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Innovative Medicines & Omics

REVIEW ARTICLE
Therapeutic potential and characteristics of

Smp43 peptide (scorpion venom) and its
interaction with cellular signaling pathways: A

review

Radwa Abdallnasser Amen*
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

Abstract
Smp43 peptide, derived from the venom of the scorpion Scorpio Maurus Palmatus,
exhibits significant potential across a range of therapeutic domains due to its
diverse biological actions. Interestingly, Smp43 possesses robust anti-inflammatory
and antioxidant properties, enabling it to scavenge free radicals and suppress pro-
inflammatory cytokines. This dual functionality makes Smp43 a viable candidate
for the treatment of conditions associated with oxidative stress and chronic
inflammation. Furthermore, its broad-spectrum antibacterial activity is indicative
of its efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including
antibiotic-resistant strains. This antibacterial action is primarily characterized by the
disruption of bacterial membranes and interference with intracellular processes. In
addition, Smp43’s antiviral potential is highlighted by its broad-spectrum activity
against viral infections and its ability to modulate host immune responses. The
peptide also shows promise in cancer therapy, as it has been demonstrated to induce
*Corresponding author: apoptosis and autophagy, impacting apoptotic pathways, the production of reactive
Radwa Abdallnasser Amen
(radwaabdallnasser@gmail.com) oxygen species, and cellular autophagy mechanisms. In conclusion, Smp43 has
the capacity to modulate key signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR, JAK/
Citation: Amen RA. Therapeutic STAT, NF-κB, and ERK/MAPK, thereby influencing crucial cellular processes such as
potential and characteristics of
Smp43 peptide (scorpion venom) autophagy, metabolism, cell growth, and survival.
and its interaction with cellular
signaling pathways: A review. Innov
Med Omics. 2024;1(1):70-82. Keywords: Smp43 peptide; Antiviral; Antioxidant; Anti-inflammatory; Antibacterial;
doi: 10.36922/imo.4353 Cancer; Apoptosis; Autophagy
Received: July 29, 2024
Accepted: August 12, 2024
Published Online: August 21, 2024
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). 1. Introduction
This is an Open-Access article
distributed under the terms of the The complex array of bioactive molecules found in scorpion venom, including proteins,
Creative Commons Attribution peptides, enzymes, and other small molecules, has evolved over millions of years to
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, provide potent defense and predation mechanisms capable of immobilizing prey and
1
provided the original work is deterring predators. These venom components are of great interest to biomedical
properly cited. research due to their broad spectrum of pharmacological effects. Among the various
Publisher’s Note: AccScience bioactive compounds, peptides from scorpion venom have attracted significant interest
Publishing remains neutral with for their potential medical applications. These peptides exhibit antibacterial, antiviral,
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties, making them promising candidates for
affiliations. therapeutic development.

Volume 1 Issue 1 (2024) 70 doi: 10.36922/imo.4353