The Cytotoxicity Effect of Iranian Cobra Venom Fractions on Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancer. Despite numerous therapies, chemotherapy is still the primary treatment . however Most patients, develop severe side effects. This has led to efforts to obtain new drugs from natural sources. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effect of fractions obtained from Iranian cobra venom on A549 lung cancer cell line.

First, snake venom was purified by gel filtration method and the toxicity effect of the fractions obtained was evaluated by MTT assay on lung cancer cells and the selected fraction was purified by ion exchange method. The toxicity effect of the selected fraction was investigated on normal cells, the cell proliferation test was performed too and finally Real Time PCR test was performed on treated cells.

Fraction 6 of the gel filtration chromatography had the greatest cytotoxicity effect and was selected for further purification by ion exchange chromatography. Fraction 5 had the highest cytotoxicity effect. The toxicity of the selected fraction was significantly reduced on normal cells and the results of the cell proliferation test were consistent with the MTT results. Finally, Real Time PCR test was showed a significant increase in expression caspase 9 gene on treated cells.

Fraction 5 obtained from two stages of purification of Iranian cobra venom has cytotoxic effect on lung cancer cell line A549 and is a suitable option for drug studies of natural origin.