• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.129-145
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• 2001

Objectives : To characterize the antitumorigenic potential of three representative bee venom components, Melittin, Apamin, and Phospholipase A2, their effects on cell proliferation and apotosis of the human melanoma cell line SK-MEL-2 were analyzed using molecular biological approaches. Methodes & Results : To determine the doses of the drugs that do not induce cytotoxic damage to this cell line, cell viability was examined by MTT assay. While SK-MEL-2 cells treated with 0.5 - 2.0㎍/㎖ of each drug showed no recognizable cytotoxic effect, marked reductions of cell viability were detected at concentrations over 5.0㎍/㎖. [3H]thymidine incorporation assay for cell proliferation demonstrated that DNA replication of SK-MEL-2 cells is inhibited by Apamin and Phospholipase A2 in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with this result, the cells were accumulated at the G1 phase of the cell cycle after treatment with Apamin and Phospholipase A2, whereas no detectable change in cell proliferation was identified by Melittin treatment. In addition, tryphan blue exclusion and flow cytometric analyses showed that all of these drugs can trigger apoptotic cell death of SK-MEL-2, suggesting that Melittin, Apamin, and Phospholipase A2 have antitumorigenic potential through the suppression of cell growth and/or induction of apoptosis. Qantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that Apamin and Phospholipase A2 inhibit expression of growth-promoting genes such as c-Jun, c-Fos, and Cyciin D1. Furthermore, Phospholipase A2 induced tumor suppressors p53 and p21/Wafl. In addition, all three drugs were found to activate expression of a representative apoptosis-inducing gene Bax while expression of apoptosis-suppressing Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL genes was not changed. Taken together, this study strongly suggests that Metittin, Apamin, and Phosphalipase A2 may have antitumorigenic activities, which are associated with its growth-inhibiting and/or apoptosis-inducing potentials.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2017

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the components of the clinically used bee venom (BV) pharmacopuncture. Methods : Two kinds of bee venom pharmacopuncture (BV-I and II), three kinds of separate purification BV (SPBV) pharmacopuncture (SPBV-I, II, and III), and apitoxin were investigated in this study. We performed a component analysis of melittin, apamin, and phospholipase $A_2$ using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results :1. BV-I contained approximately 40% more melittin than BV-II did. 2. In the three separate purification BV pharmacopuncture, SPBV-I, SPBV-II, and SPBV-III, phospholipase $A_2$ content decreased remarkably. 3. The melittin content in SPBV-I increased by 5% compared to that in BV-I. 4. The amount of melittin in apitoxin was similar to that in SPBV-I. Conclusion : The compositions of the BV pharmacopuncture and separate purification BV pharmacopuncture changed depending on the collection method and concentration. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the most suitable BV for each specific medical treatment target. Furthermore, research into the composition of BV may be needed for its safe and effective use.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.299-303
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• 2012

This study aims to investigate whether geographical variation affects the antibacterial component properties of honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) venom in Korea. Honeybee venom samples were collected from May to September, during 2010 and 2011, from 35 different sites, and were analyzed for major components, including melittin, apamin and phospholipase A2 were determined by a liquid chromatography using ammonium formate, acetonitrile, trifluoracetic acid. On average, melittin, apamin and phospholipase A2 were determined $55.2{\pm}2.07%$, $22.57{\pm}0.103%$, and $12.51{\pm}0.37%$, respectively. The ratio of the major components, including melittin, apamin and phospholipase A2 did not differ significantly according to flower or temperature during collections (One way-ANOVA, Duncan's test (${\alpha}$=0.05)).

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.69-78
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• 2000

Objective : To research the trends of the study related to bee venom and cancer, and to establish the hereafter direction of the study on bee venom herbal acupuncture. Method : We searched in PubMed, with bee venom and cancer(in English, with abstract) Results : 1. We searched 28 Journals, 36 Papers. the frequency of Journals and Papers was as follows: Biochem Biophys Res Commun(4 Papers), FEBS Lett(3), Life Sci, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, J Immunol(each 2), other 23 Journals(each 1). 2. The pattern of the study was as follows: Review article(3 Journals, 3 Papers), Epidemiologic study(1, 1), Experimental study(24, 32) In vivo 1, 1), In vitto(24, 31) 3. The involved components of bee venom were as follows: Melittin(20), Apamin(8), Phospholipase A2(3), Melittin & Phospholipase A2(3), Melittin& Tertiapin(1). 4. The involved cancer was as follows: leukemia(9), tumor(5), neuroblastoma(4), pituitary tumor and pheochromocytoma(each 3), lymphoma, astrocytoma, glioma and lung cancer(small cell carcinoma)(eacn 2), bladder carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, breast carcinoma, ovarian carcinoma and spuamous cell carcinoma(each 1) Conclusion : We concluded that the most frequent pattern of the study was in vitro experimental study with peptide components of bee venom and the most frequeni invovled cancer was leukemia.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.277-283
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• 2014

The effects of concentration, pressure, and molecular sige on removing allergenic substance (phospholipase $A_2$) in bee venom by ultrafiltration were investigated. The membrane pore sizes were selected based on the molecular weight of the main compounds. The conditions of concentration and pressure were selected randomly. As results, we obtained the optimum condition (1 mg/mL, 20 psi, 10,000 dalton) for removing $PLA_2$ at constant concentration of melittin and apamin and confirmed the separation results by HPLC and SDS-PAGE.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.141-160
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• 2006

