BEE VENOM TO TREAT INFLAMMATION
Inflammation is the body's reaction to any sort of external attack, it can be any virus or an infection or an injury. Possible symptoms include pain, swelling, rising temperature, irritation, and redness. The symptoms are not limited to only these reactions, as they can manifest in several other different ways. Sometimes inflammation is caused due to an underlying chronic disease.
It is recommended to go through regular medical examinations to avoid any serious illness. You can even get your medical reports to get checked by a professional doctor and get proper advice. If you notice anything abnormal about your body do not ignore the symptoms. It is important to keep a check on what your body tells you. An integral part of living a healthy life is that you must listen to it. |
So why do people experience redness, rise in temperature, swelling or irritation as symptoms of inflammation? Well, the obvious reason is that our bodies are designed to expel and counter any sort of external invaders. When any part of the body gets injured or infected, the whole body starts working on that specific target. Supply of blood and nutrients is fastened to that area and that is why inflammation occurs.
Why do some people experience chronic pain or impaired functioning? Well, it happens as a result of our body's failure to maintain the strength of its natural defense system. All of the cells that are exposed to the brunt of any external effect emit chemicals that help to deal with the problem. That is why an affected area has more fluid around it and appears quite swollen.
In the mean course, WBCs (white blood cells) become extremely active to protect the body and start dealing with the damage done. So if you think of inflammation as something unhealthy, you need to reconsider this thought of yours. As inflammation is a quick and apt response of your body to fight and get rid of the damage done. Certain inflammations tend to prolong, if not dealt with properly, and are known as chronic inflammations.
It is also a matter of fact that, some several illnesses and diseases take birth from the complication of only a single chronic inflammation. Sometimes the symptoms are not that obvious and they remain hidden inside the body in the neurons, intestines, blood vessels and other areas of the body. If the disease is not diagnosed and treated on time, its consequences can have an extremely severe effect on other organs of the body. Let's have a look at some diseases that show proper symptoms of inflammation:
Though, it cannot be declared that all of the above diseases show signs of inflammation at once. It might take several months for them to appear and till then, it might even get difficult to deal with the disease. So, always pay a regular visit to your health labs and get your blood samples tested for different reports. It will save you from any unwanted problems of health. You will also save time and money both.
Anti-Inflammatory Applications of Melittin, a Major Component of Bee Venom: Detailed Mechanism of Action...
We can describe inflammation as a widespread phenomenon that is triggered by adaptive and innate immune systems to preserve homeostasis. This exceptional mechanism helps in putting the body in recovery mode and healing the infection. If the signals given from the body are not taken into account, inflammation can even lead to complicated immune disorders.
Bee venom is one of the most useful toxins that are now being used in different fields of contemporary medicine. Honeybees are naturally equipped with this venom to protect themselves from enemies. Recent studies have shown that bee venom can serve as one of the best anti-inflammatory drugs. Even before the results of these studies, bee venom was used for a long time, as a therapeutic agent, for treating chronic inflammatory diseases.
Melittin is one of the most useful constituents of honeybee venom. It has been used in different clinical studies, to control inflammatory diseases and strengthen the natural immune system response. In the light of fresh clinical examinations, melittin can be used for a wide variety of functions in vivo and in vitro. It is an interesting working platform for researchers that melittin possesses unique molecular biological functions that have to be explored yet.
Several literary publications verify the therapeutic effect of melittin, but they do not clearly describe the cellular mechanism of melittin. In this study, based on information available related to honey bee venom, the detailed mechanism of anti-inflammatory effects of melittin has been carefully studied. In this regard, several inflammatory diseases like inflammation, arthritis, atherosclerosis, neuroinflammation, and skin inflammation have been brought on the table. The therapeutic effect of melittin was studied on the above-stated types of inflammation and its prospects were also explored.
Bee venom, on the whole, has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-nociceptive, anti-mutagenic and radioprotective effects. As said earlier, melittin is the primary element of honeybee venom. It is a peptide that has a complex structure of 26 amino acids (NH2-GIGAVLKVLTTGLPALISWIKRKRQQ-CONH2). There are a few adverse effects of melittin registered so far, but only under uncontrolled and high doses. Melittin might lead to local pain, inflammation, and itching. But if given on small and controlled doses its therapeutic effects can lead to wonders.
