Cancer is one of the human mortality leading causes. While there are many tumor treatment modalities, but chemotherapy remains the most effective treatment, although its severe side effects and developed resistance. That huge challenge forces pharmaceutical industries to investigate novel antitumor strategies, especially from natural resources. The present work aimed to study the biochemical and histological alterations after Naja haje crude venom treatment to detect its antitumor efficacy.
After experimental determination of Cobra venom LD50, mice were divided into three main groups, control, solid tumor and soft tumor. Control sub-groups contain saline-treated group, positive control treated with standard drug (Cisplatin), and 3 groups treated with cobra venom (1/10, 1/20 LD50 and 1/30 LD50). Solid tumor sub-groups contain saline-treated group, Cisplatin-treated group and 2 groups treated with cobra venom (1/10 and 1/20 LD50). Soft tumor sub-groups contain saline-treated group, Cisplatin-treated group and 3 groups treated with cobra venom (1/10, 1/20 LD50 and 1/30 LD50). Serum, liver, kidney, heart, spleen, and solid tumor tissues were collected for biochemical and histopathological investigations.
The histological and biochemical results confirmed the significant cellular injury in liver. Kidney, heart and spleen, and its severity decreased by decreasing venom dose. Also, the direct anti-tumor effects of Cobra venom in both solid and soft tumors were significantly confirmed in comparing with cisplatin groups.
Significant cytotoxic activities upon tumor cells rather than normal cells suggest a clinical potentiality for Naja haje crud venom. Further investigation should be conducted to confirm its safety and efficacy as an antitumor therapeutic agent