Abstract
BackgroundBee venom (BV), a type of toxin extracted from honeybees (Apis mellifera), has been empirically and widely used to treat inflammatory diseases throughout Asia. Essential BV (eBV) was developed by removing phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and histamine to lower occurrence of allergic reaction. This study investigated the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activities of eBV in vitro and in vivo and its underlying mechanism of action.MethodsThe anti-inflammatory potential of eBV was assessed in vivo using a carrageenan-induced paw edema model. To further investigate the mechanism by which eBV exerts anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects, compound 48/80-stimulated RBL-2H3 cells and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells were studied in vitro.ResultsRelease of β-hexosaminidase and histamine was increased by eBV in a dose-dependent manner, but these levels were lower in eBV compared to original BV at the same concentration. In addition, eBV suppressed compound 48/80-induced expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in RBL-2H3 cells. eBV was also shown to suppress nitric oxide (NO) production by down-regulating mRNA expression and subsequent protein expression of inflammatory mediators in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Phosphorylation of activators and signal transducers of transcription 1/interferon regulatory factor 3 (STAT1/IRF3) was attenuated by eBV treatment. eBV significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced acute edema in vivo. Serum levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), TNF-α, and IL-1β were also down-regulated by eBV.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate that eBV inhibits allergic and inflammatory response by reducing inflammatory mediator production via regulation of the STAT1/IRF3 signaling pathway, suggesting that eBV is a feasible candidate for regulation of allergic-inflammatory response in complementary and alternative medicine.
Highlights
Bee venom (BV) is the toxin secreted from ovipositors of honeybees (Apis mellifera)
Release of β-hexosaminidase and histamine was increased by Essential BV (eBV) in a dose-dependent manner, but these levels were lower in eBV compared to original BV at the same concentration
Serum levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-1β were down-regulated by eBV. These results demonstrate that eBV inhibits allergic and inflammatory response by reducing inflammatory mediator production via regulation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 (STAT1)/interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) signaling pathway, suggesting that eBV is a feasible candidate for regulation of allergic-inflammatory response in complementary and alternative medicine
Summary
Bee venom (BV) is the toxin secreted from ovipositors of honeybees (Apis mellifera). It has a density of 1.3, pH of 5.2, bitter taste, and weak aromatic character. Widely accepted to be the principal active component in BV, has been shown to possess analgesic [11] and anti-inflammatory effects [12], and comprises more than 50% of BV. In an attempt to overcome such challenges, the toxin in ovipositors of living bees is extracted through electric stimulation, dried and purified. Bee venom (BV), a type of toxin extracted from honeybees (Apis mellifera), has been empirically and widely used to treat inflammatory diseases throughout Asia. This study investigated the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activities of eBV in vitro and in vivo and its underlying mechanism of action
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