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Vahidinia Z, Barati S, Azami Tameh A, Bagheri-Mohammadi S, Garshasebi A. Bee venom as a promising therapeutic strategy in central nervous system diseases. Neuropeptides 2024; 107:102451. [PMID: 38936137 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2024.102451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) disorders are one of the leading health problems today, accounting for a large proportion of global morbidity and mortality. Most these disorders are characterized by high levels of oxidative stress and intense inflammatory responses in degenerated neuronal tissues. While extensive research has been conducted on CNS diseases, but few breakthroughs have been made in treatment methods. To date, there are no disease-modifying drugs available for CNS treatment, underscoring the urgent need for finding effective medications. Bee venom (BV), which is produced by honeybee workers' stingers, has been a subject of interest and study across various cultures. Over the past few decades, extensive research has focused on BV and its therapeutic potentials. BV consists a variety of substances, mainly proteins and peptides like melittin and phospholipase A2 (PLA2). Research has proven that BV is effective in various medical conditions, including pain, arthritis and inflammation and CNS disorders such as Multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the existing knowledge concerning the therapeutic effects of BV and its primary compounds on various CNS diseases. Additionally, we aim to shed light on the potential cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Vahidinia
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
| | - Shirin Barati
- Department of Anatomy, Saveh University of Medical Sciences, Saveh, Iran
| | - Abolfazl Azami Tameh
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Saeid Bagheri-Mohammadi
- Department of Paramedicine, Amol School of Paramedical Sciences, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.; Immunogenetics Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Ali Garshasebi
- Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
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Jafari Z, Sadeghi S, Dehaghi MM, Bigham A, Honarmand S, Tavasoli A, Hoseini MHM, Varma RS. Immunomodulatory activities and biomedical applications of melittin and its recent advances. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2024; 357:e2300569. [PMID: 38251938 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.202300569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Melittin (MLT), a peptide containing 26 amino acids, is a key constituent of bee venom. It comprises ∼40%-60% of the venom's dry weight and is the main pricing index for bee venom, being the causative factor of pain. The unique properties of MLT extracted from bee venom have made it a very valuable active ingredient in the pharmaceutical industry as this cationic and amphipathic peptide has propitious effects on human health in diverse biological processes. It has the ability to strongly impact the membranes of cells and display hemolytic activity with anticancer characteristics. However, the clinical application of MLT has been limited by its severe hemolytic activity, which poses a challenge for therapeutic use. By employing more efficient mechanisms, such as modifying the MLT sequence, genetic engineering, and nano-delivery systems, it is anticipated that the limitations posed by MLT can be overcome, thereby enabling its wider application in therapeutic contexts. This review has outlined recent advancements in MLT's nano-delivery systems and genetically engineered cells expressing MLT and provided an overview of where the MLTMLT's platforms are and where they will go in the future with the challenges ahead. The focus is on exploring how these approaches can overcome the limitations associated with MLT's hemolytic activity and improve its selectivity and efficacy in targeting cancer cells. These advancements hold promise for the creation of innovative and enhanced therapeutic approaches based on MLT for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Jafari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Sadeghi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahsa Mirzarazi Dehaghi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ashkan Bigham
- Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials, National Research Council of Italy (IPCB-CNR), Naples, Italy
- Department of Chemical, Materials and Production Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Shokouh Honarmand
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afsaneh Tavasoli
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mostafa Haji Molla Hoseini
- Medical Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rajender S Varma
- Department of Chemistry, Centre of Excellence for Research in Sustainable Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
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Wang C, Fu RJ, Xu DQ, Zuo Q, Liu JP, Tang YP. A study integrated metabolomics and network pharmacology to investigate the effects of Shicao in alleviating acute liver injury. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 319:117369. [PMID: 38380571 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Shicao is the aerial part of Achillea alpina L., a common herb found mainly in Europe, Asia, and North America. Traditional Chinese medicine has a history of thousands of years and is widely used to treat various diseases. AIM OF STUDY To explore the hepatoprotective effects of Shicao on CCl4-induced acute liver injury. METHODS A rat model of acute liver injury was established and liver function indices were assessed to evaluate the protective effect of Shicao on the liver. Untargeted metabolomics of the serum and liver tissues was conducted using UPLC-Q-TOF/MS to identify differential metabolites related to acute liver injury. A network of metabolite-reaction-enzyme-gene constituents was constructed using network pharmacology. Hub targets and key components of the effect of Shicao on acute liver injury were screened from the network. RESULTS Compared to the model group, Shicao improved the degree of liver damage through the assessment of the liver index, ALT and AST levels, and hepatic pathology slices, demonstrating its hepatoprotective effect against acute liver injury in rats. 10 and 38 differential metabolites involved in acute liver injury were identified in serum and liver tissues, respectively. Most of these were regulated or restored following treatment with Shicao, which mainly consisted of bile acids, lipids, and nucleotides such as taurocholic acid, LysoPC (17:0), and adenosine diphosphate ribose. Through the network of metabolite-reaction-enzyme-gene-constituents, 10 key components and 5 hub genes, along with 7 crucial differential metabolites, were mainly involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism, purine metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, and primary bile acid biosynthesis, which may play important roles in the prevention of acute liver injury by Shicao. CONCLUSION This study revealed that Shicao had protective effects against CCl4-induced liver injury in rats. It was speculated that the ingredients of Shicao might be closely related to the hub targets, thereby regulating the levels of key metabolites, affecting inflammatory response and oxidative stress and attenuate the liver injury consequently. This study provides a basis for further investigation of its therapeutic potential and the mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for TCM Compatibility, State Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Rui-Jia Fu
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for TCM Compatibility, State Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, Shaanxi Province, China.
| | - Ding-Qiao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for TCM Compatibility, State Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Qian Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for TCM Compatibility, State Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Ji-Ping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Mechanism and Material Basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yu-Ping Tang
- Key Laboratory of Shaanxi Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine for TCM Compatibility, State Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Fundamentals and New Drugs Research, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, Shaanxi Province, China.
