Therapeutic Anticancer Uses of the Active Principles of “Rhopalurus junceus” Venom

Abstract

The Rhopalurus junceus is a scorpion belonging to the Buthidae family that finds its habitat in Cuba. This scorpion is known by the common name of “Blue Scorpion”. The venom is used on the island of Cuba as an alternative cure for cancer and, more recently, in the research of active components for biomedicine. Recently, the venom has been tested in several studies to investigate its effects on cancer cell lines, and the initial results of in vitro studies demonstrated how this poison can be effective on certain carcinoma cell lines (Hela, SiHa, Hep-2, NCI-H292, A549, MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468, and HT-29). The aim of this review is, therefore, to describe the effects of the venom on carcinoma lines and to investigate all anti-cancer properties studied in the literature. The research was conducted using four databases, Pub Med, Scopus, EBSCO, and Web of Science, through the use of keywords, by two independent reviewers following the PRISMA protocol, identifying 57 records. The results led to a total of 13 articles that met the eligibility criteria. The data extracted for the purpose of meta-analysis included the IC50 of the venom on carcinoma cell lines. The results of the meta-analysis provided a pooled mean of the IC50 of 0.645 mg/mL (95% CI: 0.557, 0.733), with a standard error (SE) = 0.045, p < 0.001. The analysis of the subgroups, differentiated by the type of cell line used, provided insight regarding how the scorpion venom was effective on the cell lines of lung origin (NCI-H292, A549, and MRC-5) with a pooled mean of IC50 0.460 mg/mL (95% CI: 0.290, 0.631) SE (0.087) p < 0.001. The results described in the literature for in vitro studies are encouraging, and further investigations should be carried out and deepened.

Expression of Exosome-Derived MicroRNAs miR-21 and miR-135 are Differentially Regulated Among Dental Pulp Stem Cells

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Anti-Glioma Effect of Pseudosynanceia Melanostigma Venom on Isolated Mitochondria from Glioblastoma Cells

“…Research on Rhopalurus junceus venom demonstrated the cytotoxic effect of this venom against cancer cell lines of epithelial origin (Dioguardi et al, 2020). Scorpion venom Androctonus Australis has shown that has anti-tumor activity on HCT116, HepG2, MCF-7, and PC-3 as cancer cell lines (Nafie et al, 2020).…”

Emerging cures for cancer: peptides from scorpion and spider venom

“…The Rhopalurus juncues (also known as blue scorpion) is a type of scorpion inhabiting in Cuban island and is a member of the Buthidae family [10]. The SV has been researched for its pharmaceutical potential in clinical cancer treatments as a branch of biomedicine.…”