Anticancer potential of animal venoms and toxins.
Anticancer drug development from natural resources are ventured throughout the world. Animal venoms and toxins a potential bio resource and a therapeutic tool were known to man for centuries through folk and traditional knowledge. The biodiversity of venoms and toxins made it a unique source of leads and structural templates from which new therapeutic agents may be developed. Venoms of several animal species (snake, scorpion, toad, frog etc) and their active components (protein and non protein toxins, peptides, enzymes, etc) have shown therapeutic potential against cancer. In the present review, the anticancer potential of venoms and toxins from snakes, scorpions, toads and frogs has been discussed. Some of these molecules are in the clinical trials and may find their way towards anticancer drug development in the near future. The implications of combination therapy of natural products in cancer have been discussed.
Gomes
Antony
A
Laboratory of Toxinology and Experimental Pharmacodynamics, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, 92 A P C Road, Kolkata 700 009, India. agomescu@gmail.com
Bhattacharjee
Pushpak
P
Mishra
Roshnara
R
Biswas
Ajoy K
AK
Dasgupta
Subir Chandra
SC
Giri
Biplab
B
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001001:Anura / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012605:Scorpions / Q000737:chemistry; D012911:Snakes / Q000378:metabolism; D014688:Venoms / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014688:Venoms