Bioassay of derived components from venom of Iranian medically important scorpions to identify the bradykinin potentiating factors

Abstract

The venom of animals, including snakes, scorpions and spiders is a complex combination of proteins, peptides, and other biomolecules as well as some minerals. Among the biomolecules, some peptides prevent converting of angiotensin 1 to angiotensin 2 by inhibiting of the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) and finally reducing the blood pressure in the victims. The aim of the present study was to isolate venom components of the three species of Iranian medically important scorpions and to study the bradykinin potentiating effect of them. Separation of the venom components for each scorpion was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The range of fractions (zones) obtained in several replicates on Guinea pig ileum and rat uterus tissues were performed using organ bath instrument. The bioassays were resulted in the peptides including Z1 and Z2 regions of venom chromatogram of the Hottentotta sulcyi, Z2 for Odontobutus doriea and Z2 and Z3 in Mesobutus eupeus venom demonstrated bradykinin potentiating effect.