Evaluation of Anti-Cancer Effects of Caspian Cobra (Naja naja oxiana) Snake Venom in Comparison with Doxorubicin in HeLa Cancer Cell Line and Normal HFF Fibroblast

Cancer is the leading cause of death in most countries. There are several methods used to treat cancer. Doxorubicin is one of the most important chemotherapy drugs that has several side effects, such as infertility, hyperuricemia, neuropathy, and cardiomyopathy. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-cancer effects of Naja naja oxiana in comparison with doxorubicin in Hela (Human cervical cancer) and HFF (Human foreskin fibroblast) cell line.

Hela and normal fibroblast cancer cell lines were exposed to different concentrations (1, 10, 50, 100, and 500 μg/ml) of snake venom and doxorubicin. The MTT method was used to evaluate the IC50 (Inhibitory Concentration) for toxins and drugs. Finally, the results were analyzed using SPSS software (version 19).

The results show that with increasing concentration and time of treatment with snake venom and doxorubicin, the percentage of Hela and fibroblasts living cells decreases. The highest decrease in the percentage of the viable cells was observed in the Hela cancer cell line treated with a concentration of 500 μg/ml snake venom for 48 h.

Snake venom can have a significant inhibitory effect on the percentage of living Hela cancer cells in comparison with doxorubicin.