Narges Pashmforoosh,1Masoumeh Baradaran,2,*
1. Toxicology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. 2. Toxicology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Introduction: Scorpions belong to an ancient group of the Arthropoda (1), the class Arachnida, which were reported from the collected fossil of the Silurian Period for the first time (2), and now around 2000 known species are included in this group (3). Scorpion stings after snake stings are causing human casualties from envenomation (4) and approximately, 2.3 billion people are at risk of scorpionism (1). Scorpions venom containing several peptides (5, 6) which are including, Neurotoxins, cytotoxins and antimicrobial peptides (5). These toxins target different ion channels, including sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium. Toxins extracted from the scorpion, on the other side, supply significant pharmacological tools for ion channels research and develop drug design (7) in different diseases including cardiac diseases (8), autoimmune diseases (9), and different types of cancers (10).
Methods: This review involves available literature about the significant number of scorpion venom toxins and peptides displaying properties that might be great candidates for drug development. Several databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Springer Link, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar databases were searched to find, collect and classify all relevant data published from January 2000 to March 2020.
Results: Scorpion venom has proved a rich source of proteins and peptides, which are classified into different groups including; ion channels blockers, antimicrobial peptides, and cell proteins. These peptides are used for capturing prey and defence tools against predators. Besides, pharmacological properties of these peptides were confirmed, such as antimicrobial peptides, anti-cancers peptides, bradykinin potentiating-factors, autoimmune therapeutics, and analgesic effects in vitro and in vivo. Scorpions are found as a great and easy access origin of antimicrobial peptides. Scorpine (11), Stigmurin (12), Hp1090 (13), Smp76 (14), Vejovine (15), Meucin-49 (16) and some other antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are achieved from scorpions venom. Scorpion venom also could induce apoptosis, cytotoxicity, and effect on proliferation and immune system, thus it can be used in case of various cancers (17). ClTx (chlorotoxin) known as the first extracted chloride channel blocker (18, 19), and since its discovery, CTX has been linked to nanoparticles, radioisotopes and fluorescent molecules (20). Buthus martensi (BmK) venom (21), Bengalin (22), Margatoxin (MgTX) (23), BmK AGAP (24) and many potent peptides might be used in cancer treatments. Nowadays, studies on the bradykinin potentiating-factors from scorpion venom were improved. The venom of Tityus serrulatus demonstrated the bradykinin potentiating factors (BPFs) and could influence on blood pressure through the inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme activity and bradykinin receptor synthesis (25). Hypotensin (26), TsHpt-I (27), K12 (28), evidently are able to potentiate the bradykinin effect. In addition, OSK1 (29), Vm24 (9), ADWX-1 (30), HsTX1 (31) with properties of treatment of certain autoimmune diseases, and AngM1 (32), TsNTxP (33), Hetlaxin (34) via evidence of analgesic effects were reported from scorpions venom.
Conclusion: Venom glands of different species of scorpions are important sources of bioactive components that can be considered treasure. These vast resources are awaiting exploration. The importance of scorpion venom in producing and developing new drugs for the treatment of incurable diseases or for the production of drugs with greater therapeutic effect is undeniable. Although researchers have already discovered some of the vital potentials of scorpion venom, there is a lot of information in the scorpion venom that is waiting to be discovered. It is hoped that in the not-too-distant future, more useful drug discoveries will be presented to the world of science from this golden reservoir.
Keywords: Scorpion, pharmacological properties, neurotoxins, Antimicrobial peptides, ion channels.