Scorpion’s Biodiversity and Proteinaceous Components of Venom

Scorpions are a primitive and vast group of venomous arachnids. About 2200 species have been recognized so far. Besides, only a small section of species is considered disastrous to humans. The pathophysiological complications related to a single sting of scorpion are noteworthy to recognize scorpion’s envenomation as a universal health problem. The medical relevance of the scorpion’s venom attracts modern era research. By molecular cloning and classical biochemistry, several proteins and peptides (related to toxins) are characterized. The revelation of many other novel components and their potential activities in different fields of biological and medicinal sciences revitalized the interests in the field of scorpion’s venomics. The current study contributes and attempts to escort some general information about the composition of scorpion’s venom mainly related to the proteins/peptides. Also, the diverse pernicious effects of scorpion’s sting due to the numerous neuro-toxins, hemolytic toxins, nephron-toxins and cardio-toxins as well as the contribution of such toxins/peptides as a potential source of anti-microbial and anti-cancer therapeutics are also covered in the present review.