Figure 2. The antiproliferative effect of Trachinus vipera venom on HCT116 cells.

(A) Dose-response curves for the effect of Trachinus vipera venom on the viability of HCT116. Cells were treated with indicated concentrations of the venom for 3 days and cell viability was determined using a WST-1 assay. Green curve represents the effect on 24 h, orange on 48 h and red on 72 h respectively, (mean ± SEM; n = 3). *p < 0.05, as compared with non-treated cells. (B) Cell nucleus count. HCT116 cells were treated with indicated doses of venom for 72 h and then DAPI stained. The number of nuclei was counted for each condition. Quantitative results are reported. (C,D) Long effect potential. HCT116 cells were seeded at low cell density. After 24 h cells were treated for 1 week with the indicated concentration of venom. Colonies were fixed and stained with cristal violet for count. Representative plate (C) as well as quantitative data upon normalization to plating efficiency (D) (mean ± SEM; n = 3) are shown. *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 (Student’s t-test), as compared with non-treated cells. Scale bar = 1 cm.