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Dong Y, Wu Z, Gai Z, Han M. Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BL21 ameliorates alcoholic liver disease in mice through enhancement of the hepatic antioxidant capacity and modulation of the gut microbiota. J Appl Microbiol 2023; 134:lxad251. [PMID: 37930723 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a chronic liver injury caused by excessive alcohol consumption, could be impacted by gut-liver axis dysfunction. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the development and progression of ALD. Given the role of gut-liver axis dysfunction in ALD, strategies targeting gut microbiota modulation have gained interest for therapeutic interventions. Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BL21 has shown promise in alleviating gut microbiota disturbances and metabolic regulation in high-fat diet-induced obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus models. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of BL21 on ALD mice and explore the potential mechanism by which the gut microbiota mediates the amelioration of ALD by BL21. METHODS A total of 30 mice were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 10 mice/group): a healthy control (CTL) group, an ALD group, and a BL21 group. Each group was fed a Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet with (ALD and BL21) or without alcohol (CTL). The intervention period lasted 6 weeks, after which the effects of BL21 intervention (intragastric administration of 1 billion CFU of BL21 daily) on serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, hepatic oxidative stress, serum inflammatory cytokine levels, and gut microbiota composition in ALD mice were investigated. RESULTS Dietary BL21 reduced the ethanol-induced abnormal elevation of serum AST and ALT levels in ALD mice (P < 0.001 for both). BL21 treatment significantly attenuated alcohol-induced hepatic oxidative stress by decreasing malondialdehyde concentration and increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione concentrations in the livers of ALD mice. In addition, the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and IL-6 were significantly lower (P < 0.001 for both), while that of IL-10 was significantly higher (P < 0.05), in the BL21 group than in the ALD group. Intestinal microbiota analysis showed an increased relative abundance of Escherichia/Shigella, Enterococcus, and Alistipes in the ALD group compared with the CTL group. BL21 intervention increased the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium and Akkermansia compared with the ALD group. CONCLUSION Dietary BL21 ameliorates ALD via enhancement of the hepatic antioxidant capacity and modulation of the gut microbiota and may therefore be a promising strategy to prevent or treat ALD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Dong
- Department of Research and Development, Wecare Probiotics Co., Ltd, Suzhou 215200, China
| | - Zhiyi Wu
- Department of Research and Development, Wecare Probiotics Co., Ltd, Suzhou 215200, China
| | - Zhonghui Gai
- Department of Research and Development, Wecare Probiotics Co., Ltd, Suzhou 215200, China
| | - Mei Han
- Shanghai Business School, Shanghai 200235, China
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Minh DN, Thanh VT, Quoc VN, Cay DH, Linh VPD. Effectiveness of bee venom acupuncture for patients suffering from periarthritis humeroscapularis. J TRADIT CHIN MED 2023; 43:795-800. [PMID: 37454265 PMCID: PMC10320457 DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of bee venom acupuncture in humeroscapularis (PHS) patients. METHODS One hundred and twenty patients diagnosed with PHS were assigned into four groups: BV1 (0.01 mg/kg), BV2 (0.005 mg/kg), BV3 (0.0025 mg/kg), and control group (vitamin B1 plus novocain 3% injection) with 15 d of treatment. The outcomes of the study including visual analogue scale (VAS) score and β-endorphin, inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-10 (IL-10), IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and shoulder function score were assessed at baseline, after 10 and 15 d of treatment. RESULTS All four groups reported statistically significant improvement in VAS score, motion range, and shoulder function score ( < 0.01), only the BV3 group showed significant increase of anti-inflammatory (IL-10) and decrease of pro-inflammatory (IL-1β, TNF-α) cytokines after treatment ( < 0.05). The BV3 group presented a significant difference between all outcomes compared to the control and other groups. CONCLUSION BV3 groups showed better recovery including reduced pain, improved motor function and normalized inflammatory cytokines than current therapy used in Vietnam and other groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duc Nguyen Minh
- 1 Senior Specialist Clinic, National Hospital of Acupuncture, Hanoi 1000, Vietnam
| | - Van Tran Thanh
- 2 Department of Senior Specialist National Hospital of Acupuncture, Hanoi 1000, Vietnam
| | - Vinh Nguyen Quoc
- 3 Department of Senior Specialist, Military Institute of Traditional Medicine, Hanoi 1000, Vietnam
| | - Doan Ha Cay
- 4 Department of minimally invasive spine, National Hospital of Acupuncture, Hanoi 1000, Vietnam
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Małek A, Strzemski M, Kurzepa J, Kurzepa J. Can Bee Venom Be Used as Anticancer Agent in Modern Medicine? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3714. [PMID: 37509375 PMCID: PMC10378503 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15143714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey bee venom in its composition contains many biologically active peptides and enzymes that are effective in the fight against diseases of various etiologies. The history of the use of bee venom for medicinal purposes dates back thousands of years. There are many reports in the literature on the pharmacological properties of bee venom and/or its main components, e.g., anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial or neuroprotective properties. In addition, both crude venom and melittin exhibit cytotoxic activity against a wide range of tumor cells, with significant anti-metastatic activity in pre-clinical studies. Due to the constantly increasing incidence of cancer, the development of new therapeutic strategies in oncology is a particular challenge for modern medicine. A review paper discusses the various properties of bee venom with an emphasis on its anticancer properties. For this purpose, the PubMed database was searched, and publications related to "bee", "venom", "cancer" from the last 10 years were selected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata Małek
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Maciej Strzemski
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Joanna Kurzepa
- 1st Department of Radiology, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Jacek Kurzepa
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4a, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
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Abdelhamid MS, El Bohi KM, Sherif MH, Abdelhamid MS, Abdel-Daim MM, Elewa YHA, Metwally MMM, Albadrani GM, Najda A, El Abdel-Hamid S, Abu-Zeid EH. Apitoxin alleviates methyl mercury-induced peripheral neurotoxicity in male rats by regulating dorsal root ganglia neuronal degeneration and oxidative stress. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 161:114521. [PMID: 36921536 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) toxicity is associated with extensive neuronal degeneration of dorsal root ganglia (DRG). This study aimed to assess the ameliorative effect of bee venom (BV) on methyl mercury chloride (MeHgCl)-induced peripheral neurotoxicity using DRGs in rats. Forty-eight adult male Sprague Dawley rats were allocated into four equal groups: G I: control (gavaged MilliQ water 1 ml/rat), G II: subcutaneously injected with BV (0.5 mg/kg b.wt), G III: gavaged MeHgCl (6.7 mg/kg b.wt), and G IV: received MeHgCl+BV. Dosing was done five times/week for 2 weeks. Ataxic behavior and visual impairments were significantly increased, whereas the movement behavior and motility gait were suppressed in the MeHgCl group. MeHgCl significantly decreased total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in DRG and significantly decreased the serum levels of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) levels were significantly elevated, whereas interleukin 10 (IL-10) levels were significantly decreased in the MeHgCl group compared with the control group. DRGs of the MeHgCl-exposed rats showed pyknotic shrunken neurons with perineural vacuolations, demyelination of nerve axons, and proliferation of the satellite cells. MeHgCl significantly induced a higher positive index ratio of Iba-1, SOX10, neurofilament, pan-neuron, and vimentin immunostaining in the DRG. BV administration significantly mitigated the MeHgCl-induced alterations in oxidative stress-related indices. BV modified the immunostaining of Iba-1, SOX10, neurofilament, pan-neuron, and vimentin-positive index ratio in the DRG of the MeHgCl group. Our findings acknowledged that BV could enhance in vivo neuroprotective effects against MeHgCl-induced DRGs damage in male rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moustafa S Abdelhamid
- Biochemistry division, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, 44511, Egypt
| | - Khlood M El Bohi
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, 44511, Egypt
| | - Mohamed H Sherif
- Biochemistry division, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, 44511, Egypt
| | - Manar S Abdelhamid
- Biochemistry division, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, 44511, Egypt
| | - Mohamed M Abdel-Daim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacy Program, Batterjee Medical College, P.O. Box 6231, Jeddah 21442, Saudi Arabia; Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Yaser H A Elewa
- Department of Histology and Cytology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, 44511, Egypt; Laboratory of Anatomy, Department of Basic Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Mohamed M M Metwally
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44511, Egypt
| | - Ghadeer M Albadrani
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, B.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Agnieszka Najda
- Department of Vegetable Crops and Medicinal Plants University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 50 A Doświadczalna Street, 20-280 Lublin, Poland.
