Effects of Sweet Bee Venom on the Central Nervous System in Rats: Use of a Functional Observational Battery

(7) Journal of Pharmacopuncture, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 19∼45, 2011

Effects of Sweet Bee Venom on the Central Nervous System in Rats: Use of a Functional Observational Battery

Joong Chul An, Ki Rok Kwon

Abstract

Objectives: This study was performed to analyze the effects of Sweet Bee Venom (Sweet BV-pure melittin, the major component of honey bee venom) on the central nervous system in rats.

Methods: All experiments were conducted at Biotoxtech Company, an institution authorized to perform non-clinical studies, under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Male rats, 5 weeks old, were chosen for this study, and after the condition of the rats had been confirmed to be stable, Sweet BV was administered in the thigh muscle of the rats, and the effects of Sweet BV on the central nervous system were checked using a functional observational battery (FOB), which is a neuro-toxicity screening assay composed of 30 descriptive, scalar, binary, and continuous endpoints. Home cage observations, home cage removal and handling activities, open field activity, sensorimotor reflex tests/physiological measurements were conducted.

Results:

• 1. In the home cage observation, no abnormal signs were observed in the rats.

• 2. In the observation of open field activity, a reduced number of unit areas crossed and a reduced rearing count were observed to be caused by the Sweet BV treatment.

• 3. In the observation of handling reactivity, no abnormal signs were observed in the rats.

• 4. In the observation of sensorimotor reflex tests/physiological measurements, no neurotoxic signs were observed in the rats.

• 5. In the measurement of rectal temperature, treatment with Sweet BV did not have a great influence on the body temperature of the rats.

Conclusions: The above findings suggest that Sweet BV is a relatively safe treatment for the central nervous system, but overdoses of Sweet BV may cause local pain and disturb movement. Further studies on the subject should be conducted to yield more concrete evidence.

Key Words: melittin; Sweet Bee Venom; functional observational battery (FOB); central nervous system