collecting bee venom

Bee Venom Uses
Acne
Clinical data
A Cochrane review of complementary therapies for acne identified 1 randomized trial
(n=12) of low quality that showed a statistically significant benefit of purified bee venom for
reducing the numbers of skin lesions in acne vulgaris compared to control (P=0.01).
Cosmetics were applied with or without the intervention (0.06 mg/mL purified bee venom)
for 2 weeks.Cao 2015
Anti-inflammatory effects
Animal data
In a study using the mouse air pouch model, dilute collecting bee venom a potent antiinflammatory
effect, as indicated by a marked reduction in leukocyte migration compared
with that of saline pre-treatment.
Dilute bee venom's anti-inflammatory effect (dBVAI) is reversed by intrathecal pretreatment
with atropine but not with hexamtehonium, indicating that dBV stimulated an increase in
spinal acetylcholine, specifically activating spinal muscarinic receptors.

Intrathecal administration of a muscarinic type 2 (M2) receptor antagonist (methoctramine),
but not M1or M3 receptor antagonists, abolished dBVAI, indicating that spinal M2 receptors
are specifically involved in dBVAI.Yoon 2005
Systemic pretreatment with the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propranolol, but not
the corticosteroid antagonist RU-486, inhibited dBVAI. This suggests that dBVAI is meditated
by adrenal medullary catecholamines acting through beta-adrenoreceptors expressed by
immune cells and that it is not dependent on corticosteroid release from the adrenal
cortex.Kwon 2003 A study in mice demonstrated that bee venom-induced antiinflammatory
effect is dependent on activation of capsaicin-insensitive primary afferent
fibers and the central noradrenergic system, including the locus coeruleus
These findings demonstrate the complex nature of the neuroimmune interactions that
underlie the anti-inflammatory effect produced by subcutaneous bee venom administration.
Transection of the sciatic nerve completely eliminated BVAI on zymosan-induced
inflammation, indicating that BVAI is dependent on peripheral nerve integrity and is not a
locally mediated anti-inflammatory effect.Kwon 2006
A study in Sprague-Dawley rats showed that sciatic nerve transaction, L4-L6 dorsal
rhizotomy, and local treatment of the sciatic nerve with capsaicin produced a depression of
subcutaneous injection of bee venom-induced inflammation, indicating that neurogenic
components are involved in the bee venom-induced inflammatory response. Dorsal root
reflex together with axon reflex conducted by capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents are the
potential mechanisms underlying the generation of neurogenic inflammation.
It is further suggested that capsaicin-sensitive primary afferents may play differential roles
in the development of dynamic and static mechanical allodynia in the bee venom test.Chen
2006
Arthritis therapy
It has been speculated that honeybee venom may prevent the development of or improve
the status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This conclusion is based largely on
anecdotal observations of a general lack of arthritis among beekeepers stung routinely
during their lifetimes. In one survey of a random sampling of the general population, 83% of
respondents believed that bee venom could be an effective treatment for arthritis based on
information they had read in the lay press.Price 1983
Animal data
Honeybee venom administered to rats with adjuvant arthritis resulted in a suppression of
the disease.Yiangou 1993 Melittin has blocked the production of superoxide and hydrogen
peroxide in human neutrophils. Melittin and other agents that bind calmodulin have
decreased superoxide production. An elevated superoxide level has been suggested as a

possible cause of oxidative damage to synovial fluid and other joint membranes. Therefore,
agents that decrease the production of the superoxide may prevent or halt the progression
of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. Also, honeybee venom has decreased the
production of the inflammatory mediator interleukin-1 in rat splenocytes. Honeybee venom
treatment of rats with adjuvant arthritis inhibits certain macrophage activities and, thus,
indirectly inhibits the activation of T and B cells.Hadjipetrou-Kourounakis 1988
Treatment with bee venom resulted in a reduction of tissue swelling and osteophyte
formation in a model of chronic arthritis, as well as reduction of edema formation in a
model of acute arthritis.Reisman 1992
Bee venom inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced prostaglandin E 2 and nitric oxide
production in Raw 264.7 cells. The inhibitory actions of bee venom on the generation of
inflammation mediators were also effective in synoviocytes from rheumatoid arthritis
patients. The inhibitory effect of bee venom was consistent with that of indomethacin.Park
2004