Fractionation and biological activities of venoms of the Indian scorpions Buthus tamulus and Heterometrus bengalensis.

Abstract

A fractionation method, utilizing carboxymethyl-Sephadex C-25 columns buffers, for the constituents of scorpion venoms is presented. Recovery of protein from the column is high, when applied to venoms on the Indian red scorpion Buthus tamulus . The venom of Heterometrus bengalensis species could also be similarly fractionated. The former venom (i.v. LD sub(50), 3.6 mg/kg mouse) yielded two fractions both of which elicited an initial transient hypotensive effect (cholinergic) and a secondary but prolonged hypertensive effect (adrenergic) in the rat.