Apitoxin, is a major constituent of melittin and is described as an allergenic peptide and plays its role in cell lysis and death. Melittin, when amassed, disrupts the phospholipid packing of the cell membranes that eventually leads to cell lysis. The reason is that melittin incites cell lysis of intracellular membranes and plasma membranes. Bee venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and melittin show a synergistic mechanism with the lipid membranes that eventually leads to cell destruction.
Bee Venom Acupuncture Augments Anti-Inflammation in the Peripheral Organs of Hsod1g93atransgenic Mice
ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) indicates progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord, motor cortex, and brain stream. According to recent reports, it has been found that multiple organs dysfunction at the same time like liver, spleen, and lungs in subjects of ALS. BVA (bee venom acupuncture) has been used since long for treating different inflammatory diseases in Oriental Medicine.
A clinical study, conducted earlier, found that bee venom prevented the death of motor neurons and help in generating an anti-inflammation effect in the spinal cord of the symptomatic hSOD1G93A mice. Now this study is focused on the theory of determining if bee venom acupuncture effects on ST36 (acupuncture point) in organs like kidneys, liver, and spleen of the hSOD1G93A mice or not.
After the lab investigation, it was determined that bee venom when administered at ST36, helps in reducing inflammation in kidneys, liver, and spleen when compared with the saline treatment given at ST36 and bee venom administered intraperitoneally in the symptomatic hSOD1G93A mice. In the light of these findings, it can be easily said that bee venom therapy in combination with acupuncture stimulation gives more satisfactory results than an only bee venom treatment regime conducted in ALS animal model. As the combined treatment more effectively improved immune response and reduced inflammation.
A patient of ALS expires when the respiratory system collapses and that usually happens after 3 to 5 years of diagnosis. This period rests on other factors too like a patient's age, medical history, diet, and exercise. There are two different types of ALS: sALS (sporadic ALS) and fALS (familial ALS). The first one, sALS is caused due to genetic and environmental factors and more than 90% of cases of ALS are of this type. The second one, fALS is caused due to genetic mutations that include C9ORF72, fused in sarcoma, transactive response DNA-binding protein 43, dynactin, VAMP-associated protein B, angiogenin, senataxin, alsin and super oxidase dismutase 1. But still, it is unfound that what the real reasons are that lead towards ALS and due to this ambiguous situation, so far no concrete therapy for the patients of ALS has been devised. Currently, Riluzole, which is a glutamate release obstructer, is being used to treat a patient of ALS – it is an FDA approved drug that is used to control symptoms and offer live support.
Bee venom treatment was conducted in two different manners, intraperitoneally and at ST36 (acupuncture point), in 14 weeks old hSOD1G93A mice. During the lab study it was found that Iba-1 in hepatocytes of the liver of the hSOD1G93A mice increased by nearly 4 folds when compared with the same age WT (wild type) 1 ± 0.24 mice. It was also found that bee venom treatment at the acupuncture point significantly suppressed Iba-1 by nearly 3 folds when compared with the same age hSOD1G93A mice. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effects of bee venom at the acupuncture point increased by 2 folds when compared with the bee venom injected intraperitoneally in the hSOD1G93A mice.
To confirm the anti-inflammatory effect of bee venom treatment at the acupuncture point, the expression levels of COX2 cyclooxygenase 2 protein, in the liver of wild type and hSOD1G93A mice both, were studied carefully. The findings revealed that COX2 positive hepatocytes increased in the liver of the hSOD1G93A mice when compared with the wild type (1 ± 0.55) mice. But on the other hand, when bee venom treatment was administered at the acupuncture point, COX2 positive hepatocytes showed a reduction by nearly 3 folds when compared with the saline cured hSOD1G93A mice.
The results suggest that bee venom treatment at acupuncture point is quite effective at dealing with inflammation present in the liver of the hSOD1G93A mice.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Melittin on Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-Stimulated Human Keratinocytes
We can describe periodontitis, as a chronic inflammatory disease, which destructs gingiva. P. gingivalis (porphyromonas gingivalis) and can lead to periodontitis through its LPS (pathogenic lipopolysaccharides). But thanks to melittin – a major peptide of bee venom – that has opened several options for conducting anti-inflammatory therapies. Melittin is famous for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
But the share of melittin towards the inflammatory response of periodontitis like human keratinocytes has not yet been illustrated. Thus, it was important to examine the anti-inflammatory properties of melittin on the P. gingivalis LPS pathogenic lipopolysaccharides treated human keratinocyte cell line. Cytotoxicity level of melittin peptide was measured with the help of human keratinocyte cell line, Cell Counting Kit 8 and HaCaT. The overall effect of melittin on the PgLPS conducted inflammation was analyzed with immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative PCT and Western Blot method.
