North-Western Journal of Zoology

NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY;

Volume: 22 (No.1) - pp. 53 - 61 - Art no:e261502

In vitro cellular effects of Montivipera xanthina and Vipera ammodytes meridionalis venoms

Full-length research papers → Herpetology

Authors

Huzeyfe HÜRİYET¹, Özgur VATAN¹, Nilüfer ÇİNKILIÇ¹, Tolga ÇAVAŞ^1,*

1. Cell Culture and Genetic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Bursa Uludag University, 16059 Nilüfer, Bursa, Turkey.

* Corresponding author: T. Çavaş, E-mail: tcavas@uludag.edu.tr

DOI https://doi.org/10.61215/nwjz.2026.22.1.07

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Keywords

Montivipera xanthina, Vipera ammodytes meridionalis, cellular effects, crude venom, in vitro, human lung cancer cells.

Abstract

Snake venoms, composed of diverse bioactive components and shaped by ecological dynamics, exhibit species-specific cellular effects, making them valuable models for studying adaptation and potential toxin-mediated therapeutic mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the in vitro effects of crude venoms from two viperid snake species from Turkey, Montivipera xanthina (Ottoman viper) and Vipera ammodytes meridionalis (Eastern long-nosed viper), on the human non-small-cell lung cancer cell line A549. Protein contents of the venoms were quantified using the Bradford method. Cytotoxicity and DNA damage were evaluated using the XTT and alkaline comet assays. Apoptosis, cell-cycle distribution, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were assessed by flow cytometry and DCFH-DA fluorescence assay. Our results demonstrate that both venoms exert cytotoxic effects on A549 cells, significantly induce DNA strand breaks, and trigger apoptosis, ROS production, and G2/M phase arrest, with V. a. meridionalis venom showing a more substantial impact than M. xanthina venom. These findings underscore the biologically active nature of M. xanthina and V. a. meridionalis venoms and support their further exploration as part of the growing understanding of venom diversity and toxin-mediated cellular effects within Viperidae.

Article history

Received: 22 October 2025 / Accepted: 28 January 2026 / Published online: 15 June 2026 / Printed: 30 June 2026

Authors` ORCID IDs

H. Hüriyet https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9515-3063

Ö. Vatan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7687-3284

N. Çinkiliç https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3595-6286

T. Çavaş https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1620-1918

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