Effect of bee and scorpion venoms on prostate cancer in vitro study

Abstract EN

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the commonest diagnosed visceral malignancy among males worldwide.

Recent studies have shown that bee venom target the cancer cells without effect on the normal cells by activating PC3 with oxidative substances against prostate cancer.

The induction of the apoptotic cell death through several cancer cell death mechanisms, includes activation of up regulation of c-myc, and c-met genes and down regulation of Casp-7, that are important to induce anticancer.

Scorpion venom is a potential bio-source and therapeutic tool to design potent drugs against variety of diseases.

It has been used as medicinal and therapeutic tool since ancient times in China.

Scorpion venom consists of neurotoxins, salts, low molecular weight peptides and different enzymes with high molecular activities.

These activities make them novel therapeutic agents.

The results revealed low cytotoxicity of bee venom and satusporin while scorpion venom showed the highest level of cytotoxicity.

On the other hand, apoptosis was shown in all tested subjects at pre G1, while cell cycle arrest was different, which was at G1 by scorpion venom and at G2M by both bee venom and satusporin.

Apoptosis was at late stage by scorpion venom and satusporin drug while at an early stage by bee venom as Casp-7, C-myc, C-met showed up regulation, the highest level shown in scorpion venom.

This study explains that bee venom and scorpion have a potencial therapeutic effect on prostate cancer.