| | - Shereen El Abdel-Hamid
- Department of Behavior and Management of Animal, Poultry and Aquatics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, 44511, Egypt
| | - Ehsan H Abu-Zeid
- Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, 44511, Egypt.
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Ullah A, Aldakheel FM, Anjum SI, Raza G, Khan SA, Tlak Gajger I. Pharmacological properties and therapeutic potential of honey bee venom. Saudi Pharm J 2023; 31:96-109. [PMID: 36685303 PMCID: PMC9845117 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bee venom (BV) is a valuable product, and has a wide range of biological effects, and its use is rapidly increasing in apitherapy. Therefore, the current study, we reviewed the existing knowledge about BV composition and its numerous pharmacological properties for future research and use. Honey bee venom or apitoxin is produced in the venom gland in the honey bee abdomen. Adult bees use it as a primary colony defense mechanism. It is composed of many biologically active substances including peptides, enzymes, amines, amino acids, phospholipids, minerals, carbohydrates as well as some volatile components. Melittin and phospholipase A2 are the most important components of BV, having anti-cancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritis, anti-nociceptive and other curative potentials. Therefore, in medicine, BV has been used for centuries against different diseases like arthritis, rheumatism, back pain, and various inflammatory infections. Nowadays, BV or its components separately, are used for the treatment of various diseases in different countries as a natural medicine with limited side effects. Consequently, scientists as well as several pharmaceutical companies are trying to get a new understanding about BV, its substances and its activity for more effective use of this natural remedy in modern medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amjad Ullah
- Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Fahad Mohammed Aldakheel
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11433, Saudi Arabia,Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz Research Chair for Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11461, Saudi Arabia
| | - Syed Ishtiaq Anjum
- Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan,Corresponding author.
| | - Ghulam Raza
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Baltistan, Skardu, Pakistan
| | - Saeed Ahmad Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, Institute of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kohat University of Science and Technology, Kohat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Ivana Tlak Gajger
- Department for Biology and Pathology of Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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Park J, Jang KM, Park KK. Effects of Apamin on MPP +-Induced Calcium Overload and Neurotoxicity by Targeting CaMKII/ERK/p65/STAT3 Signaling Pathways in Dopaminergic Neuronal Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315255. [PMID: 36499581 PMCID: PMC9736188 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons. The pathogenesis of PD is associated with several factors including oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Ca2+ signaling plays a vital role in neuronal signaling and altered Ca2+ homeostasis has been implicated in many neuronal diseases including PD. Recently, we reported that apamin (APM), a selective antagonist of the small-conductivity Ca2+-activated K+ (SK) channel, suppresses neuroinflammatory response. However, the mechanism(s) underlying the vulnerability of DA neurons were not fully understood. In this study, we investigated whether APM affected 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium (MPP+)-mediated neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and rat embryo primary mesencephalic neurons. We found that APM decreased Ca2+ overload arising from MPP+-induced neurotoxicity response through downregulating the level of CaMKII, phosphorylation of ERK, and translocation of nuclear factor NFκB/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3. Furthermore, we showed that the correlation of MPP+-mediated Ca2+ overload and ERK/NFκB/STAT3 in the neurotoxicity responses, and dopaminergic neuronal cells loss, was verified through inhibitors. Our findings showed that APM might prevent loss of DA neurons via inhibition of Ca2+-overload-mediated signaling pathway and provide insights regarding the potential use of APM in treating neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihyun Park
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Mi Jang
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu 42415, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwan-Kyu Park
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-53-650-4149
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Schistosomicidal efficacy of bee venom-loaded pluronic F127 nanomicelles in S. mansoni infected CD1 mice. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2022.103344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Al Naggar Y, Giesy JP, Abdel-Daim MM, Javed Ansari M, Al-Kahtani SN, Yahya G. Fighting against the second wave of COVID-19: Can honeybee products help protect against the pandemic? Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28:1519-1527. [PMID: 33519274 PMCID: PMC7832137 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has infected people in 210 nations and has been declared a pandemic on March 12, 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO). In the absence of effective treatment and/or vaccines for COVID-19, natural products of known therapeutic and antiviral activity could offer an inexpensive, effective option for managing the disease. Benefits of products of honey bees such as honey, propolis, and bee venom, against various types of diseases have been observed. Honey bees products are well known for their nutritional and medicinal values, they have been employed for ages for various therapeutic purposes. In this review, promising effects of various bee products against the emerging pandemic COVID-19 are discussed. Products of honey bees that contain mixtures of potentially active chemicals, possess unique properties that might help to protect, fight, and alleviate symptoms of COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahya Al Naggar
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, 31527 Tanta, Egypt
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - John P. Giesy
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon SKS7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 15 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Mohammad Javed Ansari
- Department of Botany, Hindu College Moradabad (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University Bareilly), 244001, India
| | - Saad N. Al-Kahtani
- Arid Land Agriculture Department, College of Agricultural Sciences & Foods, King Faisal University, P.O. Box 400, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Galal Yahya
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, 44519 Al Sharqia, Egypt
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biology, Technical University of Kaiserslautern, Paul-Ehrlich Str. 24, Kaiserslautern 67663, Germany
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12
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Antioxidative, Antiapoptotic, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Apamin in a Murine Model of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Kidney Injury. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25235717. [PMID: 33287398 PMCID: PMC7731169 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25235717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sepsis is the major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in severely ill patients, but only limited therapeutic options are available. During sepsis, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin derived from bacteria, activates signaling cascades involved in inflammatory responses and tissue injury. Apamin is a component of bee venom and has been shown to exert antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effect of apamin on LPS-induced AKI has not been elucidated. Here, we show that apamin treatment significantly ameliorated renal dysfunction and histological injury, especially tubular injury, in LPS-injected mice. Apamin also suppressed LPS-induced oxidative stress through modulating the expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 and heme oxygenase-1. Moreover, tubular cell apoptosis with caspase-3 activation in LPS-injected mice was significantly attenuated by apamin. Apamin also inhibited cytokine production and immune cell accumulation, suppressed toll-like receptor 4 pathway, and downregulated vascular adhesion molecules. Taken together, these results suggest that apamin ameliorates LPS-induced renal injury through inhibiting oxidative stress, apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells, and inflammation. Apamin might be a potential therapeutic option for septic AKI.
