Bradykinin-Potentiating Activity of a Gamma-Irradiated Bioactive Fraction Isolated from Scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) Venom in Rats with Doxorubicin-Induced Acute Cardiotoxicity: Favorable Modulation of Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory, Fibrogenic and Apoptotic Pathways

Although doxorubicin (Dox) is a backbone of chemotherapy, the search for an effective and safe therapy to revoke Dox-induced acute cardiotoxicity remains a critical matter in cardiology and oncology. The current study was the first to explore the probable protective effects of native and gamma-irradiated fractions with bradykinin-potentiating activity (BPA) isolated from scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) venom against Dox-induced acute cardiotoxicity in rats. Native or irradiated fractions (1 μg/g) were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) twice per week for 3 weeks, and Dox (15 mg/kg, i.p.) was administered on day 21 at 1 h after the last native or irradiated fraction treatment. Electrocardiographic (ECG) aberrations were ameliorated in the Dox-treated rats pretreated with the native fraction, and the irradiated fraction provided greater amelioration of ECG changes than that of the native fraction. The group pretreated with native protein with BPA also exhibited significant improvements in the levels of oxidative stress-related, inflammatory, angiogenic, fibrogenic, and apoptotic markers compared with those of the Dox group. Notably, the irradiated fraction restored these biomarkers to their normal levels. Additionally, the irradiated fraction ameliorated Dox-induced histological changes and alleviated the severity of cardiac injury to a greater extent than that of the native fraction. In conclusion, the gamma-irradiated detoxified fraction of scorpion venom elicited a better cardioprotective effect than that of the native fraction against Dox-induced acute cardiotoxicity in rats.

The knockout effect of low doses of gamma radiation on hepatotoxicity induced byEchis Coloratussnake venom in rats.. [DOI: 10.1101/705251]

Echis Coloratusis the most medically important viper in Egypt causing several pathological effects leading to death. Gamma radiation has been used as a venom detoxifying tool in order to extend the lifespan of the immunized animals used in antivenin production process. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the effects of increasing doses of gamma radiation onEchis Coloratusin vivo through biochemical and histological studies. The results revealed a significant increase in the levels of AST, ALT, ALP and glucose of sera collected from the rats injected with nativeEchis Coloratusvenom compared with the non-envenomed group. On the other hand, biochemical parameters of sera of rats administrated with either 1.5 kGy or 3 kGy irradiated venom were significantly decrease compared with the native venom envenomed group at 2h, 4h and 24h post envenomation. In addition, these results were confirmed by histological studies of rats’ livers. Correspondingly, the sublethal dose injection of nativeEchis Coloratusvenom induced significant alterations in the histological architecture of liver after 2, 4 and 24 h of injection. Concurrently, the administration of both 1.5 kGy and 3 kGy gamma irradiated venom showed fewer histological alterations compared with the native group. In conclusion, the present findings support the idea of using gamma radiation as an effective venom detoxification tool.