Carli A

Cytotoxicity of the venom of Pelagia noctiluca forskål (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)

The activity of Pelagia noctiluca venom was never assessed on cultured cells; therefore, we have evaluated on V79 cells the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and ATP depletion induced after treatment. Venom did not cause alteration on cell DNA, but showed remarkable cytotoxic properties. With the highest nematocyst concentration (150,000 nematocyst/ml) 74 and 39% cells survived after 1 and 3 h, respectively, when evaluated by Trypan blue. Treated cells showed increased ATP levels during the same time. Preliminary HPLC analyses have showed the occurrence of a protein containing peak.

In vitro evaluation of the cytotoxic, hemolytic and clastogenic activities of Rhizostoma pulmo toxin(s)

Cytotoxic, hemolytic and clastogenic activities of Rhizostoma pulmo toxin(s) contained in the jelly tissue free of nematocysts were investigated in mammalian cells with in vitro procedures. At the concentration of 37.6 microg/ml the tissue protein produced the death of 50% V79 cells; a similar potency was observed in terms of hemolytic activity. The toxin(s) was not clastogenic for human lymphocytes in culture at the concentration of 5 microg/ml.

Toxicity of jellyfish and sea-anemone venoms on cultured V79 cells

Cnidarian toxins exert an influence on human activities and public health. The cytotoxicity of crude toxins (nematocyst and surrounding tissue venom) of Aequorea aequorea, Rhizostoma pulmo and Anemonia sulcata was assessed on V79 cells. Rhizostoma pulmo and Anemonia sulcata crude venoms showed remarkable cytotoxicity and killed all treated cells at highest tested concentration within 2 and 3 hr, respectively. Aequorea aequorea crude venom greatly affected growth rate during long-term experiments. No genotoxic effect was observed.