Invitro analysis of the anticancer properties of Hottentotta rugiscutis scorpion venom in oral and breast cancer cell lines

Cancer has remained the second leading cause of death globally (≈9.95 million in 2020).Over the past few years, using the scorpion venom peptides in diagnosing cancer has led a growing number of studies on exploring anticancer properties of different species of scorpion venoms. In this study, anticancer property of Hottentotta rugiscutis (H.rugiscutis) venom against breast (MCF-7) and oral (KB3-1) cancer cell lines has been evaluated. Cytotoxicity of H.rugiscutis venom was determined by MTT assay. Cell cycle and caspase 9 expressions was analysed by flow cytometry. Effect of H.rugiscutis venom on cell proliferation was studied by wound healing assay. H.rugiscutis venom showed significant cytotoxic activity with the IC 50 values of 279 µg/ml and 373 µg/ml on MCF-7 and KB3-1 cell lines respectively. H.rugiscutis venom induced caspase-9 expression in both cell lines. Cell cycle analysis showed that H.rugiscutis venom arrested the cells at Sub G0 /G1 phase of cell cycle of KB3-1 and MCF-7 cell lines. Further, cell proliferation (wound healing) assay showed H.rugiscutis venom inhibited 18% and 13 % of cell migration of MCF-7and KB3-1cell respectively. These cumulative results confirm the action of H.rugiscutis venom in induction of apoptosis in breast and oral cancer cell lines.