title: Scorpion (Androctonus bicolor) venom exhibits cytotoxicity and induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in breast and colorectal cancer cell lines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The defective apoptosis is believed to play a major role in the survival and proliferation of neoplastic cells. Hence, the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells is one of the targets for cancer treatment. Researchers are considering scorpion venom as a potent natural source for cancer treatment because it contains many bioactive compounds. The main objective of the current study is to evaluate the anticancer property ofAndroctonus bicolorscorpion venom on cancer cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scorpions were milked by electrical stimulation of telsons and lyophilized. The breast (MDA-MB-231) and colorectal (HCT-8) cancer cells were maintained in appropriate condition. The venom cytotoxicity was assessed by 3-(4,5-di-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay, and the cellular and nuclear changes were studied with propidium iodide and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole stain, respectively. The cell cycle arrest was examined using muse cell analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TheA. bicolorvenom exerted cytotoxic effects on MDA-MB-231 and HCT-8 cells in a dose- and duration-dependent manner and induced apoptotic cell death. The treatment with this venom arrests the cancer cells in G0/G1 phase of cell cycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The venom selectively induces the rate of apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 and HCT-8 cells as reflected by morphological and cell cycle studies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first scientific evidence demonstrating the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest byA. bicolorscorpion venom.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research Center, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh 11159, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulrahman K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Al-Asmari
authors.affiliation: Department of Research Center, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh 11159, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Anvarbatcha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riyasdeen
authors.affiliation: Department of Research Center, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh 11159, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Rajamohamed
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abbasmanthiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Research Center, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh 11159, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arshaduddin
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh 11159, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Fahad Ali
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Al-Harthi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D059447:Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms; D006801:Humans; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012605:Scorpions
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D012604:Scorpion Venoms
keywords: 3-(4; 5-di-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2; 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay; Androctonus bicolor; G0/G1 phase