Effect of Bothrops spp and Bothrocopias spp Venom on Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells

Keywords: Cancer, Biochemicals, Enzymes, Reptiles

Abstract

Colorectal cancer has become a global health challenge due to its high prevalence and mortality rates. Current treatments lack therapeutic selectivity, affecting both healthy and malignant cells, and represent high costs for the healthcare system. For this reason, studies of substances with antitumor capacity have increased in recent years. Some research has demonstrated the presence of components with anticancer potential in viper venom. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of the complete venom of Bothrocophias myersi, Bothrops rhombeatus, and Bothrops punctatus specimens, as well as two fractions of Bothrops asper venom, on SW480 and SW620 colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines and HaCaT non-malignant cells. Electrophoretic characterization by SDS-PAGE was performed on each complete venom or fraction, and subsequently, cytotoxicity assays were conducted using Sulforodamine B, with exposure times of 24 and 48 hours. In general, all the venoms exhibit strong cytotoxic effects, except for the BaV fraction of B. asper venom. B. punctatus venom showed statistically significant differences in its cytotoxic effect between healthy and tumor cells, especially on the SW480 cell line (<p=0.00), so further research is proposed to profile its components and study its apparent selectivity on these tumor cells.

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Author Biographies

Juan David León-Rojas, University Institution Colegio Mayor de Antioquia

University Institution Colegio Mayor de Antioquia. Faculty of Health Sciences. SIFACS Research Group, Colombia.

Tonny Williams Naranjo-Preciado, University of Antioquia, Colombia

Medical and Experimental Mycology Unit - Corporation for Biological Research - University of Antioquia - University of Santander - Pontifical Bolivarian University, Colombia

Jaime Andrés Pereañez-Jiménez, University of Antioquia, Colombia

University of Antioquia, Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Food Sciences. Therapeutic and Food Alternatives Research Group, Colombia.

Adriana Ximena Muñoz-Bravo, University Institution Colegio Mayor de Antioquia

University Institution Colegio Mayor de Antioquia, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biosciences Research Group, Colombia.

Sara Ramírez-Restrepo, University Institution Colegio Mayor de Antioquia

University Institution Colegio Mayor de Antioquia, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biosciences Research Group, Colombia.

José Fernando Gómez-Marín, University Institution Colegio Mayor de Antioquia

University Institution Colegio Mayor de Antioquia. Faculty of Health Sciences. SIFACS Research Group, Colombia.

Lyz Jenny Gómez-Rave, University Institution Colegio Mayor de Antioquia

University Institution Colegio Mayor de Antioquia, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biosciences Research Group, Colombia

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Published
2026-05-11
How to Cite
León-Rojas, J. D., Naranjo-Preciado, T. W., Pereañez-Jiménez, J. A., Muñoz-Bravo, A. X., Ramírez-Restrepo, S., Gómez-Marín, J. F., & Gómez-Rave, L. J. (2026). Effect of Bothrops spp and Bothrocopias spp Venom on Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cells. Journal of the University of Zulia , 17(49), 45-56. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20127993