A Highly Selective Carcinolytic Agent isolated from Cobra Venom

Abstract

CRUDE cobra venom contains a number of proteins which can be demonstrated by agar electrophoresis (pH 8.3) (Fig. 1a). By the use of column chromatography in carboxymethyl cellulose and ammonium sulphate fractionation of cobra venom, it has been possible to separate the protein fraction which is responsible for the toxicity of the venom in whole animals (Fig. 1b) from another fraction which has low toxicity and remains close to the origin in agar electrophoresis, using the method of Wieme and Rabaeye¹. This is shown in Fig. 1c. The MLD for this fraction was 100, whereas the MLD for the crude venom and the neurotoxin was 17 and 4, respectively (the MLD minimum lethal dose in µg of protein of the material required to kill a mouse weighing 20–25 g within 18 h). This comparatively non-toxic fraction still has a remarkable action on Yoshida sarcoma cells.