cerastes vipera venom

Cerastes vipera venom is a complex biological mixture derived from the Sahara Sand Viper (also known as the Egyptian Sand Viper), native to North Africa and the Middle East. It is currently being investigated for its potential as an antineoplastic agent, demonstrating significant in vitro cytotoxicity against breast cancer (MCF-7) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines. The venom's mechanism of action is primarily driven by the induction of oxidative stress, leading to increased lipid peroxidation and the depletion of antioxidant defenses like glutathione. This oxidative damage results in mitochondrial dysfunction, characterized by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and the release of pro-apoptotic factors such as Cytochrome C, ultimately triggering programmed cell death. A specific bioactive component, L-amino acid oxidase (Cv-LAAOI), has been isolated from the venom and identified as a potent inducer of apoptosis in various cancer models.

Other names

Sahara Sand Viper venomEgyptian Sand Viper venomC. vipera venom