The present study is an attempt to evaluate the antiproliferative potential of
peptide (7.6 kDa) from lionfish (Pterios volitans)
venom on cultured HEp2 and HeLa cells. Different dose of purified
peptide (1, 2 and 4 microg/ml) at different time points (12, 24 and 36 hrs) were tested for antiproliferative index of the
peptide. Among them, 2 microg/ml at 24 hrs was found to effectively inhibit
cancer cell growth in vitro and did not cause any adverse effect on normal human lymphocytes. Apoptosis was examined by
propidium iodide staining, confirmed by the expression of
caspase-8 and
caspase-3, down regulation of Bcl-2 expression and DNA fragmentation in treated cells, when compared to untreated HEp2 and HeLa cells. Thus
fish venom peptide was found to selectively induce apoptosis in
cancer cell.