48 J Pharm Chem Biol Sci, March-May2016; 4(1):48-53 Journal of Pharmaceutical, Chemical and Biological Sciences ISSN: 2348-7658 Impact Factor (GIF): 0.615 Impact Factor (SJIF): 2.092 March-May 2016; 4(1):48-53 Therapeutic Effect of Honey Bee Venom Obioma B.L. Eze 1 , Okwesili F.C. Nwodo 2 , Victor N. Ogugua 2 1 Department of Biochemistry, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria 2 Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria *Corresponding Author: Obioma B.L. Eze, Department of Biochemistry, Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria Received: 15 February 2016 Revised: 22 February 2016 Accepted: 01 March 2016 INTRODUCTION Honeybee venom is produced by two glands associated with the sting apparatus of worker and queen bees. Its production increases during the first two weeks of their life and reaches a maximum when they become involved in hive defence and foraging. It diminishes as the bee gets older [1]. The queen bee’s production of venom is highest on emergence, which allows her to be prepared for immediate battles with other queens. When a honey bee stings, it does not normally inject all of the 0.15 to 0.3 mg of venom held in a full venom sac [2]. Only when it stings an animal with skin as tough as ours will it lose its sting and the whole sting apparatus, including the venom sac, muscles and the nerve center. These nerves and muscles keep injecting Review Article ABSTRACT The practice of using honey bee or its products (raw honey, royal jelly, pollen, propolis, bee venom and bees wax) for medical conditions is known as apitherapy. Apitherapy has been practiced in many cultures whereas bee venom therapy is the use of live bee stings (or injectable venom) to treat various diseases such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, heart and blood system, skin diseases and other diseases. Honey bee venom is a complex mixture of a variety of peptides and proteins which has strong neurotoxic and immunogenic effects. It contains 18 active components, mellitin (40-50%) being the main active component has anti- inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral action. Apamine (2-3%) increases cortisol production in the adrenal gland. Adolapine (0.5-1%) acts as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic which block cyclooxygenase. The pain and swelling of the stings are caused by histamine (0.5-2%). Bee venom also contains neurotransmitter: dopamine (0.2-1%), serotonin (0.5-1%) and norepinephrine (0.1-0.5%). The component responsible for the allergic response; hyaluronidase (1-2%) and phospholipase A 2 (10-12%) and enzymes that activate immune cells and produce immunoglobin E (IgE). Mast-cell degranulating protein work to soften tissues and facilitate the flow of fluid. Protease-inhibitors (0.1-0.8%) act as anti- inflammatory and stop bleeding. The component of bee venom and its effect on human treatment are to be mention but a few. The median lethal dose (LD 50 ) is 2.8mg of bee venom per kg of body weight. Therefore bee stings are safe for treatment of human disease if carefully apply. Keyword: Apitherapy; multiple sclerosis; immunoglobin E; neurotransmitter; neurotoxin