Benefits of Bee Venom on RA

[Guest guest]

[Mercola's blog post followed by linked press article & scientific

reference]

 

The Wonderful Benefits of Bee Venom on RA

http://www.mercola.com/blog/2004/nov/4/the_wonderful_benefits_of_bee_venom_on_ra

 

You may recall a number of stories I've posted about bee venom as an

alternative protocol with which to treat Lyme disease. In fact, Lyme

disease is similar to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in many ways. This link

probably has much to do with conventional doctors joining with holistic

practitioners over the years to explore the potential of bee venom for

treating a wide variety of conditions from acute tendonitis to RA.

 

Although previous research has established the anti-arthritic effects of

bee venom, much about the way it worked had been a mystery. That is,

until recent work by a team of South Korean researchers who investigated

the molecular mechanisms behind bee venom's therapeutic impact on RA

and, specifically, melittin, a major component of bee venom and a

powerful anti-inflammatory agent.

 

In the first phase of their experiments, scientists discovered treatment

with bee venom at very low doses resulted in dramatic reductions of

tissue swelling and osteophyte formation on affected paws of rats with

advanced RA. Researchers examined the anti-inflammatory effects of bee

venom on synovial cells -- cells lining the joints -- obtained from

human RA patients in a second phase focusing on melittin, bee venom's

principal peptide.

 

Melittin's power to block the expression of inflammatory genes,

scientists said, is much like COX-2 inhibitor drugs used to treat RA.

And it works to effectively to reduce inflammation by inhibiting

critical DNA binding activity which directly controls a number of genes

involved in immune reactions.

 

Thus, Melittin's targeted inactivation of inflammation may hold the key

to the anti-arthritic effects of bee venom.

 

EurekAlert November 4, 2004

Public release date: 4-Nov-2004

Contact: David Greenberg

dgreenbe

201-748-6484

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

 

The anti-arthritic effects of bee venom

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-11/jws-tae102804.php

 

Study reveals how melittin in venom blocks inflammation

 

Since ancient times, healers have practiced apitherapy, the use of

honeybee products for curative purposes. Within the last few decades,

conventional doctors have joined holistic practitioners in exploring the

potential of bee venom for treating a wide variety of conditions from

acute tendonitis to chronic back pain to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

While research has established anti-arthritic effects of bee venom, much

about the way bee venom work remains a mystery.

 

A team of researchers in South Korea recently conducted an investigation

into the molecular mechanisms behind bee venom's therapeutic impact on

RA, a chronic, destructive inflammatory disease. The November 2004 issue

of Arthritis & Rheumatism

(http://www.interscience.wiley.com/journal/arthritis) presents their

insights into melittin, a major component of bee venom and a powerful

anti-inflammatory agent.

 

To gain a better understanding of bee venom's potential benefits for RA

patients, the researchers examined its action in rat treated to induce

inflammatory arthritis. For rats with advanced RA, treatment with bee

venom at very low doses resulted in dramatic reductions of tissue

swelling and osteophyte formation on affected paws. " Although the issue

for determination of an effective dose is needed for further study, "

observes one of the authors, Jin Tae Hong, M.D., Ph.D. " Our data show

that the anti-arthritic effects of bee venom are related to the

anti-inflammatory effects of bee venom. "

 

In the next phase of their study, researchers examined the

anti-inflammatory effects of bee venom on synovial cells – cells lining

the joints– obtained from human RA patients. Their experiments focused

on melittin, bee venom's principal peptide. They observed melittin's

power to block the expression of inflammatory genes, much like COX-2

inhibitor drugs used to treat RA. Melittin effectively reduces

inflammation by inhibiting the critical DNA binding activity of NF-kB

(Nuclear Factor kappa B), which directly controls a number of genes

involved in immune reactions. Thus, Melittin's targeted inactivation of

inflammation may hold the key to the anti-arthritic effects of bee venom.

 

" The potency of melittin in the inhibition of the inflammatory response

may be of great benefit in degenerative and inflammatory diseases such

as RA, " concludes Dr. Hong. " The extent of inhibitory effects of

melittin in most parameters determined in the present study is similar

to or greater than bee venom itself, suggesting that melittin may be a

major causative component in the pharmacologic effects of bee venom. "

 

###

 

Article: " Antiarthritic Effect of Bee Venom: Inhibition of Inflammation

Mediator Generation by Suppression of NF-êB Through Interaction With the

p50 Subunit, " Hye Ji Park, Seong Ho Lee, Dong Ju Son, Ki Wan Oh, Ki Hyun

Kim, Ho Seub Song, Goon Joung Kim, Goo Taeg Oh, Do Young Yoon, and Jin

Tae Hong, Arthritis & Rheumatism, November 2004; 50:11; pp. 3504-3515

(DOI: 10.1002/art.20626).