It is estimated that
venoms of marine cone
snails (genus
Conus) contain more than 100,000 different small
peptides with a wide range of pharmacological and
biological actions. Some of these
peptides were developed into potential
therapeutic agents and as molecular tools to understand
biological functions of nervous and
cardiovascular systems. In this study we examined the cytotoxic and anticancer properties of the marine vermivorous cone
snail Conus vexillum (collected from Hurgada and Sharm El-Shaikh,
Red Sea,
Egypt) and suggest the possible mechanisms involved. The
in vitro cytotoxic effects of
Conus venom were assessed against Ehrlichs
ascites carcinoma (EAC)
cells. Results
Conus venom treatment resulted in concentration-dependent cytotoxicity as indicated by a
lactate dehydrogenase leakage assay. Apoptotic effects were measured in vivo by measuring levels of
reactive oxygen species and oxidative defense agents in albino
mice injected with EAC
cells.
Conus venom (1.25 mg/kg) induced a significant increase ( p < 0.05) in several
oxidative stress biomarkers (
lipid peroxidation,
protein carbonyl content and reactive
nitrogen intermediates) of EAC
cells after 3, 6, 9 and 12 hours of
venom injection.
Conus venom significantly reduced ( p < 0.05) the activities of oxidative defense
enzymes (
catalase and
superoxide dismutase) as well as the total
antioxidant capacity of EAC
cells, as evidenced by lowered levels of
reduced glutathione.Conclusions These results demonstrate the cytotoxic potential of C. vexillum
venom by inducing
oxidative stress mediated mechanisms in
tumor cells and suggest that the
venom contains novel.(AU)