Scorpion venoms from the Buthidae family: A dual study of proteomic composition and anticancer potentials

Scorpion venom comprises complex proteins/peptides (neurotoxins and enzymes), organic compounds, inorganic salts, mucopolysaccharides, and other organic compounds. Understanding the composition of scorpion venom and its mechanism of action will help treat victims and develop new therapeutic drugs. The present study objectives were to fractionate the crude venom of Buthus occitanus, Androctonus crassicauda, Leiurus quinquestriatus, and Parabuthus granulatus and identify significant protein/peptide compositions thereof, and to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of these scorpion crude venoms and fractions on different cancer cell lines. The LC-MS/MS results allowed the identification of several toxins, such as neurotoxins acting on ion channels, including sodium toxins (NaTxs), potassium toxins (KTxs), chloride toxins (ClTxs), and calcium toxins (CaTxs), as well as orphan peptides, chlorotoxin, kurtoxin, mauriporin, and ikitoxin. The venoms exerted cytotoxic effects on the A375 cell line in a dose-dependent manner, while on the other cancer cell lines, a mild effect for A. crassicauda (MCF-7), L. quinquestriatus (HeLa), and P. granulatus (HeLa) was observed. The current study has thus revealed and identified components of the four scorpion venoms that are likely involved in the envenomation and may also have helpful therapeutic activities. Furthermore, the scorpion venoms anticancer efficacy seems to be cancer-specific. The results obtained add to the increasing body of evidence supporting the anticancer potential of scorpion venoms.