The findings revealed that PgLPS eventually increased TLR 4 (toll-like receptor), pro-inflammatory cytokines like IFN-γ (interferon-γ), IL-8, interleukin (IL)-6 and TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α). Furthermore, PgLPS promoted the instigation of protein kinase B/Akt, ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) and NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer).
Melittin also repressed expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines by controlling activation of Akt, ERK and NF-κB signaling pathway. It can be confidently said that melittin offsets the PgLPS prompted inflammatory reaction and that is why it can be used to treat periodontitis for any sort of anti-inflammatory effects.
Explaining more, the melittin treatment conducted for 8 hours decreased the viability of HaCaT cells when melittin concentrations were maintained at 4μg/mL. There were no significant changes detected when the melittin concentrations were below 2μg/mL. Melittin therapy when conducted for 24 hours decreased the viability of HaCaT cells at 4μg/mL, 2μg/mL and 1μg/mL. Hence, the clinical study was performed for 8 hours with melittin having a concentration of less than 1μg/mL.
Results gathered also indicated that melittin peptide can help protect the keratinocytes against any PgLPS mediated damage. Thus, melittin is a safe anti-inflammatory therapy for treating periodontitis. Researchers must combine and study their results, related to different clinical examinations conducted, to consider the role of melittin in this regard.
Their findings can help interpret a better formula for treating several other inflammatory diseases with the help of melittin. In this case, if any research is further required it must be conducted at the theoretical and clinical level. This will eventually lead to a better and natural anti-inflammatory administration.
Why do some people experience chronic pain or impaired functioning? Well, it happens as a result of our body's failure to maintain the strength of its natural defense system. All of the cells that are exposed to the brunt of any external effect emit chemicals that help to deal with the problem. That is why an affected area has more fluid around it and appears quite swollen.
In the mean course, WBCs (white blood cells) become extremely active to protect the body and start dealing with the damage done. So if you think of inflammation as something unhealthy, you need to reconsider this thought of yours. As inflammation is a quick and apt response of your body to fight and get rid of the damage done. Certain inflammations tend to prolong, if not dealt with properly, and are known as chronic inflammations.
It is also a matter of fact that, some several illnesses and diseases take birth from the complication of only a single chronic inflammation. Sometimes the symptoms are not that obvious and they remain hidden inside the body in the neurons, intestines, blood vessels and other areas of the body. If the disease is not diagnosed and treated on time, its consequences can have an extremely severe effect on other organs of the body. Let's have a look at some diseases that show proper symptoms of inflammation:
- Certain cardiovascular diseases
- Different types of cancers
- Diabetes
- IBS
- Alzheimer
- Atherosclerosis
- MS
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Asthma
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Allergies
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Crohn’s Disease
Though, it cannot be declared that all of the above diseases show signs of inflammation at once. It might take several months for them to appear and till then, it might even get difficult to deal with the disease. So, always pay a regular visit to your health labs and get your blood samples tested for different reports. It will save you from any unwanted problems of health. You will also save time and money both.
Anti-Inflammatory Applications of Melittin, a Major Component of Bee Venom: Detailed Mechanism of Action...
We can describe inflammation as a widespread phenomenon that is triggered by adaptive and innate immune systems to preserve homeostasis. This exceptional mechanism helps in putting the body in recovery mode and healing the infection. If the signals given from the body are not taken into account, inflammation can even lead to complicated immune disorders.
Bee venom is one of the most useful toxins that are now being used in different fields of contemporary medicine. Honeybees are naturally equipped with this venom to protect themselves from enemies. Recent studies have shown that bee venom can serve as one of the best anti-inflammatory drugs. Even before the results of these studies, bee venom was used for a long time, as a therapeutic agent, for treating chronic inflammatory diseases.
