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in CNS and elsewhere.
The presence of neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin
and nor-epinephrine which facilitates nerve transmission
and healing in condition involving nerve disorders. This
give bee venom the ability to travel along neural
pathways from the spine to various trigger points and
injured areas to help repair nerve damage and restore
mobility.
Lastly, bee venom has the ability to kill cancer cells and
can make malignant tumors close to skin surface
disappears. Bee venom contains peptides- melittin and
apamin, which have the ability to destroy cancerous
cells. when melittin binds with our antibodies,
immunotoxins are created, they penetrate to the DNA of
infected cell and destroy them. Apamin can travel from
blood stream and can cross blood-brain barrier into the
CNS thus facilitating healing process of neural disorder.
Indication1
Disease type Application, details
Arthritis Both osteoarthritis and rheumatic arthritis Rheumatic arthritis being more susceptible to BVT
Diseases of the central
and peripheral nervous
system (CNS, PNS)
Multiple sclerosis
Dementia
Post stroke paralysis
Polyneuritis
Ganglion nerve inflammation
Cerebellar ataxy (muscular disfunction) Syringomyelia (pain of extremeties, headache), Inflammation of
facial nerve
Myopathy (neuromuscular disease)
Trigeminal neuralgia
Posttraumatic inflammation of plexus nerve Inflammation of arachnoid CNS membrane
Parkinson’s disease
Heart and blood system Hypertension
Arteriosclerosis
Endarteritis (chronic inflammation of the inner layer of arteries)
Angina pectoris
Arrhythmia
Skin diseases Eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis
Furunculosis (recurring boil)
Healing of cicatrices
Baldness
Other disease Ophthalmology
Gastroenterology: colitis, ulcers, IBS
Pulmonology: asthma, bronchitis, Otorinolaringology: pharingytis, tonsillitis, ear nerve neuritis
Endocrinology
Urology, gynecology
bursitis
tendenitis
dissolving scar tissue(keloids)
Herpes zooster
About 2% of the population may have allergic reactions to bee stings, the first step is to test the risk factor by
injecting a very small amount of bee venom underneath the skin or with a single sting. if no allergic reactions the
therapy continuous.
Beneficial and toxic biological effects of whole bee venom in animal and cell experiments1
Overall effect
or target
Specific effects
Anti-inflammatory and
anti- arthritis action
Glucocorticoid-and aspirin like effects.
Anti-cancer effects Antitumor effects on ovary, hepatoma, prostate, bladder, melanoma and renal cancers cells by different
mechanisms of action depending on the tumor type
Affects the central and
peripheral nervous system
(CNS, PNS)
Stimulates many peripheral chemoreceptors, e.g of heart, sinocarotid, intestinal systems, affecting flow to
the CNS
Has cholinolytic action (against acetylcholine)
Blocks transmission of the vegetative synapse and the polysynaptic neuronal paths
Pain-soothing aspirin-like action
Influence of brain EEG and behaviour patterns of animals, inhibiting their conditioned reflex patterns.
Increases brain blood circulation
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Anti-addictive effects BV acupuncture may modulate methamphetamine- induced hyperactivity, hyperthermia through activation of
the peripheral nerve and the central alpha (2)- adrenergic activation.
