Characterization and Pharmacological Activities of Jellyfish, Chrysaora hysoscella Captured in Bushehr Port, Iran

Background: Cutaneous reactions like pruritus and erythema are common in warm months of the year in Bushehr Port, Persian Gulf, Iran due to jellyfish envenomation. This study reports isolation of the Chrysaora hysoscella nematocysts and evaluating its pharmacological activities during a bloom in 2013. Methods: The venom of C. hysoscella captured in Jofre area in Bushehr port was analyzed. The electrophoretic profile was assessed by SDS-PAGE (12.5%) and the crude sample was analyzed using reverse phase HPLC. Caseinase activity was also determined. Results: After separation of tentacles and isolation of their nematocysts, three different major protein components were revealed at 72-250 kDa with SDS-PAGE, signifying the presence of peptides in its venom. Two major peaks at 8.62 and 11.23 min were observed in reverse phase HPLC of the crude venom denoting protease peptide structural identities. Caseinase activity of C. hysoscella's venom was extremely low as compared with other jellyfish venoms. Conclusion: This was the first report on the structural examination of jellyfish in Persian Gulf and may pave the way for determination and separation of destructive enzymes inducing cutaneous reactions in fishermen and swimmers.