Venom-Derived Bioactive Compounds as Potential Anticancer Agents: A Review

Biologically active compounds with potential anticancer activity have been isolated from various animal sources. Recent research is focused on venoms from animal sources, since they specifically target cancer cells and are less toxic to normal tissues, thus making them a better alternative for prevention and management of cancer. Animals produce pharmacologically active compounds that are capable of protein synthesis inhibition, induction of angiogenesis and apoptosis. Over the past decades, venom has been identified as a potential source of therapeutic agents, including anti-cancer agents. Venoms are isolated from various animal sources such as wasp, honey bee and scorpion are composite mixtures of various peptides, protein, enzymes, toxins and non-proteinaceous secretions. They are natural compounds that act as a template and can be utilized for the development of new therapeutic agents against cancer. The objective of this review is to create a comprehensive resource of anticancer agents from venoms which would foster pharmacogenomic studies and the development of cost-effective cancer treatment. Information about different animal venoms has been compiled after a panoramic literature survey.

Automated summary

Venoms from various animal sources are potential sources of anti-cancer agents due to their specificity in targeting cancer cells and inducing apoptosis, with less toxicity to normal tissues. They have been identified as having pharmacologically active compounds that could be developed into cost-effective cancer treatments.