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13
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Lin TY, Hsieh CL. Clinical Applications of Bee Venom Acupoint Injection. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12100618. [PMID: 32992601 PMCID: PMC7601520 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12100618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bee venom is a complex natural mixture with various pharmaceutical properties. Among these properties, its peptides and enzymes have potential medical therapy for pain relief and inflammation. In clinical settings, this therapy has been used widely to treat diseases by injecting into acupoints. In this article, we have conducted various research from PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Clinical Key from inception of July 2020. The results revealed that bee venom therapy has been reported effective in anti-inflammatory, antiapoptosis, and analgesic effects. Moreover, bee venom acupuncture has been commonly used for clinical disorders such as Parkinson disease, neuropathic pain, Alzheimer disease, intervertebral disc disease, spinal cord injury, musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, skin disease and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Yen Lin
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan;
| | - Ching-Liang Hsieh
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan;
- Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
- Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-2205-3366-3128
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14
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Meligi NM, Ismail SA, Tawfik NS. Protective effects of honey and bee venom against lipopolysaccharide and carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatoxicity and lipid peroxidation in rats. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2020; 9:693-705. [PMID: 33178430 PMCID: PMC7640919 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfaa077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, the protective effects of honey and bee venom (BV) either independently or in combination against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatoxicity, lipid peroxidation, and hematological alterations in male albino rats were investigated. In addition, histopathological alterations of hepatic tissues induced by LPS/CCL4 were recorded. Sixty-four of male albino rats of average weight 120-150 g were included in this study. Rats were divided into eight equal groups of eight. The obtained results demonstrated that treatment with LPS/CCl4 caused an increase in the levels of alpha-fetoprotein, which was accompanied by changes in the hepatic function biomarkers that characterized by the increased levels of transaminases (AST, ALT). The results showed oxidative stress as assigned by the increase in lipid peroxide. Meantime detraction in the antioxidants, including glutathione peroxidase was observed. Interruptions in biochemical parameters accompanied by disturbances in hematological parameters and liver histopathology were resulted due to exposure to LPS/CCl4. This study showed the use of honey and BV provided a protective effect on hepatotoxicity induced by LPS/CCl4. This might have been occurred through the reduction of hepatic transaminases and the "Alpha-fetoprotein" in serum and the equilibration of the antioxidation system, thereby, inhibiting the reactive oxygen species accumulation. Honey and BV administration reestablish disturbed hematological parameters and liver histopathology persuaded by LPS/CCl4. More interesting, we demonstrated that using a combination of the honey and BV showed promising enhancement in their protective effects over the use of just one of the two reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noha M Meligi
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University 61519, Minia, Egypt
| | - Suzan Alaa Ismail
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University 61519, Minia, Egypt
| | - Nagy S Tawfik
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University 61519, Minia, Egypt
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15
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Jansen C, Shimoda LMN, Starkus J, Lange I, Rysavy N, Maaetoft-Udsen K, Tobita C, Stokes AJ, Turner H. In vitro exposure to Hymenoptera venom and constituents activates discrete ionotropic pathways in mast cells. Channels (Austin) 2020; 13:264-286. [PMID: 31237176 PMCID: PMC8670737 DOI: 10.1080/19336950.2019.1629225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium entry is central to the functional processes in mast cells and basophils that contribute to the induction and maintenance of inflammatory responses. Mast cells and basophils express an array of calcium channels, which mediate responses to diverse stimuli triggered by small bioactive molecules, physicochemical stimuli and immunological inputs including antigens and direct immune cell interactions. These cells are also highly responsive to certain venoms (such as Hymenoptera envenomations), which cause histamine secretion, cytokine release and an array of pro-inflammatory functional responses. There are gaps in our understanding of the coupling of venom exposure to specific signaling pathways such as activation of calcium channels. In the present study, we performed a current survey of a model mast cell line selected for its pleiotropic responsiveness to multiple pro-inflammatory inputs. As a heterogenous stimulus, Hymenoptera venom activates multiple classes of conductance at the population level but tend to lead to the measurement of only one type of conductance per cell, despite the cell co-expressing multiple channel types. The data show that ICRAC, IARC, and TRPV-like currents are present in the model mast cell populations and respond to venom exposure. We further assessed individual venom components, specifically secretagogues and arachidonic acid, and identified the conductances associated with these stimuli in mast cells. Single-cell calcium assays and immunofluorescence analysis show that there is heterogeneity of channel expression across the cell population, but this heterogeneity does not explain the apparent selectivity for specific channels in response to exposure to venom as a composite stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Jansen
- a Laboratory of Immunology and Signal Transduction, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics , Chaminade University , Honolulu , Hawai'I , USA
| | - L M N Shimoda
- a Laboratory of Immunology and Signal Transduction, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics , Chaminade University , Honolulu , Hawai'I , USA
| | - J Starkus
- a Laboratory of Immunology and Signal Transduction, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics , Chaminade University , Honolulu , Hawai'I , USA
| | - I Lange
- b Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawai'i at Hilo , Hilo , Hawai'i , USA
| | - N Rysavy
- a Laboratory of Immunology and Signal Transduction, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics , Chaminade University , Honolulu , Hawai'I , USA
| | - K Maaetoft-Udsen
- a Laboratory of Immunology and Signal Transduction, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics , Chaminade University , Honolulu , Hawai'I , USA
| | - C Tobita
- a Laboratory of Immunology and Signal Transduction, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics , Chaminade University , Honolulu , Hawai'I , USA
| | - A J Stokes
- c Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine , University of Hawai'i , Honolulu , Hawai'i , USA
| | - H Turner
- a Laboratory of Immunology and Signal Transduction, Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics , Chaminade University , Honolulu , Hawai'I , USA
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16
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Kim JY, Lee SJ, Maeng YI, Leem J, Park KK. Protective Effects of Bee Venom against Endotoxemia-Related Acute Kidney Injury in Mice. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9070154. [PMID: 32640615 PMCID: PMC7408099 DOI: 10.3390/biology9070154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) is a leading cause of death in hospitalized patients worldwide. Despite decades of effort, there is no effective treatment for preventing the serious medical condition. Bee venom has long been used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases. However, whether bee venom has protective effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AKI has not been explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of bee venom on LPS-induced AKI. The administration of bee venom alleviated renal dysfunction and structural injury in LPS-treated mice. Increased renal levels of tubular injury markers after LPS treatment were also suppressed by bee venom. Mechanistically, bee venom significantly reduced plasma and tissue levels of inflammatory cytokines and immune cell infiltration into damaged kidneys. In addition, mice treated with bee venom exhibited reduced renal expression of lipid peroxidation markers after LPS injection. Moreover, bee venom attenuated tubular cell apoptosis in the kidneys of LPS-treated mice. In conclusion, these results suggest that bee venom attenuates LPS-induced renal dysfunction and structural injury via the suppression of inflammation, oxidative stress, and tubular cell apoptosis, and might be a useful therapeutic option for preventing endotoxemia-related AKI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Yeon Kim
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea;
| | - Sun-Jae Lee
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea; (S.-J.L.); (Y.-I.M.)
| | - Young-In Maeng
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea; (S.-J.L.); (Y.-I.M.)
| | - Jaechan Leem
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea;
- Correspondence: (J.L.); (K.-K.P.)
| | - Kwan-Kyu Park
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 42472, Korea; (S.-J.L.); (Y.-I.M.)
