Abstract
We documented differential blood cell counts and plasma polypeptide profiles in Testudo graeca and T. horsfieldii raised in captivity in Lebanon, and investigated bioactivity of T. graeca plasma against a human colon cancer cell line (HCT-116). The percentage of red blood cells, thrombocytes, heterophils, basophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils did not differ significantly between the species during winter or spring. The total number of plasma polypeptides differed between the species, with 2 additional polypeptide bands in T. horsfieldii. Plasma from T. graeca significantly affected the percentage proliferation and percentage viability of human cancer cell line HCT-116.