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

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.