- Correspondence: (J.L.); (K.-K.P.)
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17
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Huang S, Wang J, Guo Z, Wang Y, Liu C. Quantitative Measurement of Melittin in Asian Honeybee Venom Using a New Method Including UPLC-QqTOF-MS. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12070437. [PMID: 32635485 PMCID: PMC7404999 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12070437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Asian honeybee venom is widely used in traditional oriental medicine. Melittin is the main component of Asian honeybee venom. In the present study, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QqTOF-MS) method was used for accurate qualitative and quantitative analyses of melittin in Asian honeybee venom. The results showed that the dynamic linear range of melittin was from 0.094 to 20 μg/mL, and the limit of quantification was 0.3125 μg/mL. The spiking recovery of melittin in honeybee venom ranged from 84.88% to 93.05%. Eighteen Asian honeybee venom samples in eighteen batches were collected from two different zones of China, and their melittin contents were measured. The contents of melittin in Asian honeybee venom samples was 33.9–46.23% of dry weight. This method proved a useful tool for the rapid evaluation of the authenticity and quality of Asian honeybee venom in terms of the melittin contents, and will contribute to a broader understanding of Asian honeybee venom.
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18
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Apamin Suppresses LPS-Induced Neuroinflammatory Responses by Regulating SK Channels and TLR4-Mediated Signaling Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21124319. [PMID: 32560481 PMCID: PMC7352249 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation plays a vital role in neurodegenerative conditions. Microglia are a key component of the neuroinflammatory response. There is a growing interest in developing drugs to target microglia and thereby control neuroinflammatory processes. Apamin (APM) is a specifically selective antagonist of small conductance calcium-activated potassium (SK) channels. However, its effect on neuroinflammation is largely unknown. We examine the effects of APM on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 and rat primary microglial cells. Regarding the molecular mechanism by which APM significantly inhibits proinflammatory cytokine production and microglial cell activation, we found that APM does so by reducing the expression of phosphorylated CaMKII and toll-like receptor (TLR4). In particular, APM potently suppressed the translocation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3 and phosphorylated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). In addition, the correlation of NF-κB/STAT3 and MAPK-ERK in the neuroinflammatory response was verified through inhibitors. The literature and our findings suggest that APM is a promising candidate for an anti-neuroinflammatory agent and can potentially be used for the prevention and treatment of various neurological disorders.
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19
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Shen L, Lee JH, Joo JC, Park SJ, Song YS. Bee Venom Acupuncture for Shoulder Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Pharmacopuncture 2020; 23:44-53. [PMID: 32685232 PMCID: PMC7338706 DOI: 10.3831/kpi.2020.23.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Our review aimed to summarize and evaluate evidence on the effectiveness of
bee venom acupuncture (BVA) in the treatment of shoulder pain. Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the effectiveness of BVA on
shoulder pain were searched up to October 2019 in 11 electronic databases
(Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, CiNii, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, Kmbase, NDSL, RISS,
OASIS). The methodological quality of the included RCTs were evaluated using
Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and a meta-analysis was performed. Results Seven studies were included in the review, and four studies were included in
the meta-analysis. Comparing BVA plus conventional therapy (CT) with saline
injection plus CT, it showed an effect in favor of BVA plus CT in visual
analog scale (VAS) and pain rating scale (PRS) (p = 0.02, p = 0.009,
respectively). Comparing BVA plus physiotherapy (PT) with saline injection
plus PT, it showed that there was no significant difference in VAS and
verbal rating scale (VRS) between the two groups. Conclusion This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that BVA could be beneficial
as an adjuvant treatment for shoulder pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Shen
- Department of Constitutional Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Ha Lee
- Department of Korean Medicine Graduate School of Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Cheon Joo
- Department of Constitutional Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Jung Park
- Department of Sasang Constitutional Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Woosuk University, Jeonju 55338, Republic of Korea
| | - Yung Sun Song
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea
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20
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Baek H, Park SY, Ku SJ, Ryu K, Kim Y, Bae H, Lee YS. Bee Venom Phospholipase A2 Induces Regulatory T Cell Populations by Suppressing Apoptotic Signaling Pathway. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12030198. [PMID: 32235689 PMCID: PMC7150970 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12030198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Bee venom phospholipase A2 is a lipolytic enzyme in bee venom that catalyzes hydrolysis of the sn-2 ester bond of membrane phospholipids to produce free fatty acid and lysophospholipids. Current evidence suggests that bee venom phospholipase A2 (bvPLA2) induces regulatory T cell expansion and attenuates several immune system-related diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. The induction of Treg cells is directly mediated by binding to mannose receptors on dendritic cells. This interaction induces the PGE2-EP2 signaling pathway, which promotes Treg induction in CD4+ T cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of bvPLA2 treatment on the apoptotic signaling pathway in Treg populations. Flow cytometry was performed to identify early apoptotic cells. As a result, early apoptotic cells were dramatically decreased in bvPLA2-treated splenocytes, whereas rapamycin-treated cells showed levels of apoptotic cells similar to those of PBS-treated cells. Furthermore, bvPLA2 treatment increased expression of anti-apoptotic molecules including CTLA-4 and PD-1. The survival rate increased in bvPLA2-treated Tregs. Our findings indicate that bvPLA2-mediated modulation of apoptotic signaling is strongly associated with the Treg induction, which exhibits protective effects against various immune-related diseases. To our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that bvPLA2 is the major bee venom (BV) compound capable of inducing Treg expansion through altering apoptotic signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjung Baek
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea; (H.B.); (S.-Y.P.); (K.R.)
| | - Seon-Young Park
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea; (H.B.); (S.-Y.P.); (K.R.)
| | - Su Jeong Ku
- Department of Anatomy and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Korea; (S.J.K.); (Y.K.)
| | - Kihyun Ryu
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea; (H.B.); (S.-Y.P.); (K.R.)
| | - Younsub Kim
- Department of Anatomy and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Korea; (S.J.K.); (Y.K.)
| | - Hyunsu Bae
- Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea; (H.B.); (S.-Y.P.); (K.R.)
