Alternative biological models for evaluation of the toxic, genotoxic and mutagenic potential of Ectatomma brunneum Smith venom.

The venom of Ectatomma brunneum is considered promising for drugs development. Therefore, it is important to evaluate its toxic potential and genetic instability using biological assays. To this end, toxicity assays were performed with Artemia salina, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity with Allium cepa and mutagenicity with Ames. The results indicated toxicity to A. salina, and no cytotoxic, genotoxic or mutagenic potential at concentrations equal to or lower than 500 μg/mL for the other tests.