Apoptotic effect of crude scorpion venom on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell line versus normal human epithelial cell line: In-vitro study

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the apoptotic effect of Leiurus quinquestriatus (LQ) scorpion venom on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and normal human epithelial cell lines, in an attempt to introduce a novel selective therapeutic modality for OSCC. Methodology: we explored the effect of LQ scorpion venom on OSCC cell line (HNO-97) compared to normal oral epithelial (OEC) cell line. The cell viability by MTT assay and the expression of PUMA by ELISA were analyzed. Cell cycle analysis was studied for both groups using flow cytometry. Finally, we compared the expression of ROS by ELISA. Results LQ scorpion venom showed selective cytotoxic and apoptotic effect on OSCC cells. In comparison to normal cells, significant dose dependent cell viability reduction, cell cycle arrest and increased expression of apoptotic marker PUMA as well as ROS were observed in cancer cell group in comparison to the control group. Conclusions:  LQ crude venom exerts a strong cytotoxic effect against OSCC with minimal effect on normal epithelial cells, thus, providing a selective, effective and less toxic possible chemotherapeutic agent for such a malignancy