Heart and blood system Increases coronary and peripheral blood circulation, improves the microcirculation of blood in the tissues,
Slows down heart at lower doses and stimulates it at higher ones, lowers blood pressure, antiarhythmic
Against blood coagulation fibrinolytic, stimulates the building of erythrocytes
Action on the immune
system
Immunosuppressive and immunoactivating
Protection from radioation Improves regeneration of leucocytes and erythrocytes
Antibiotic fungicide and
antiviral action
Bactericide action against different pathogens Action against Candida albicans, and inactivation of Herpes,
Leukaemia and HIV viruses
Antihyperthermic Activates specific body systems to overcome hyperthermia
Gall bladder-intestine
system
Increases fall flow and cholesterine and bilirubin concentrations
Endocrinological system Increases secretion of thyroid, hypophysis and of the hypothalamus hormones
Metabolic effects Increases protein and nucleotide metabolism
Liver protecting Potent suppressive effect on anti-apoptotic responses of TNF-alpha/Act D-treated hepatocytes
Growth increasing Increase of growth of chicken broilers
Toxic effects Allergenic, induces pain, cytotoxic, inhibits respiration, neurotoxic
The beneficial effects of bee sting can be attributed to
Melittin-an anti-inflammatory agent, hundred times
stronger than cortisone.2
Side effects3
Abdominal cramps
Nausea
Vomiting
Incontinence of stool /urine
Fainting
Loss of vision
Hematologic abnormalities
Anaphylaxis
Seizure
Cardiac or respiratory arrest and death
Main biological and therapeutic effects of bee venom and its components1
Fonts in red: potentially toxic effects
Component, % of total Effect
Melittin Biologically active peptide
50-55 %
Main biologically active component Membrane-active, diminishes surface tension of
membranes Anti-inflammatory in very small doses; Stimulates smooth muscles; Increases
capillary permeability increasing blood circulation and lowering the blood pressure, lowers
blood coagulation, immuno stimulatory and immunosuppressive, Radiation protective,
influences the central nervous system, Anticancer, Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral
Higher doses are inflammatory and haemolytic
Phospholipase A Enzyme hydrolysing
phospholipids
10-12 %
Destroys phospholipids and dissolves the cell membrane of blood bodies; lowers the blood
coagulation and blood pressure
Induces inflammation, the strongest allergen and thus the most harmful BV component
Phospholipase B cleavage of the toxic
lysolecetin
1 %
Detoxicating activity
Hyaluronidase Catalyses hydrolysis of
hyoloronic acid, the tissue cement
1-2 %
Catalyses the hydrolysis of proteins, thus enabling the penetrating of BV into the tissue;
dilates blood vessels and increases their permeability, causing an increase of blood
circulation; allergenic
Apamine Biologically active peptide
2-3 %
Anti-inflammatory stimulating the release of cortisone, antiserotonine action Increases the
defence capability Immuno-supressor, stimulates the central nervous system in very small
doses Higher doses are neurotoxic
MCD, mast cell degranulating- peptide 401
2-3 %
Lyses mast cells, releasing histamine, serotonine and heparine Melittine-like effect
increasing capillary permeability increasing Anti-inflammatory simulates the central nervous
system
Adolapine Biologically active peptide
1 %
Inhibits the specific brain enzymes cyclooxigenase and lipooxigenase Decreases
inflammations by, anti-rheumatic, decreases pain Inhibits the aggregation of erythrocytes
Relatively low toxicity
Protease-Inhibitors Biologically active
peptides 3-4 %
Inhibits the activity of different proteases like trypsin., chymotprypsin, plasmin, thrombin,
thus decreasing inflammation, anti-rheumatic Low toxicity
Secapin, tertiapin, cardiopep, minimin,
procamine 3-5 %
Peptides, with an uncertain role in the physiological action of BV Antiradiation effects
cardiopep has antiarhythmic effects
Histamine Neurotransmitter
0.7-1.5 %
Dilates blood vessels, increasing the permeability of blood capillaries and increases blood
circulation; Stimulates smooth muscles; Allergenic
Dopamine, Noradrenaline Neurotransmitters
0.2-1.5 %
The low concentrations in BV do not cause physiological effects in mammals, but active
when injected in invertebrates
Alarm pheromones 4-8 % Complex ethers, causing alarm of the bee colony and its defensive behaviour
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Counter-indications and allergy1
The main counter indication to BVT is bee venom
allergy. Apitherapy should be used only after a BV
allergy test.
