Apitoxin, or honey bee venom, is a bitter colorless liquid. The active portion of the venom is a complex mixture of proteins, which causes local inflammation and acts as an anticoagulant. The venom is produced in the abdomen of worker bees from a mixture of acidic and basic secretions. Apitoxin is acidic (pH 4.5 to 5.5). A honeybee can inject 0.1 mg of venom via its stinger. Apitoxin is similar to snake venom and nettle toxin. It is estimated that 1% of the population is allergic to bee st ...
The main component is melittin comprising 52% of venom peptides. Melittin is one hundred times stronger than cortisol as an anti-inflammatory agent. It also prevents cell destruction in cases of strong inflammation.
Apamin increases cortisol production in the adrenal gland. Apamin also acts as a nerve toxin.
Adolapin, comprising 2-5% of the peptides, acts as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic because it blocks cyclooxygenase.
Phospholipase A2 comprises 10-12% of peptides and it is the most destructive component of apitox ...
