• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.320-324
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• 2007

This study was undertaken to assess the antinociceptive effect of Korean bee venom (BV) in mice. Korean BV was collected using BV collector devices in which an electrical impulse is used to stimulate the worker bee (Apis mellifera L.) to sting and release venom. After collection, whole BV was evaporated until dry using the BV collector. Experiments were performed on male ICR mice (weighing $30{\sim}35g$, 6 weeks old). Mice were divided into 4 groups, each comprising 8 mice. BV was diluted and amounts of 6 mg/kg body weight (BW), 0.6 mg/kg BW and 0.06 mg/kg BW were tested. BV was subcutaneously injected to produce an antinociceptive effect and the antinociceptive efficacy was evaluated using a writhing test in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid produced a tonic pain behavior, first observed at 3 to 9 min post-injection. This writhing response peaked at 20 min post-acetic acid injection, and then declined until it was undetectable at 60 min post-injection. The time elapse between the administration of acetic acid and the first observed pain behaviors indicated a dose-dependent suppressive effect. These results suggest that Korean BV may be used to achieve an antinociceptive effect for use in medical therapies.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.229-237
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• 2008

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of honeybee venom, purified using bee venom collector, and feeding of probiotics on the body weight gain, growth rate and hematological characteristics of pigs. A total of 120 pigs were examined and divided into 4 groups 1) Control (basal diet), 2) BV (basal diet + bee venom), 3) PB (basal diet + probiotics), 4) BVPB (basal diet + BV + PB). Average daily weight gain improved significantly in all test groups, especially BVPB (P < 0.05) compared to the controls. There was a significant difference in the feed conversion rate (P < 0.05) and efficiency (P < 0.05) between BVPB and control pigs. Weight gain and survivability was higher in the tests than the controls, but white blood cell count was not. Serum total protein, albumin and IgG concentration of BVPB were slightly higher than those of controls. These results suggest that treated honeybee venom and probiotics should be used together to effectively increase the productivity of pigs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.663-667
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• 2010

Experiments were undertaken to assess the antinociceptive effect of bee venom (BV) in rodent animal models. Comparison of antinociceptive efficacy between Korean BV and commercially available American BV was the primary interest of the study. Korean BV was collected using BV collector devices in which an electrical impulse is used to stimulate the worker bee (Apis mellfera L.) to sting and release venom. After collection, whole BV was evaporated until dry using the BV collector. Commercially available dried American BV was purchased from Sigma Company in USA. Korean and American sourced BVs were diluted and amounts of 6 mg/kg body weight (BW), 0.6 mg/kg BW and 0.06 mg/kg BW were tested. BV was subcutaneously injected to produce an antinociceptive effect and the antinociceptive efficacy was evaluated using a writhing test in mice and a formalin test in rats. The antinociceptive effects of the two BVs tested were similar in mice for visceral pain and showed a dose-dependent response. The antinociceptive effect of Korean BV was not significantly different compare to American BV. These results suggest that Korean BV may be used to achieve an antinociceptive effect for use in medical therapies.