Africanized Bee Venom (Apis mellifera Linnaeus): Neuroprotective Effects in a Parkinson’s Disease Mouse Model Induced by 6-hydroxydopamine

Abstract

This study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of the Africanized bee venom (BV) and its mechanisms of action after 6-hydroxydopamine-(6-OHDA)-induced lesion in a mice model. Prior to BV treatment, mice received intrastriatal microinjections of 6-OHDA (no induced dopaminergic neuronal death) or ascorbate saline (as a control). BV was administered subcutaneously at different dosages (0.01, 0.05 or 0.1 mg·Kg−1) once every two days over a period of 3 weeks. The open field test was carried out, together with the immunohistochemical and histopathological analysis. The chemical composition of BV was also assessed, identifying the highest concentrations of apamin, phospholipase A2 and melittin. In the behavioral evaluation, the BV (0.1 mg·Kg−1) counteracted the 6-OHDA-induced decrease in crossings and rearing. 6-OHDA caused loss of dopaminergic cell bodies in the substantia nigra pars compacta and fibers in striatum (STR). Mice that received 0.01 mg·Kg−1 showed significant increase in the mean survival of dopaminergic cell bodies. Increased astrocytic infiltration occurred in the STR of 6-OHDA injected mice, differently from those of the groups treated with BV. The results suggested that Africanized BV has neuroprotective activity in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease.

A validated extraction technique followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography‐ultraviolet analysis for the assay of melittin as an indicator component of honey bee venom in cosmeceutical products

“…Also, standard melittin was spiked in the HBV solution, and the increase in melittin peak confirmed the identification. Furthermore, the signals of apamin and phospholipase A2 were determined according to the previous experiments, which were indicated to be the other main signals appearing before melittin, respectively [33, 34]. The chromatogram of the crude HBV with 1 mg/mL concentration is represented in Figure 2.…”