Oral Acute Toxicity and Genotoxicity of Heteroctenus junceus Scorpion Venom

The study evaluates the elemental composition, oral acute toxicity, genotoxicity, and mutagenic potential of Heteroctenus junceus scorpion venom.

The elemental composition was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and HPLC-MS/MS. The acute oral toxicity test was assessed in mice at 300 and 2000 mg/kg. The in vivo micronucleus test was conducted in mice treated with three scorpion venom doses (10, 100, and 1000 mg/kg). Meanwhile, the in vitro micronucleus test was conducted in TK6 cells treated with three scorpion venom doses (1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg/mL). The Ames test followed the OECD guidelines, and various scorpion venom concentrations (0.16, 0.32, 0.63, 1.25, 2.5, 5 mg/mL) were used.

The elemental analysis of scorpion venom reveals the lowest amino acid and elemental composition levels compared to other species. An LD₅₀ value greater than 2000 mg/kg was obtained in the oral acute toxicity test with transient pathophysiological effects in the liver, lung, and kidney at 300 and 2000 mg/kg. The in vitro micronucleus test showed that the negative control and scorpion venom concentrations did not induce micronuclei in TK6 cells. Meanwhile, the in vivo micronucleus test showed an increase in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes and a dose-dependent decrease in erythrocyte count only at doses higher than 100 mg/kg. The Ames reverse mutation test did not show an increase in revertant colonies in the scorpion venom-treated groups compared to the negative control.

H. junceus venom has a low toxicological potential.