Abstract: AIM: To observe the cytotoxicity effect of scorpion venom crude(SVC-Ⅲ)on the human jugular squamous cell carcinoma(AGZY-973)and to find a properly consistence of SVC of the growth inhibiting to AGZY-973.METHODS: MTT colorimetric method was used to study the growth inhibition rate(GIR)in different condition.RESULTS: The ability to metabolize MTT of AGZY-973 cells was lower than control distinctly after the cells were treated by SVC-Ⅲ.The growth of AGZY-973 cells was inhibited obviously by SVC Ⅲ and GIR was reached 68.96%(p<0.01).The dose-response relationshipwas unclear when consistence were more than 40mg·L^-1,while the dose-response relationshipwas clear when dose was in 10 -40 mg·L^-1.The growth inhibition rate(GIR)of 5-Fu reached 55.27%(p<0.01).CONCLUSION: SVC is one kind of effective antineoplastic components in the venom of buthus martensii scorpion.It possesses growth inhibition on AGZY-973 cells.The properly consistence of SVC of the growth inhibition to AGZY-973 cells probably is 40 mg·L^-1.

Key words: scorpion venom, cell line, squamous cell carcinoma, cells cytotoxicity, antitumor