Snake Venoms-Based Compounds as Potential Anticancer Prodrug: Sand Viper Cerastes Cerastes as a Model

Abstract

Cancer is a major public health issue that has recently been dubbed "the disease of the millennium."Tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and the interaction of cancer cells with extracellular matrix components are all important events in carcinogenesis. Many of these routes are being studied as potential therapeutic targets for new antitumor drugs. On cancer cell lines from humans, several venoms and their venomous toxins have been demonstrated to have cancer-fighting abilities, opening up new avenues for creation of drugs. Snake venom, for example, is a mixture of proteins, peptides, carbohydrates, enzymes and other biologically active compounds that are either emitted by the snake in predation or in the face of danger. When compared to normal cells, snake venoms are significantly more cytotoxic to malignant cells. As a result, venoms have a variety of therapeutic actions, making them an appealing approach for cancer therapy. Here, we review the potential therapeutic value of venom isolated from the horned sand viper, Cerastes cerastes, endemic to the Egyptian desert.