Evaluation of Anticancer Potentials of Bee Free Venom and Chitosan Nano-Conjugated One: In Vitro Study

Limited efficacy of the current first-line treatment for cancer cells leads to further development of
efficient strategies. Recently, much attention has been given to nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems
loaded with dual drugs to improve current disease therapies by overcoming toxicity. In the present study,
we explore an approach to conjugate chitosan nanoparticles (CsNPs) with bee venom (BV) of Apis
mellifera, then detect the enhancement of BV anticancer activity and related toxicity and anticancer
potential. Chitosan nanoparticles were prepared by the ionotropic gelation method of chitosan (CS)
cations with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) anions. Cytotoxicity of the nanoparticles against
hepatocellar carcinoma (HEPG2) and Prostate cancer (PC3) was evaluated using MTT assay. Data
recorded revealed that chitosan nanocapsulated venom enhanced the toxic effect of bee venom, and flow
cytometry analysis showed appreciable arrested cell cycle in the G2/M for HePG2 and PC3. Also down
regulation and up regulation of Bcl2 and Bax was detected respectively in tested cell lines post
treatment with the venom, compared with the control groups of the cancer cells respectively