Pharmacological studies on the venom of the marine snail Conus lentiginosus Reeve, 1844

The bioactivities of the venom from Conus lentiginosus were studied from Mumbai coast, are characterized biomedically and pharmaceutically. Partial purification of the crude extract was carried out using DEAE cellulose anion exchange chromatography. The protein content of crude venom was found to be maximum 432.5 ± 1.58 μg/mL and minimum 80.2 ± 1.08 μg/mL. The mice bioassay for lethality was performed on male albino mice weighing 20 ± 2 found to be lethal at 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0 ml The crude venom exhibited hemolytic activity on chicken erythrocytes, which was estimated as 8 HU. Analgesic activity test was carried out on albino mice by tail flick method. The crude venom exhibited neurostimulatory response on mice brain AChE activity. Inhibitory effect on AChE activity ranging between 23% and 397% was caused by venom of C. lentiginosus. Molecular weight of purified toxins were determined by SDS-PAGE on 12.0% gel system using standard protein markers and yield 3 band 40 kDa, 71 kDa and 120 kDa. The present study reveals the pharmacological potential of the crude venom of Conus lentiginosus could be utilized for a better assessment of the clinical manifestations produced by the venomous marine animals.