- Correspondence: (H.B.); (Y.-S.L.)
| | - Ye-Seul Lee
- Department of Anatomy and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Korea; (S.J.K.); (Y.K.)
- Correspondence: (H.B.); (Y.-S.L.)
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21
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Jagua-Gualdrón A, Peña-Latorre JA, Fernadez-Bernal RE. Apitherapy for Osteoarthritis: Perspectives from Basic Research. Complement Med Res 2020; 27:184-192. [PMID: 31896107 DOI: 10.1159/000505015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Osteoarthritis is one of the most common rheumatic disease in the world and one of the leading causes of disability in the elderly. There is still no curative management for the disease, so the search for new therapeutic alternatives continues. -Apitherapy is a therapeutic tool based on the use of beehive products used since ancient times and, at present, their mechanism of action begins to be known. Many of the mechanisms of action of the beehive products are useful for chronic articular pathophysiological processes such as those described in osteoarthritis. This article presents a review of the current state of understanding of the mechanisms through which bee venom, propolis, honey, pollen, and royal jelly may act on osteoarthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Jagua-Gualdrón
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia, .,Apitherapy Investigation and Development Group, Sociedad Colombiana de Apiterapia - Colombian Apitherapy Society, Bogotá, Colombia,
| | - José Adolfo Peña-Latorre
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.,Apitherapy Investigation and Development Group, Sociedad Colombiana de Apiterapia - Colombian Apitherapy Society, Bogotá, Colombia.,Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Roger Edwin Fernadez-Bernal
- Apitherapy Investigation and Development Group, Sociedad Colombiana de Apiterapia - Colombian Apitherapy Society, Bogotá, Colombia.,Universidad Provada del Valle, Cochabamba Bolivia Medical Director Medizen Bolivia, Cochabamba, Bolivia
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22
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Jeong YJ, Park YY, Park KK, Choi YH, Kim CH, Chang YC. Bee Venom Suppresses EGF-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Tumor Invasion in Lung Cancer Cells. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2019; 47:1869-1883. [PMID: 31786944 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x19500952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Bee venom of Apis mellifera is a traditional medicine in Asia. It has been used with promoting results for the treatment of pain, rheumatoid, and cancer disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of bee venom on epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and determine possible signaling pathway affected in EGF-induced EMT in A549 cells. Bee venom inhibited EGF-induced F-actin reorganization and cell invasion, and suppressed EGF-induced EMT, processes associated with tumor metastasis in NSCLC. Bee venom enhanced the upregulation of E-cadherin and the downregulation of vimentin and inhibited EGF-induced ERK, JNK, FAK, and mTOR phosphorylation in A549 cells. However, the inhibition of JNK phosphorylation by bee venom was not related to the inhibitory effects of EMT. Furthermore, we found that bee venom suppressed the EMT-related transcription factors ZEB2 and Slug by blocking EGF-induced ERK, FAK and mTOR phosphorylation. Bee venom inhibits EGF-induced EMT by blocking the phosphorylation of ERK, FAK, and mTOR, resulting in the suppression of ZEB2 and Slug. These data suggest bee venom as a potential antimetastatic agent for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Jeong Jeong
- Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu 42472, Korea
| | - Yoon-Yub Park
- Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu 42472, Korea
| | - Kwan-Kyu Park
- Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu 42472, Korea
| | - Yung Hyun Choi
- Department of Biochemistry, Dongeui University College of Korean Medicine, Busan 47227, Republic of Korea
| | - Cheorl-Ho Kim
- Department of Biological Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Kyunggi-Do 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Chae Chang
- Research Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu School of Medicine, Daegu 42472, Korea
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23
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An overview of the bioactive compounds, therapeutic properties and toxic effects of apitoxin. Food Chem Toxicol 2019; 134:110864. [PMID: 31574265 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.110864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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24
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Gu H, An HJ, Kim JY, Kim WH, Gwon MG, Kim HJ, Han SM, Park I, Park SC, Leem J, Park KK. Bee venom attenuates Porphyromonas gingivalis and RANKL-induced bone resorption with osteoclastogenic differentiation. Food Chem Toxicol 2019; 129:344-353. [PMID: 31055000 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is one of the major periodontal pathogens leading to inflammation and alveolar bone resorption. Bone resorption is induced by osteoclasts, which are multinucleated giant cells. Osteoclastic bone resorption is mediated by enhanced receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) signaling. Therefore, the down-regulation of RANKL downstream signals is regarded as an effective therapeutic target in the treatment of bone loss-associated disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether purified bee venom (BV) could attenuate P. gingivalis-induced inflammatory periodontitis and RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation. Inflammatory periodontitis induced by P. gingivalis increased alveolar bone resorption and increased expression of TNF-α and IL-1β, while BV treatment resulted in decreased bone loss and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Similarly, RANKL-induced multinucleated osteoclast differentiation and osteoclast-specific gene expression, such as nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (NFATc1), cathepsin K, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and integrin αvβ3 were significantly suppressed by treatment with BV. We show that BV reduces P. gingivalis-induced inflammatory bone loss-related periodontitis in vivo and RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation, activation, and function in vitro. These results suggest that BV exerts positive effects on inflammatory periodontitis associated osteoclastogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyemin Gu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 42472, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Jin An
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 42472, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-Yeon Kim
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 42472, Republic of Korea
| | - Woon-Hae Kim
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Gyeong Gwon
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 42472, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Ju Kim
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 42472, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Mi Han
- Department of Agricultural Biology, National Academy of Agricultural Science, RDA, 54875, Republic of Korea
| | - InSook Park
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Dentistry, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 42472, Republic of Korea
| | - Sok Cheon Park
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst, NSW, 2795, Australia
| | - Jaechan Leem
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 42472, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwan-Kyu Park
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 42472, Republic of Korea.
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Bee Venom Alleviates Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms through the Upregulation of Decay-Accelerating Factor (DAF/CD55). Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11050239. [PMID: 31027358 PMCID: PMC6562486 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11050239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Bee venom (BV)—a complex mixture of peptides and toxic proteins including phospholipase A2 and melittin—promotes blood clotting. In this study, we investigated the anti-atopic properties of BV and the mechanism associated with its regulation of the complement system. BV treatment upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of CD55 in THP-1 cells. Further experiments revealed that the phosphorylation of ERK was associated with upregulation of CD55. A complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay and a bacteria-killing assay showed that BV inactivated the complement system through the induction of CD55. The serum levels of C3 convertase (C3C) and Membrane attack complex (MAC) increased, while CD55 decreased in mice with AD-like lesions from DNCB treatment. However, the levels were inverted when the AD-like mice were treated with BV using subcutaneous injection, and we observed that the AD symptoms were alleviated. BV is often used to treat AD but its mechanism has not been elucidated. Here, we suggest that BV alleviates AD through the inactivation of the complement system, especially by the induction of CD55.
