Hemolytic effects of crude venom from Aiptasia mutabilis nematocysts

The aim of this paper was to focus on the toxinological aspects of microbasic-mastigophore nematocysts isolated from acontia of Aiptasia mutabilis, an Anthozoan collected in the Strait of Messina, by performing hemolytic assay on human, chicken, and rabbit red blood cells in suspension. The hemolytic effects of single isolated nematocysts were achieved by checking the lytic pattern after discharge. Crude extract from a population of isolated nematocysts was obtained by sonication on ice. Hemolysis induced by crude extract was detected spectrophotometrically. The results of the extraction method used show that crude venom that can be obtained is effective in inducing hemolysis of erythrocytes from the different sources. Rabbit erythrocytes in particular seem to be more sensitive to this crude venom. The hemolytic activity is dose-dependent and is inhibited if heated to 70 C. Further investigations will better focus these results leading to venom characterization.