In-vitro study of antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of Vipera albicornuta venom fractions

This study was performed to determine antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of fractionated venom of Vipera albicornuta snake under in-vitro condition.

Different fractions of Vipera Albicornuta venom were isolated using RP-HPLC and C18 column, followed by lyophilizing operation. Protein content of each fraction was estimated by Bradford method.Bactericidal-activity of each fractions in 20 μg/mL concentration toward Bacillus subtilis,Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains was performed using MTT reduction and MIC and tetracycline (50 μg/ml) was used as standard antibiotic.Moreover,The cytotoxicity effect of fractions with most antibacterial effects on HepG2 cells was investigated using MTT reduction test and confirmed with neutral red uptake assay following exposure of cells with different protein concentrations of each fractions (10-20 μg/mL) and apoptosis effect was evaluated by Comet assay.

Our findings demonstrated that venom fractions of snake display different antibacterial effects against various tested bacteria. Based on the results, fractions No. 2 on B.subtilis, fractions 2 and 9 on E.coli and fractions 5, 7 and 9 on S.aureus shown the most effects. In addition, the results of this study confirmed that fractions Nos. 2 and 5 of venom produced the highest cytotoxicity on HepG2 cell line after 24 h treatment through induction of apoptosis and necrosis.In addition, this study confirmed that fractions No.2 and 5 produced the highest cytotoxicity on HepG2 cell line after 24 h of apoptosis and necrosis.

The results of study showed that isolated fractions of V.albicornuta venom have antibacterial and anti-cancer effects.