway. Considering its powerful cytotoxic vigor against a colon cancer cell (CT26) and low toxicity to non-tumorigenic cell (VERO), we propose that this venom probably has a specific effect on other colon cancer cells and may turn out to be a novel therapeutic strategy in treating colon cancer.

Snake venom components in medicine: From the symbolic rod of Asclepius to tangible medical research and application

Both mythologically and logically, snakes have always fascinated man. Snakes have attracted both awe and fear not only because of the elegant movement of their limbless bodies, but also because of the potency of their deadly venoms. Practically, in 2017, the world health organization (WHO) listed snake envenomation as a high priority neglected disease, as snakes inflict up to 2.7 million poisonous bites, around 100.000 casualties, and about three times as many invalidities on man. The venoms of poisonous snakes are a cocktail of potent compounds which specifically and avidly target numerous essential molecules with high efficacy. The individual effects of all venom toxins integrate into lethal dysfunctions of almost any organ system. It is this efficacy and specificity of each venom component, which after analysis of its structure and activity may serve as a potential lead structure for chemical imitation. Such toxin mimetics may help in influencing a specific body function pharmaceutically for the sake of man's health. In this review article, we will give some examples of snake venom components which have spurred the development of novel pharmaceutical compounds. Moreover, we will provide examples where such snake toxin-derived mimetics are in clinical use, trials, or consideration for further pharmaceutical exploitation, especially in the fields of hemostasis, thrombosis, coagulation, and metastasis. Thus, it becomes clear why a snake captured its symbolic place at the Asclepius rod with good reason still nowadays.