Melittin is one of the most useful constituents of honeybee venom. It has been used in different clinical studies, to control inflammatory diseases and strengthen the natural immune system response. In the light of fresh clinical examinations, melittin can be used for a wide variety of functions in vivo and in vitro. It is an interesting working platform for researchers that melittin possesses unique molecular biological functions that have to be explored yet.
Several literary publications verify the therapeutic effect of melittin, but they do not clearly describe the cellular mechanism of melittin. In this study, based on information available related to honey bee venom, the detailed mechanism of anti-inflammatory effects of melittin has been carefully studied. In this regard, several inflammatory diseases like inflammation, arthritis, atherosclerosis, neuroinflammation, and skin inflammation have been brought on the table. The therapeutic effect of melittin was studied on the above-stated types of inflammation and its prospects were also explored.
Bee venom, on the whole, has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-nociceptive, anti-mutagenic and radioprotective effects. As said earlier, melittin is the primary element of honeybee venom. It is a peptide that has a complex structure of 26 amino acids (NH2-GIGAVLKVLTTGLPALISWIKRKRQQ-CONH2). There are a few adverse effects of melittin registered so far, but only under uncontrolled and high doses. Melittin might lead to local pain, inflammation, and itching. But if given on small and controlled doses its therapeutic effects can lead to wonders.
Apitoxin, is a major constituent of melittin and is described as an allergenic peptide and plays its role in cell lysis and death. Melittin, when amassed, disrupts the phospholipid packing of the cell membranes that eventually leads to cell lysis. The reason is that melittin incites cell lysis of intracellular membranes and plasma membranes. Bee venom phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and melittin show a synergistic mechanism with the lipid membranes that eventually leads to cell destruction.
Bee Venom Acupuncture Augments Anti-Inflammation in the Peripheral Organs of Hsod1g93atransgenic Mice
ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) indicates progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord, motor cortex, and brain stream. According to recent reports, it has been found that multiple organs dysfunction at the same time like liver, spleen, and lungs in subjects of ALS. BVA (bee venom acupuncture) has been used since long for treating different inflammatory diseases in Oriental Medicine.
A clinical study, conducted earlier, found that bee venom prevented the death of motor neurons and help in generating an anti-inflammation effect in the spinal cord of the symptomatic hSOD1G93A mice. Now this study is focused on the theory of determining if bee venom acupuncture effects on ST36 (acupuncture point) in organs like kidneys, liver, and spleen of the hSOD1G93A mice or not.
After the lab investigation, it was determined that bee venom when administered at ST36, helps in reducing inflammation in kidneys, liver, and spleen when compared with the saline treatment given at ST36 and bee venom administered intraperitoneally in the symptomatic hSOD1G93A mice. In the light of these findings, it can be easily said that bee venom therapy in combination with acupuncture stimulation gives more satisfactory results than an only bee venom treatment regime conducted in ALS animal model. As the combined treatment more effectively improved immune response and reduced inflammation.
A patient of ALS expires when the respiratory system collapses and that usually happens after 3 to 5 years of diagnosis. This period rests on other factors too like a patient's age, medical history, diet, and exercise. There are two different types of ALS: sALS (sporadic ALS) and fALS (familial ALS). The first one, sALS is caused due to genetic and environmental factors and more than 90% of cases of ALS are of this type. The second one, fALS is caused due to genetic mutations that include C9ORF72, fused in sarcoma, transactive response DNA-binding protein 43, dynactin, VAMP-associated protein B, angiogenin, senataxin, alsin and super oxidase dismutase 1. But still, it is unfound that what the real reasons are that lead towards ALS and due to this ambiguous situation, so far no concrete therapy for the patients of ALS has been devised. Currently, Riluzole, which is a glutamate release obstructer, is being used to treat a patient of ALS – it is an FDA approved drug that is used to control symptoms and offer live support.
Bee venom treatment was conducted in two different manners, intraperitoneally and at ST36 (acupuncture point), in 14 weeks old hSOD1G93A mice. During the lab study it was found that Iba-1 in hepatocytes of the liver of the hSOD1G93A mice increased by nearly 4 folds when compared with the same age WT (wild type) 1 ± 0.24 mice. It was also found that bee venom treatment at the acupuncture point significantly suppressed Iba-1 by nearly 3 folds when compared with the same age hSOD1G93A mice. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effects of bee venom at the acupuncture point increased by 2 folds when compared with the bee venom injected intraperitoneally in the hSOD1G93A mice.
