Evaluation of hemolytic activity and biochemical properties of Apis mellifera bee venom on NIH laboratory mice

Authors
Mahdi Babaie 1
Aram Ghaempanah 2
1 Young Researchers and Elites club, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Reference Laboratory of Bovine Tuberculosis, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction

Bee venom (BV) contains compounds that have biological and biochemical activitis. Therefore, purification of BV and investigation of its biochemical properties can be useful in understanding its therapeutic aspects. In the present study, the biochemical effects of Apis mellifera venom on the blood and liver of laboratory mice were investigated.

Materials and Methods

Protein concentration of Apis mellifera crude venom was determined. Purification of venom was performed with Sephadex G-50 chromatography. SDS-PAGE was used to determine the protein profile of BV and its fractions. The hemolytic activity of venom was investigated. Biochemical tests were performed in one control group (with a normal diet and without injection of venom) and three experimental groups (with injections of different venom doses).

Results

Crude venom protein concentration was about 4.1 mg/ml. The chromatogram showed three large peaks and melittin account for about 50% of the BV. By electrophoresis, it was found that the venom has compounds with a molecular weight of 3 to 90 kD, including melittin, phospholipase, hyaluronidase, acid phosphomonoesterase. The hemolytic test showed HD50 of melittin at a concentration of 0.5 μg/ml. Biochemical tests on the control and the three experimental groups showed that when venom dose increased in the three experimental groups; the group with the highest venom dose (0.1 mg/ml) showed the highest decrease in serum parameters compared to the control group.

Conclusion

BV, especially melittin, has a significant hemolytic activity and biologically very active, so it can be used to treat some diseases.
Keywords
Honey bee venom
chromatography
hemolytic activity
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