Exploring snake venom-derived molecules for cancer treatment: challenges and opportunities

Cancer is one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. Conventional treatment strategies available for cancer have side effects varying from minor to life-threatening conditions. Hence, alternative treatment strategies have been proposed for the management of cancer. Natural agents such as snake venom have been proven effective in treating different malignancies. Snake venoms contain many bioactive components that have promising anticancer properties. The following review highlights the various snake venom components and their potential as novel anticancer agents. We explored the mechanisms of action, cytotoxic effects, and apoptosis-inducing capabilities of these bioactive molecules against different cancer cell lines. Additionally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities in translating snake venom-based therapies into clinical applications. Through an analysis of the latest research findings, this review highlights the therapeutic ability of snake venom components against malignant cells and encourages further investigations in this field.