Abstract
The venom of the scorpion (
Leiurus quinquestriatus) the species most abundant in Central and Northern Sudan was analysed for the presence of lipids. Thin-layer chromatography of the total lipid extract from the crude venom revealed the presence of phospholipids, free cholesterol, free fatty acids, triglycerides, methyl esters and cholesterol esters. Total lipid content was 1·7% by weight of the crude dried venom. The phospholipids constituted about 36% of the total lipids, made up mainly of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, lecithin and sphingomyelin; no lysocompounds were detected. The washed mucoid fraction contains similar lipids amounting to 3·75% of its dry weight. Removal of lipids from the venom did not affect its lethality.