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Kellershohn J, Thomas L, Hahnel SR, Grünweller A, Hartmann RK, Hardt M, Vilcinskas A, Grevelding CG, Haeberlein S. Insects in anthelminthics research: Lady beetle-derived harmonine affects survival, reproduction and stem cell proliferation of Schistosoma mansoni. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019; 13:e0007240. [PMID: 30870428 PMCID: PMC6436750 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural products have moved into the spotlight as possible sources for new drugs in the treatment of helminth infections including schistosomiasis. Surprisingly, insect-derived compounds have largely been neglected so far in the search for novel anthelminthics, despite the generally recognized high potential of insect biotechnology for drug discovery. This motivated us to assess the antischistosomal capacity of harmonine, an antimicrobial alkaloid from the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis that raised high interest in insect biotechnology in recent years. We observed remarkably pleiotropic effects of harmonine on physiological, cellular, and molecular processes in adult male and female Schistosoma mansoni at concentrations as low as 5 μM in vitro. This included tegumental damage, gut dilatation, dysplasia of gonads, a complete stop of egg production at 10 μM, and increased production of abnormally shaped eggs at 5 μM. Motility was reduced with an EC50 of 8.8 μM and lethal effects occurred at 10–20 μM within 3 days of culture. Enzyme inhibition assays revealed acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as one potential target of harmonine. To assess possible effects on stem cells, which represent attractive anthelminthic targets, we developed a novel in silico 3D reconstruction of gonads based on confocal laser scanning microscopy of worms after EdU incorporation to allow for quantification of proliferating stem cells per organ. Harmonine significantly reduced the number of proliferating stem cells in testes, ovaries, and also the number of proliferating parenchymal neoblasts. This was further supported by a downregulated expression of the stem cell markers nanos-1 and nanos-2 in harmonine-treated worms revealed by quantitative real-time PCR. Our data demonstrate a multifaceted antischistosomal activity of the lady beetle-derived compound harmonine, and suggest AChE and stem cell genes as possible targets. Harmonine is the first animal-derived alkaloid detected to have antischistosomal capacity. This study highlights the potential of exploiting insects as a source for the discovery of anthelminthics. Natural compounds represent one of the richest sources for the discovery of new active compounds against diseases such as cancer or infections, including helminth infections that cause the highest disease burden in tropical countries. Surprisingly, insects have been almost completely neglected with respect to anthelminthics discovery although they represent the most species-rich class of animals known on earth, producing a wide spectrum of compounds with biological activities. In insect biotechnology, the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis raised high interest being a rich source of antimicrobial compounds such as the alkaloid harmonine. Harmonine is thought to act as a chemical weapon keeping otherwise detrimental microsporidia in the beetle under control. Testing the antiparasitic potential of harmonine against adult Schistosoma mansoni, one of the most harmful helminths worldwide, resulted in multifaceted negative effects. The compound damaged tissues essential for survival and reproduction of schistosomes (tegument, intestine, gonads) and also affected stem-cell proliferation. Furthermore, we obtained first evidence for acetylcholinesterase as one potential molecular target, which was partially inhibited by harmonine. This is the first time to proof a direct effect of a defined insect-derived compound on a helminth parasite, a finding that will encourage further studies to explore insects as sources of novel anthelminthics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josina Kellershohn
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Laura Thomas
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Steffen R. Hahnel
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Arnold Grünweller
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Roland K. Hartmann
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Martin Hardt
- Biomedical Research Center Seltersberg—Imaging Unit, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas Vilcinskas
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Simone Haeberlein
- Institute of Parasitology, BFS, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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The Effect of Whole Honey Bee Venom (Apismellifera) on Reducing Skin Infection of Rabbits Caused by Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: An In vivo Study. JOURNAL OF PURE AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.22207/jpam.12.4.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Abstract
RATIONALE Bee venom has been reported to demonstrate antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in experimental studies, but there remain questions regarding the clinical use of bee venom, especially for scleroderma. This case report shows the successful outcome of bee venom acupuncture for circumscribed morphea in a patient with systemic sclerosis, which is considered to be a rare condition. PATIENT CONCERNS A 64-year-old Korean woman had circular white areas (3 and 1 cm diameter) with severe itch in the right lateral iliac crest. Based on an initial diagnosis of systemic sclerosis (1 year prior to presentation at our clinic), she had been treated with painkillers, steroids, antitussive expectorants, and aspirin, with minimal effect on her recent skin symptoms. DIAGNOSES In this study, the diagnosis of circumscribed morphea was based on localized skin symptoms of the patient with systemic sclerosis. INTERVENTIONS The patient visited Gachon University Korean Medical Hospital for treatment of topical skin symptoms. After being evaluated for bee venom compatibility, she was administered subcutaneous bee venom acupuncture along the margins of the patches (superficial circumscribed lesions) using the shallow surround needling method twice per week for 1 week and then once per week for the following 3 weeks. OUTCOMES Itch levels were evaluated before each treatment session: by her second visit, her itch had decreased from 8 to 3 on a 10-point numerical rating scale; by her sixth visit, her itch had decreased from 3 to 0. She did not experience adverse effects, and these improvements were maintained until the 2-month follow-up evaluation. LESSONS Bee venom treatment demonstrates the potential to serve as an effective localized therapy for circumscribed morphea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Hye Hwang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam
| | - Kyung-Ho Kim
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Oriental Hospital, Goyang, Republic of Korea
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Zhang S, Liu Y, Ye Y, Wang XR, Lin LT, Xiao LY, Zhou P, Shi GX, Liu CZ. Bee venom therapy: Potential mechanisms and therapeutic applications. Toxicon 2018; 148:64-73. [PMID: 29654868 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2018.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2017] [Revised: 03/15/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Bee venom is a very complex mixture of natural products extracted from honey bee which contains various pharmaceutical properties such as peptides, enzymes, biologically active amines and nonpeptide components. The use of bee venom into the specific points is so called bee venom therapy, which is widely used as a complementary and alternative therapy for 3000 years. A growing number of evidence has demonstrated the anti-inflammation, the anti-apoptosis, the anti-fibrosis and the anti-arthrosclerosis effects of bee venom therapy. With these pharmaceutical characteristics, bee venom therapy has also been used as the therapeutic method in treating rheumatoid arthritis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, liver fibrosis, atherosclerosis, pain and others. Although widely used, several cases still reported that bee venom therapy might cause some adverse effects, such as local itching or swelling. In this review, we summarize its potential mechanisms, therapeutic applications, and discuss its existing problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Yang Ye
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 6 Fangxingyuan 1st Block, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100078, China
| | - Xue-Rui Wang
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 6 Fangxingyuan 1st Block, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100078, China
| | - Li-Ting Lin
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Ling-Yong Xiao
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 6 Fangxingyuan 1st Block, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100078, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Guang-Xia Shi
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Capital Medical University, 23 Meishuguanhou Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100010, China
| | - Cun-Zhi Liu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 6 Fangxingyuan 1st Block, Fengtai District, Beijing, 100078, China.
