Cobra snake venom reduces significantly tissue nucleic acid levels in human breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE To look into the feasibility of using cobra snake venom in suppressing breast cancer tissue through inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis. METHODS Samples of breast cancerous tissue, obtained from Atomic Energy Medical Center, LMCH, Jamshoro, incubated with varying concentrations of venom and without venom (as controls) were assayed for macromolecular (RNA and DNA) levels RESULTS No. change in the control samples while a prominent and significant fall in nucleic acid contents has been noted in venom treated tissues. Also, maximum effect was observed with 25ug/ml dose. CONCLUSION Snake venom strongly inhibited the formation of nucleic acids in the breast cancerous tissues. It may bring a fall in cell proliferation, thus there is hope that venom could be used as an anti-cancerous drug in the future.