| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The biodiversity of the marine environment and the associated chemical diversity constitute a practically unlimited source of new active substances in the field of the development of bioactive products. In our study, we have investigated the efficiency of the venom from the Mediterranean jellyfish, <it>Pelagia noctiluca</it> and its fractions for anti-proliferative and anti-cell adhesion to cell–extracellular matrix activities.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our experiments have indicated that the separation of the Mediterranean jellyfish <it>Pelagia noctiluca</it> crude venom extract by sephadex G-75 chromatography led to four fractions (F1, F2, F3, and F4). Among the four fractions F1 and F3 were cytotoxic against U87 cells with IC50 values of 125 and 179 μg/ml respectively. The venom, F1, F2 and F 3 showed significant anti-proliferative activity in time-dependent manner. Our results also suggest that these fractions and the venom are able to inhibit cell adhesion to fibrinogen in dose-dependent manner. This inhibition is reliant on its ability to interact with integrins.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>To conclude, we have demonstrated for the first time that <it>Pelagia noctiluca</it> venom and its fractions especially (F1 and F2) display potent anti-tumoral properties. Separation by sephadex G-75 chromatography give rise to more active fractions than the crude venom extract. The purification and the determination of chemical structures of compounds of these active fractions are under investigation. Overall, <it>Pelagia noctiluca</it> venom may has the potential to serve as a template for future anticancer-drug development.</p>
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