Apitoxin

Apitoxin, or honey beevenom, 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 beesfrom a mixture of acidic and basic secretions. Apitoxin is acidic(pH4.5 to 5.5). A honeybeecan inject 0.1 mg of venom via its stinger. Apitoxin is similar to snake venomand nettle toxin. It is estimated that 1% of the population is allergic to bee stings. Apitoxin can be deactivated with ethanol.

Bee venom therapyis used by some as a treatment for rheumatismand joint diseases due to its anticoagulantand anti-inflammatoryproperties. It is also used to desensitize people allergicto insect stings.

Components of Apitoxin

The main component is melittincomprising 52% of venom peptides. Melittin is a strong anti-inflammatory agent and induces the production of cortisolin the body. It also prevents cell destruction in cases of strong inflammation.

• Apaminincreases 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 analgesicbecause it blocks cyclooxygenase.

• PhospholipaseA2 comprises 10-12% of peptides and it is the most destructive component of apitoxin. It is an enzymewhich degrades the phospholipidswhich cellular membranes are made of. It also causes decreased blood pressureand inhibits blood coagulation. Phospholipase A2 activates arachidonic acidwhich is metabolized in the cyclooxygenase-cycle to form prostaglandins. Prostaglandins regulate the body's inflammatory response. The toxin from waspscontains phospholipase A1.

• Hyaluronidasecomprising 1-3% of peptides dialates the capillariescausing the spread of inflammation.

• Histaminecomprising 0.5-2% and is involved in the allergicresponse.

• Dopamineand noradrenalinewhich comprise 1-2% increase pulse rate.

• Protease-inhibitorscomprise 2% and act as anti-inflammatory agents and stop bleeding.

See also

• Beekeeping
• Honeybee
• Hive management

External links

• Apitherapy.com
• Beelief.com]es:Apitoxina

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apitoxin Wikipedia article Apitoxin.