Background: Osteosarcoma is a primary bone malignancy with a poor prognosis, often requiring novel therapeutic approaches. Snake venom has shown potential anticancer properties, targeting various cancer types.
Objective: This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of Egyptian cobra (Naja haja) venom on the human osteosarcoma MG-63 cell line, focusing on its cytotoxic, apoptotic, and cell cycle arrest effect.
Material and Methods: MG-63 cells were treated with varying concentrations of Egyptian cobra venom, and cell viability was assessed using an MTT assay. Morphological changes were observed through histological analysis and nuclear morphometry. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis induction were analyzed using flow cytometry and Annexin V/PI staining, respectively.
Results: Egyptian cobra venom exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity against MG-63 cells, with pre-IC50 of 62.5 µg/ml, IC50 of 125 µg/ml, and post-IC50 of 250 µg/ml. Treated cells showed morphological features of apoptosis and necrosis. Nuclear morphometric analysis revealed significant changes in nuclear area factors across treatment groups (P value < 0.001). Flow cytometry demonstrated G0/G1 phase arrest, with the percentage of cells in G0/G1 increasing from 54.13% in pre-IC50, and 61.22% in the IC50 to 69.04% in the post-IC50 group. Annexin V/PI staining showed a dose-dependent increase in apoptosis, from 18.29% in the pre-IC50 and 23.61% in the IC50 to 35.11% in the post-IC50 group.
Conclusion: Egyptian cobra venom showed significant anticancer potential against osteosarcoma cells by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. These findings suggest its potential as a novel therapeutic agent in osteosarcoma treatment.