STUDIES ON THE ANTINOCICEPTIVE ACTIVITY OF HONEY BEE VENOM, Apis mellifera

HENEINE L.G.D. (1), COELHO M.M. (2), BASTOS E.M. (1), MERLO L. (2), ZUMPANO A. A. C. (1), BASTOS L.F.S.B. (2)

(1) Directory of Research and Development, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil; (2) Laboratory of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil.

Venom from insects, amphibian, arthropods etc, contains toxins with antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. Venom from the honey bee Apis mellifera has traditionally been used to treat inflammatory diseases and to relieve pain. Many reports have described the antinociceptive activity of bee venom and some of its components, but no precise mechanism of action has been determined. Whole bee venom and a fraction II obtained from gel permeation chromatography were assayed for antinociceptive activity in some experimental models such as hot plate and formaldehyde injection in the paw of mice. The whole venom and the fraction, injected subcutaneously at the back of the mice, inhibited the nociceptive response induced by formaldehyde in a dose dependent manner. The nociceptive response in the hot plate model was not changed by the venom or the fraction. Neither the venom nor the fraction altered the motor coordination of mice in the rota rod assay. The results suggest a peripheral action probably by inhibition of the production or action of inflammatory mediators.

KEY WORDS: bee venom, pain, nociception, anti-nociception

FINANCIAL SUPPORT: FAPEMIG

CORRESPONDENCE TO: Luiz Guilherme Dias Heneine, Laboratório de Imunologia e Bioprodutos, Fundação Ezequiel Dias, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. Phone:+ 5531-33719437. E-mail: heneinel@funed.mg.gov.br