POTENTIAL OF SCORPION VENOM FOR THE TREATMENT OF VARIOUS DISEASES

The venom of various scorpion species finds significant therapeutic applications. It is rich in neurotoxins, enzymes, enzyme inhibitors, histamine, lipids and different salts from which peptides demonstrate a great potential against a variety of diseases. Many biological functions e. g., bradykinin potentiating, hemolytic, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory potential are being regulated by non-disulfide-bonded peptides. Therefore, it is motivating to use these properties for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, AIDS, apoplexy, influenza H5N1, paralysis, epilepsy, malaria, measles, severe combined immunodeficiency, fever blisters and diabetes. Scorpion venom has shown the presence of 100,000 bioactive compounds but only 1 % of these have been purified, isolated and characterized by HPLC and mass spectroscopy etc. For the production of high-quality antivenom with specific antibodies, gentler electrical stimulation is a better method as compared to manual production. Recombinant DNA technology has facilitated the identification of new components. Some important medicinal compounds isolated from scorpion venom include HsTX1 (from Heterometrus spinnifer), mucroporin-M1 (from Lychas mucronatus), chlorotoxin and charybdotoxin (from Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus). B. leptochelys venom has shown the presence of at least 148 components. Six novel long-chain peptides were isolated from the scorpion Buthus martensi Karsch venom. Crude venom of L. Abdullah bayrami displays a proliferative effect on MCF-7 cells and also shows antimicrobial potential. A new toxin derived from the venom of Liocheles waigiensis [U1-liotoxin-Lw1a (U1-LITX-Lw1a)] displays significant insecticidal action. The computational studies may play an important role while developing ion channel drugs from venom peptides.