During acute and chronic infections
After vaccinations
Chronic tuberculosis and hepatitis
Acute cancer
Children under 5 years old
Pregnancy, breast feeding
Type 1 pancreatic diabetes
Renal insufficiency
hepatic failure
impaired cardiac functions and respiratory problems
Complications2
Hemolysis
Kidney injury
Hepatotoxicity
MI
Treatment and Prevention for Venom Allergy7
Anaphylaxis is diagnosed in a patient with suspected
exposure to allergen bee venom, if there is an acute onset
of illness with skin or mucosal involvement with one of
the following:
Respiratory compromise (dyspnea, bronchospasm,
wheezing, hypoxemia, stridor)
Hypotension (Systolic BP <90 mm of Hg or 30%
decrease from the base line), syncope or evidence of end
organ damage
Management
Out of hospital: At the first signs of any clinical
manifestations of anaphylaxis, the patient should self-
administer epinephrine, if available (adult dose, 0.3 mL
of 1:1000 intramuscular; pediatric dose, 0.01 mL/kg of
1:1000 intramuscular). Susceptible patients may even
use aerosolized epinephrine from a metered-dose inhaler
(10–20 doses) to counteract the effects of laryngeal
edema, bronchoconstriction, and other manifestations of
anaphylaxis
In-hospital management
Assess airway patency, breathing and circulation.
Establish intravenous (IV) access
Aqueous epinephrine (1:1000), in a dose of 0.3–0.5
mL is for adults and 0.01 mL/kg (not exceeding 0.3 mL)
for children should be given. In case of profound
hypotension, skin perfusion is hampered. In such cases,
2–5 mL of epinephrine (1:10,000) should be given slow
IV or an IV infusion can be set up by mixing 1 mg of
epinephrine in 250 ml saline and be given at the rate of
0.25–1 mL/min. If IV access cannot be established,
epinephrine can be given through endotracheal tube,
intralingually or intramuscularly
In case of hypotension, intra venous crystalloids
should be given. Vasopressors like dopamine and
norepinephrine may be needed for persistent hypotension
Antihistaminics should be used in addition to
epinephrine and not as its substitute. Diphenhydramine
in a dosage of 50 mg IV can be given
Nebulized β2 agonist, salbutamol (2.5 mg diluted to
3 mL saline) can be used to relieve bronchospasm
Methylprednisolone (125–250mgIV) or intravenous
hydro- cortisone can be used
Patients on beta blockers may respond poorly to
epine-phrine; glucagon is given to such patients to
counteract the beta blockade. Dose: 1–5 mg IV over 5
min followed by 5–15 mcg/min infusion
Rapid removal of stinger is advocated. It should not
be squeezed out as it will release more venom from the
venom sac.
For mild reactions, application of ice pack or diluted
vinegar to the site of sting may be sufficient. Oral and
topical antihistaminics can also be used
Multiple beestings causing massive envenomation
should be treated more aggressively with epinephrine,
antihistaminics, steroids and calcium gluconate (10 mL
of 10% solution slow IV) for hyperkalemia. Patient
should be observed for 12–24 hours for coagulopathy,
renal and neurological damage.
CONCLUSION:
The use of bee venom as a therapeutic agent for the
relief of joint pains dates back to Hippocrates, and
references to the treatment can be found in ancient
Egyptian and Greek medical writings as well. Also
known as apitherapy, the technique is widely used in
Eastern Europe, Asia, and South America. The beneficial
effects of bee stings can be attributed to melittin, an anti-
inflammatory agent. There is no time frame with any
ailment since people do respond differently because of
the nature of the injury or disease or their body’s health
status.
REFERENCE:
1. Stefan Bogdanov, Bee Venom: Composition, Health, Medicine:
A Review, Bee Product Science, 11 April 2011 ,1-16
2. Adel Nazmi Alqutub, Ibrahim Masoodi, Khalid Alsayari, Ahmed
Alomair: Bee sting therapy-induced hepatotoxicity: A case report,
World Journal of Hepatology 2011 October 27; 3(10): 268-270
3. ALS untangles 13:Beevenom, report, Amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis 2011; 12: 471-472
4. http/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed22027265,22109081
5. www.cancer.gov/aboutnci/servingpeople/cancer-research-
progress/advances/nanobees
6. http//www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apamin
7. Tarun Kumar Dutta, V Mukta, Indian Guidelines and Protocols:
Bee Sting, Toxicology,417-420 available from
www.apiindia.org/medicine_update_2013/chap92.pdf
