ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ROLE OF PEPTIDES ISOLATED FROM VENOM OF ANDROCTONUS FINITIMUS (POCOCK, 1897) (SCORPIONES: BUTHIDAE) - R. Yaqoob; H. M. Tahir; A. Rasheed; M. M. Ahsan; M. Arshad (Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2019)
Scorpion venom has great medicinal value as it contains biologically active compounds. Some of these compounds enhance production of anti-inflammatory cytokines; the mediators of hyperactive immune system. Present study is based on the fact that scorpion venom or its components have anti-inflammatory potentials by boosting anti-inflammatory mediators. Venom of Androctonus finitimus was extracted and its toxicity was determined by calculating LD50 using Probit analysis. Remedial activity of venom and its selected peptide fractions on carrageenan induced paw edema in Mus musculus (Swiss Webster albino mice) was estimated. Total leukocyte count (TLC), differential leukocyte count (DLC), and anti-inflammatory cytokines i.e., interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-6, IL-10 and IL-13 were measured in blood of venom treated animals. Results of study illustrated that protein fractions of venom were more potent anti-inflammatory agents as compared to whole venom because animals treated with different protein fractions showed rapid recovery in paw edema as well as elevated TLC, DLC and concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines. As venom and protein fractions under study were found effective in healing the inflammation, further study on isolation and biochemical characterization of these fractions is recommended to use them for synthesis of new and cheap drugs for curing edema/inflammation related diseases.
Keywords: journal article; inflammation; peptides; venom; scorpions; Androctonus finitimus; cytokines