Oral acute toxicity and genotoxicity of Heteroctenus junceus scorpion venom

Objective

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

Methods

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 performed on mice treated with three scorpion venom doses (10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg). Meanwhile, the in vitro micronucleus test was performed in TK6 cells treated with three scorpion venom doses (1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/ml). The Ames test followed OECD guidelines, and different concentrations of scorpion venom (0.16, 0.32, 0.63, 1.25, 2.5, 5 mg/ml) were used.

Results

The elemental analysis of scorpion venom reveals the lowest levels of amino acids and elemental composition 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 liver, lung and kidney at 300 and 2000 mg/kg. The in vitro micronucleus test showed that the negative control and concentration of scorpion venom 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 the 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.

Conclusions

H. junceus poison has a low toxicological potential.

Díaz-García, A., Ruiz-Fuentes, JL, Medina, SM, Guajardo, NZ, & Skarneo, CR (2026). Oral acute toxicity and genotoxicity of Heteroctenus junceus scorpion venom. Veterinary Medicine and Science, 12(2), e70872. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.70872