Toxicity study of Gloydius brevicaudus venom on Hela and Hep G2 cells

^1. Biology Department, College of Arts and Sciences, Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon 8714, Philippines
^2. School of nursing, Anhui Sanlian University, Hefei, Anhui, China
^3. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, Shandong, 255036, China
^4. Center for Biodiversity Research and Extension in Mindanao, Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon 8714, Philippines
^5. Microtechnique and Systematics Laboratory, Natural Science Research Center, Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon 8714, Philippines

^a* erhu1999@126.com
^b f.marklloyd.dapar@cmu.edu.ph
^c* zhangxuezhong926@126.com

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the cytotoxicity of Gloydius brevicauda venom on tumor cells. Hela and Hep G2 cells were used as the research subjects. The MTT assay was employed to investigate the proliferative activity of snake venom on tumor cells. The cell scratch assay was conducted to study the migration ability of tumor cells treated with snake venom. The Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining method was utilized to examine the damage caused by snake venom on tumor cells. The results demonstrated that the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the venom on Hela and Hep G2 cells at 48 hours was 8.176 µg/ml and 12.276 µg/ml, respectively. Furthermore, at a concentration of 4 µg/ml, the venom was able to inhibit the migration of tumor cells. Cell nuclear fluorescence staining revealed that the venom at concentrations of 8 µg/ml and 12 µg/ml induced DNA condensation in Hela and Hep G2 cells, respectively. In conclusion, the venom of Gloydius brevicauda was found to inhibit cell proliferation and migration, as well as induce cell apoptosis.