What is Bee Venom?

Bee venom, also known as apitoxin, is a clear, odorless liquid that honeybees produce to defend their hive. When a bee stings, it injects this venom into the skin. Surprisingly, this substance contains a mixture of proteins, enzymes, and peptides that can have both pain-causing and healing properties. In recent years, bee venom has attracted attention for its potential health benefits, especially in skincare and alternative medicine. While a bee sting can be painful, the compounds in bee venom may hold valuable therapeutic uses. ENZYMES

Enzymes in bee venom include phospholipase A2 (PLA2), phospholipase B (PLB), hyaluronidase, phosphatase, and α-glucosidase.

-Phospholipase A2: PLA2 metabolizes phospholipids, producing fatty acids and lysophospholipids. It plays roles in inflammation, immunity, and pain relief.

-Phospholipase B: PLB deacylates diacylphospholipids, remodeling fatty acids. It is thermostable and has broader roles than PLA2.

-Hyaluronidase: Hyaluronidase breaks down hyaluronan, aiding the spread of venom through tissues and blood.

-Phosphatase: Phosphatase removes phosphate groups, inhibiting tumor growth and releasing histamine from basophils.

-α-Glucosidase: α-Glucosidase hydrolyzes starch, releasing glucose and aiding in larvicidal activity against pathogens.

PEPTIDES

Bee venom peptides include melittin, apamin, mast cell degranulating (MCD) peptide, adolapin, tertiapin, secapin, melittin F, and cardiopep.

-Melittin: Melittin disrupts cell membranes and works with PLA2 to enhance its activity.

-Apamie: Apamin is a neurotoxin that crosses the blood-brain barrier, inhibiting specific potassium channels.

-Mast Cell Degranulating (MCD) Peptide: MCD peptide releases histamine from mast cells, contributing to allergic reactions.

-Adolapin: Adolapin has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects by inhibiting prostaglandin production.

-Tertiapin: Tertiapin blocks potassium channels, preventing heart block and aiding in pharmaceutical screening.

-Secapin: Secapin is a 24-residue peptide with a high proline content and one disulphide bridge. It is non-toxic but can cause hypothermia and sedation in high doses in mice.

-Melittin F: Melittin F is a 19-amino acid fragment of melittin, isolated from crude bee venom.

-Cardiopep: Cardiopep, making up about 0.7% of bee venom, is a cardioactive polypeptide with anti-arrhythmic properties.

Reference: Pak, S.C. (2017). Chemical Composition of Bee Venom. In: Alvarez-Suarez, J. (eds) Bee Products - Chemical and Biological Properties. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59689-1_13