title: Biological activities of skin and parotoid gland secretions of bufonid toads (Bufo bufo, Bufo verrucosissimus and Bufotes variabilis) from Turkey.
abstract: Toad glandular secretions and skin extractions contain numerous natural agents which may provide unique resources for novel drug development. Especially the skin-parotoid gland secretions of toads from genus Bufo contain as many as 86 different types of active compounds, each with the potential of becoming a potent drug. In the present study, crude skin-parotoid gland secretions from Bufo bufo, Bufo verrucosissimus and Bufotes variabilis from Turkey were screened against various cancer cells together with normal cells using MTT assay. Furthermore, the antimicrobial properties of skin secretions were tested on selected bacterial and fungal species for assessing the possible medical applications. Antimicrobial activity of skin secretions was studied by determining minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) in broth dilution method. Hemolytic activity of each skin-secretion was also estimated for evaluating pharmaceutical potential. Both skin-parotoid gland secretions showed high cytotoxic effect on all cancerous and non-cancerous cell lines with IC50 values varying between <0.1μg/ml and 6.02μg/ml. MIC results of antimicrobial activity tests were found to be between 3.9μg/ml and 250μg/ml. No hemolytic activities on rabbit red blood cells at concentrations between 0.5μg/ml and 50μg/ml were observed. In conclusion, skin-parotoid secretions of bufonid toads might be remarkable candidates for anti-cancer and antimicrobial agents without hemolytic activities.
authors.affiliation: Ege University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey. Electronic address: analbantsoy@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nalbantsoy
authors.affiliation: Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Zoology Section, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mert
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karış
authors.affiliation: Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Basic and Industrial Microbiology Section, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Husniye Tansel
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Yalcin
authors.affiliation: Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Zoology Section, 35100 Bornova, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bayram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Göçmen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002023:Bufo bufo; D002025:Bufonidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010306:Parotid Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D011506:Proteins
keywords: Amphibian skin secretion; Antimicrobial activity; Cytotoxicity; Hemolytic activity