Abstract

Scorpion venoms constitute a rich, complex pool of biologically active mixtures, including neurotoxins, enzymes, lipids, biogenic amines, Non-Disulfide-Bridged Peptides (NDBPs), and Disulfide-Bridged Peptides (DBPs). While traditionally studies focused on their toxicity, recent research highlights the significant therapeutic potential of purified scorpion venom molecules across multiple medical domains. This review outlines the functional characterization and pharmacological activities of diverse scorpion identified peptides, emphasizing their broad-spectrum applications as antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, antiviral, and antitumor agents. Key antimicrobial peptides, such as scorpine, Pandinins, Meucines, and Opistoporins, demonstrate potent efficacy against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains, human fungal pathogens (Candida and Aspergillus spp.), and parasitic infections (Plasmodium falciparum and P. berghei). Furthermore, specific neurotoxins show therapeutic utility in oncology; notably, Chlorotoxin (ChTx) from Leiurus quinquestriatus selectively targets Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and upregulated chloride Channel Complexes (ClC-3) on glioma cells without binding to healthy tissue. Collectively, these findings underscore the translational promise of scorpion venomics as a valuable source for novel drug discovery and targeted therapeutic interventions.

Keywords:Scorpion venoms; Bioactive peptides; Antimicrobial; Antitumor; Therapeutics