The obtained results are summarized as follows 1. New findings are reporting year by year as for the study related to Anti-inflammatory mechanism of Bee Venom therapy. 2. The Anti-inflammatory effect of Bee Venom therapy is achieved through counterirritation, stimulations to adrenal cortex, immuno-regulation, antioxidation, removal of free radicals, modulation of AGP gene induction. 3. The chief components of Bee Venom related to Anti-inflammatory effect are Melittin, MCD peptide, Apamin, Adolapin etc. 4. Melittin binds to secretory phospholipase A2 and inhibits its enzymatic activity. 5. Melittin blocks neutophil O2-production. 6. MCD peptide(Peptide 401) stimulates the mast cell secrets histamine, Anti-inflammatory effect caused by this is 'conterirritation'. 7. Melittin & Apamin have an anti-inflammatory effect by inducing cortisone secretion. 8. MCD peptide & Apamin increase immunologic fuction by stimulating hypophysis & adrenal cortex and have an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting synthesis of prostaglandin from arachidonic acid. 9. Adolapin have an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting COX. 10. Bee Venom have an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing AGP($\alpha$-acid glycoprotein). 11. Bee Venom have an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting NO, iNOS, PLA2, COX-2, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1, NF-${\kappa}B$, MAP kinase.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.153-168
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• 2000

This study was designed to study on major components of various Bee Venom(Bee Venom by electrical stimulation in Korea; K-BV I, Bee Venom by Microwave stimulation in Korea; K -BV II, 0.5rng/ml, Fu Yu Pharmaceutical Factory, China; C-BV, 1mg /ml, Monmouth Pain Institute, Inc., U.S.A.; A-BV) using Electrophoresis. The results were summarized as follows: 1. In 1:4000 Bee Venom solution rate, the band was not displayed distinctly usmg Electrophoresis. But in 1: 1000, the band showed clearly. 2. The results of Electrophoresis at solution rate 1:1000, K-BV I and K-BVII showed similar band. 3. The molecular weight of Phospholipase $A_2$ was known as 19,000 but its band was seen at 17,000 in Electrophoresis. 4. Protein concentration of Bee Venom by Lowry method was different at solution rate 1:4000 ; C-BV was $250{wmu}g/ml,\;K-BV\;I\;was\;190{wmu}g/ml,\;K-BVII\;was\;160{wmu}/ml\;and\;C-BV\;was\;45{wmu}/ml5$. Electrophoresis method was unuseful for analysis of Bee Venom when solution rate is above 1:4000 but Protein concentration of Bee Venom by Lowry method was possible. These data from the study can be applied to establish the standard measurement of Bee Venom and prevent pure bee venom from mixing of another components. I think it is desirable to study more about safety of Bee Venom as time goes by.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2018

Purified bee venom was collected from colonies of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) using a bee venom collector under sterile conditions and then purified under strict laboratory conditions. Purified bee venom contained $63.9{\pm}5.4%$ melittin, $10.9{\pm}1.6%$ phospholipase A2, and $2.3{\pm}0.3%$ apamin. Purified bee venom has various anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating effects. In this study, we evaluated purified bee venom which are mammary gland cells, MAC-T cells are used to increase the synthesis of milk protein. Purified bee venom promoted the proliferation of MAC-T cells at concentrations below $1{\mu}g/mL$, but cytotoxicity at $10{\mu}g/mL$ and above. As a result of the increase in the synthesis of ${\beta}-casein$, a milk protein after treatment with MAC-T cells at a concentration of the bee venom without cytotoxicity, the ${\beta}-casein$ content in the cell culture was increased when treated at a concentration of 1 ng/mL or more. In addition, it was confirmed that purified bee venom significantly increased the expression of bovine ${\beta}-casein$ (bCSNB) mRNA, a ${\beta}-casein$ synthesis gene, at a concentration of 1 ng/mL or more. These results suggest that purified bee venom can be used to increase the production of livestock by ultimately increasing the expression of milk protein.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.151.2-152
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• 2003

Bee venom (BV) has been utilized to relieve pain and to treat inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). BV contains a variety of different peptides including melittin, apamin, adolapin and mast cell degranulating (MCD) peptide. In addition, it also contains enzyme (i.e. phospholipase A2), biologically active amines and non-peptide components. (omitted)

• Journal of Apiculture
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.269-273
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• 2017

We investigated whether purified bee venom increases the enzymatic activity of the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). ADH and ALDH assay were tested by in vitro kits. The purified bee venom was assayed by ultra performance liquid chromatography, The contents of melittin, apamin and phospholipase A2, as main component of purified bee venom, were 63.9%, 2.3%, and 10.9%, respectively. The ADH and ALDH acitivity of purified bee venom(at 1mg/ml) were $88.6{\pm}7.34%$ and $94.6{\pm}0.57%$, respectively compared with positive control at 2mg/ml. These results showed that purified bee venom induces the activity of ADH and ALDH which reduce the aldehyde concentration in the blood, suggesting the possibility of purified bee venom as resource of medicine or functional beverage for hangover relieving.