Scorpion venom as a molecular treasure: emerging bioactive compounds and translational therapeutic insights

Scorpion venom as a molecular treasure: emerging bioactive compounds and translational therapeutic insights

Abstract

Scorpion venom contains a diverse array of bioactive compounds, including peptides, proteins, enzymes, and alkaloids, which hold significant medicinal potential despite their toxicity due to interactions with voltage-gated sodium, potassium, and calcium channels affecting the autonomic nervous system. A comprehensive study analyzing literature from esteemed scientific databases (2000–2025) evaluates the structural and functional properties of these venom components. Enzymes and proteins exhibit anticancer properties through apoptosis induction, angiogenesis inhibition, and immune modulation, while ion channel modulators show promise in treating neurological disorders, pain, and cardiac arrhythmias. Antimicrobial peptides demonstrate high efficacy against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Certain alkaloids also offer antioxidant and immunoregulatory benefits. A pioneering study on advanced nano-systems derived from scorpion venom has highlighted their potential to enhance drug delivery and therapeutic efficacy. Translational promise is further supported by advancements in recombinant expression, structure–activity relationship investigations, and innovative delivery strategies, despite challenges such as toxicity and stability. Scorpion venom thus represents a rich source of compounds with significant medicinal and biological applications.

Dahiya, R., Goyal, K., Sharma, K. et al. Scorpion venom as a molecular treasure: emerging bioactive compounds and translational therapeutic insights. Arch Toxicol (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-025-04251-5