While the survival rate has increased due to treatments for breast cancer, the quality of life has decreased because of the side effects of chemotherapy. Various toxins are being developed as alternative breast cancer treatments, and bee venom is drawing attention as one of them. We analyzed the effect of bee venom and its components on breast cancer cells and reviewed the mechanism underlying the anticancer effects of bee venom. Data up to March 2022 were searched from PubMed, EMBASE, OASIS, KISS, and Science Direct online databases, and studies that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Among 612 studies, 11 were selected for this research. Diverse drugs were administered, including crude bee venom, melittin, phospholipase A2, and their complexes. All drugs reduced the number of breast cancer cells in proportion to the dose and time. The mechanisms of anticancer effects included cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell targeting, gene expression regulation, and cell lysis. Summarily, bee venom and its components exert anticancer effects on human breast cancer cells. Depending on the mechanisms of anticancer effects, side effects are expected to be reduced by using various vehicles. Bee venom and its components have the potential to prevent and treat breast cancer in the future.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/toxins14070460 | DOI Listing |
Int J Mol Sci
January 2025
College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, China.
Bee venom (BV) and its main compound melittin (MLT) have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging activities; however, very little research has been conducted on their effects on skin aging. In this study, a mouse skin aging model induced by D-galactose was constructed via subcutaneous injection into the scruff of the neck, and different doses of BV and MLT were used as interventions. The anti-aging effects and mechanisms of BV and MLT were explored by detecting the skin morphology and structure, and anti-aging-related factors and performing non-targeted metabolomics of mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanomedicine
January 2025
Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, PR China. Electronic address:
Bee venom acupuncture (BVA) offers therapeutic potential for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but faces challenges from pain and allergies linked to live bee stings. A key hurdle is melittin (Mel), bee venom's main anti-inflammatory component, which degrades rapidly when orally ingested, leading to decreased efficacy and increased toxicity. This study proposes a solution by encapsulating melittin in liposomes to enhance stability and lessen side effects, expanding its clinical applicability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFToxins (Basel)
January 2025
Faculty of Sciences, University of Balamand, Al-Kourah, P.O. Box 100, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon.
Hyperalgesia is a condition marked by an abnormal increase in pain sensitivity, often occurring in response to tissue injury, inflammation, or prolonged exposure to certain medications. Inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, play a central role in this process, amplifying pain perception. Developing effective treatments that address the underlying mechanisms of hyperalgesia is an active field of research.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo
January 2025
Hospital Militar Central, Servicio de Infectología, Bogotá, Colombia.
Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune hematological condition characterized by a markedly isolated decrease in platelets without any apparent associated clinical conditions, resulting in bleeding and bruising of the skin, mucous membranes, and major organs. It is often triggered by preceding illness or several immune stimulants such as immunizations, infections, allergic reactions, among others. While uncommon, arthropod bites can trigger acute ITP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWorld J Microbiol Biotechnol
January 2025
Microbiology, Botany Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta City, 31527, Egypt.
Bee venom (BV) represents a promising natural alternative to conventional antibiotics, particularly significant given its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and potential to address the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance. The prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms (AMR) is a global burden that affects human health and the economies of different countries. As a result, several scientific communities around the world are searching for safe alternatives to antibiotics.
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