To confirm the anti-inflammatory effect of bee venom treatment at the acupuncture point, the expression levels of COX2 cyclooxygenase 2 protein, in the liver of wild type and hSOD1G93A mice both, were studied carefully. The findings revealed that COX2 positive hepatocytes increased in the liver of the hSOD1G93A mice when compared with the wild type (1 ± 0.55) mice. But on the other hand, when bee venom treatment was administered at the acupuncture point, COX2 positive hepatocytes showed a reduction by nearly 3 folds when compared with the saline cured hSOD1G93A mice.
The results suggest that bee venom treatment at acupuncture point is quite effective at dealing with inflammation present in the liver of the hSOD1G93A mice.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Melittin on Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-Stimulated Human Keratinocytes
We can describe periodontitis, as a chronic inflammatory disease, which destructs gingiva. P. gingivalis (porphyromonas gingivalis) and can lead to periodontitis through its LPS (pathogenic lipopolysaccharides). But thanks to melittin – a major peptide of bee venom – that has opened several options for conducting anti-inflammatory therapies. Melittin is famous for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
But the share of melittin towards the inflammatory response of periodontitis like human keratinocytes has not yet been illustrated. Thus, it was important to examine the anti-inflammatory properties of melittin on the P. gingivalis LPS pathogenic lipopolysaccharides treated human keratinocyte cell line. Cytotoxicity level of melittin peptide was measured with the help of human keratinocyte cell line, Cell Counting Kit 8 and HaCaT. The overall effect of melittin on the PgLPS conducted inflammation was analyzed with immunofluorescence, real-time quantitative PCT and Western Blot method.
The findings revealed that PgLPS eventually increased TLR 4 (toll-like receptor), pro-inflammatory cytokines like IFN-γ (interferon-γ), IL-8, interleukin (IL)-6 and TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α). Furthermore, PgLPS promoted the instigation of protein kinase B/Akt, ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) and NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer).
Melittin also repressed expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines by controlling activation of Akt, ERK and NF-κB signaling pathway. It can be confidently said that melittin offsets the PgLPS prompted inflammatory reaction and that is why it can be used to treat periodontitis for any sort of anti-inflammatory effects.
Explaining more, the melittin treatment conducted for 8 hours decreased the viability of HaCaT cells when melittin concentrations were maintained at 4μg/mL. There were no significant changes detected when the melittin concentrations were below 2μg/mL. Melittin therapy when conducted for 24 hours decreased the viability of HaCaT cells at 4μg/mL, 2μg/mL and 1μg/mL. Hence, the clinical study was performed for 8 hours with melittin having a concentration of less than 1μg/mL.
Results gathered also indicated that melittin peptide can help protect the keratinocytes against any PgLPS mediated damage. Thus, melittin is a safe anti-inflammatory therapy for treating periodontitis. Researchers must combine and study their results, related to different clinical examinations conducted, to consider the role of melittin in this regard.
Their findings can help interpret a better formula for treating several other inflammatory diseases with the help of melittin. In this case, if any research is further required it must be conducted at the theoretical and clinical level. This will eventually lead to a better and natural anti-inflammatory administration.
Sources:
Anti-Inflammatory Applications of Melittin, a Major Component of Bee Venom: Detailed Mechanism of Action and Adverse Effects
Bee Venom Acupuncture Augments Anti-Inflammation in the Peripheral Organs of hSOD1G93ATransgenic Mice
Anti-inflammatory activity of bee venom peptide 401 (mast cell degranulating peptide) and compound 48/80 results from...
Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Melittin on Porphyromonas Gingivalis LPS-Stimulated Human Keratinocytes
Melittin-glutathione S-transferase fusion protein exhibits anti-inflammatory properties and minimal toxicity
Anti-Inflammatory Applications of Melittin, a Major Component of Bee Venom: Detailed Mechanism of Action and Adverse Effects
Bee Venom Acupuncture Augments Anti-Inflammation in the Peripheral Organs of hSOD1G93ATransgenic Mice
Anti-inflammatory activity of bee venom peptide 401 (mast cell degranulating peptide) and compound 48/80 results from...
Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Melittin on Porphyromonas Gingivalis LPS-Stimulated Human Keratinocytes
Melittin-glutathione S-transferase fusion protein exhibits anti-inflammatory properties and minimal toxicity