Bioactive Components of Snake Venom: Prospects for Cancer Treatment

Cancer remains a global health challenge, necessitating the development of novel therapies with improved efficacy and reduced toxicity. Snake venom, a complex mixture of bioactive proteins, peptides, and enzymes, has emerged as a promising source of anticancer agents. These venom-derived components demonstrate diverse anticancer activities, including induction of apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis and metastasis, selective cytotoxicity against tumor cells, and immune modulation. Notably, compounds like crotoxin and disintegrins have shown significant preclinical and clinical potential. However, challenges such as toxicity, production scalability, and standardization must be addressed to translate venom-based therapies into clinical use. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of snake venom components in cancer treatment and outlines the mechanisms underlying their anticancer effects.