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The Effects of Melittin and Apamin on Airborne Fungi-Induced Chemical Mediator and Extracellular Matrix Production from Nasal Polyp Fibroblasts. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 9:toxins9110348. [PMID: 29076987 PMCID: PMC5705963 DOI: 10.3390/toxins9110348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Melittin and apamin are the main components of bee venom and they have been known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of melittin and apamin on airborne fungi-induced chemical mediator and extracellular matrix (ECM) production in nasal fibroblasts. Primary nasal fibroblasts were isolated from nasal polyps, which were collected during endoscopic sinus surgery. Nasal fibroblasts were treated with Alternaria and Aspergillus. The effects of melittin and apamin on the production of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 were determined with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. ECM mRNA and protein expressions were determined with the use of quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. Alternaria-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production was significantly inhibited by apamin. However, melittin did not influence the production of IL-6 and IL-8 from nasal fibroblasts. Melittin or apamin significantly inhibited collagen type I, TIMP-1, and MMP-9 mRNA expression and protein production from nasal fibroblasts. Melittin and apamin inhibited Alternaria-induced phosphorylation of Smad 2/3 and p38 MAPK. Melittin and apamin can inhibit the fungi-induced production of chemical mediators and ECM from nasal fibroblasts. These results suggest the possible role of melittin and apamin in the treatment of fungi induced airway inflammatory diseases.
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Seabrooks L, Hu L. Insects: an underrepresented resource for the discovery of biologically active natural products. Acta Pharm Sin B 2017; 7:409-426. [PMID: 28752026 PMCID: PMC5518667 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nature has been the source of life-changing and -saving medications for centuries. Aspirin, penicillin and morphine are prime examples of Nature׳s gifts to medicine. These discoveries catalyzed the field of natural product drug discovery which has mostly focused on plants. However, insects have more than twice the number of species and entomotherapy has been in practice for as long as and often in conjunction with medicinal plants and is an important alternative to modern medicine in many parts of the world. Herein, an overview of current traditional medicinal applications of insects and characterization of isolated biologically active molecules starting from approximately 2010 is presented. Insect natural products reviewed were isolated from ants, bees, wasps, beetles, cockroaches, termites, flies, true bugs, moths and more. Biological activities of these natural products from insects include antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.
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Kim JY, An HJ, Kim WH, Park YY, Park KD, Park KK. Apamin suppresses biliary fibrosis and activation of hepatic stellate cells. Int J Mol Med 2017; 39:1188-1194. [PMID: 28405682 PMCID: PMC5403474 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2017.2922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholestatic liver disease is characterized by the progressive destruction of biliary epithelial cells (BECs) followed by fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver failure. Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and portal fibroblasts are the major cellular effectors of enhanced collagen deposition in biliary fibrosis. Apamin, an 18 amino acid peptide neurotoxin found in apitoxin (bee venom), is known to block Ca2+-activated K+ channels and prevent carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. In the present study, we aimed to ascertain whether apamin inhibits biliary fibrosis and the proliferation of HSCs. Cholestatic liver fibrosis was established in mouse models with 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC) feeding. Cellular assays were performed on HSC-T6 cells (rat immortalized HSCs). DDC feeding led to increased hepatic damage and proinflammtory cytokine levels. Notably, apamin treatment resulted in decreased liver injury and proinflammatory cytokine levels. Moreover, apamin suppressed the deposition of collagen, proliferation of BECs and expression of fibrogenic genes in the DDC-fed mice. In HSCs, apamin suppressed activation of HSCs by inhibiting the Smad signaling pathway. These data suggest that apamin may be a potential therapeutic target in cholestatic liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung-Yeon Kim
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 705-718, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Jin An
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 705-718, Republic of Korea
| | - Woon-Hae Kim
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 705-718, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon-Yub Park
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 705-718, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Duck Park
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 705-718, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwan-Kyu Park
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu 705-718, Republic of Korea
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Chung HJ, Lee J, Shin JS, Kim MR, Koh W, Kim MJ, Lee JW, Kim EJ, Lee IH, Kim WK, Lee YJ, Lee SK, Ha IH. In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Allergic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of eBV, a Newly Developed Derivative of Bee Venom, through Modulation of IRF3 Signaling Pathway in a Carrageenan-Induced Edema Model. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168120. [PMID: 27930719 PMCID: PMC5145209 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bee venom (BV), a type of toxin extracted from honeybees (Apis mellifera), has been empirically and widely used to treat inflammatory diseases throughout Asia. Essential BV (eBV) was developed by removing phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and histamine to lower occurrence of allergic reaction. This study investigated the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activities of eBV in vitro and in vivo and its underlying mechanism of action. METHODS The anti-inflammatory potential of eBV was assessed in vivo using a carrageenan-induced paw edema model. To further investigate the mechanism by which eBV exerts anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects, compound 48/80-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells were studied in vitro. RESULTS Release of β-hexosaminidase and histamine was increased by eBV in a dose-dependent manner, but these levels were lower in eBV compared to original BV at the same concentration. In addition, eBV suppressed compound 48/80-induced expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in RBL-2H3 cells. eBV was also shown to suppress nitric oxide (NO) production by down-regulating mRNA expression and subsequent protein expression of inflammatory mediators in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Phosphorylation of activators and signal transducers of transcription 1/interferon regulatory factor 3 (STAT1/IRF3) was attenuated by eBV treatment. eBV significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced acute edema in vivo. Serum levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), TNF-α, and IL-1β were also down-regulated by eBV. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that eBV inhibits allergic and inflammatory response by reducing inflammatory mediator production via regulation of the STAT1/IRF3 signaling pathway, suggesting that eBV is a feasible candidate for regulation of allergic-inflammatory response in complementary and alternative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hwa-Jin Chung
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinho Lee
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon-Shik Shin
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Me-riong Kim
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonil Koh
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Jeong Kim
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae-woong Lee
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Jee Kim
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Hee Lee
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Kyung Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Natural Products Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon Jae Lee
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Kook Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Natural Products Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Hyuk Ha
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Pak SC. An Introduction to the Toxins Special Issue on "Bee and Wasp Venoms: Biological Characteristics and Therapeutic Application". Toxins (Basel) 2016; 8:toxins8110315. [PMID: 27801836 PMCID: PMC5127112 DOI: 10.3390/toxins8110315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sok Cheon Pak
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW 2795, Australia.
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