Document Type : Scientific Report
Authors
1
Department of Human Bacterial Vaccine, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
2
Purification laboratory, Department of Research and Development, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
3
3 Department of Aerobic Vaccine, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
4
4 Department of honey bee, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
5
2 Purification laboratory, Department of Research and Development, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
10.22092/ari.2026.370535.3820
Abstract
Introduction
Honey bee (Apis mellifera) venom, known as apitoxin, is increasingly recognized as a promising natural anticancer agent due to its bioactive components, primarily melittin, phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂), and hyaluronidase. However, venom composition and biological activity are influenced by environmental factors, including climate, temperature, humidity, and season.
Objective
This study aimed to characterize the biochemical properties and in vitro anticancer activity of bee venom collected in spring and autumn 2023 from five Iranian provinces representing diverse climate zones: Alborz (cold semi-arid), Ardabil (cold mountainous), Fars (hot semi-arid/warm wet), Hormozgan (hot desert/arid), and Mazandaran (humid subtropical/coastal).
Materials and Methods
Venom was collected non-lethally via electric stimulation from healthy hives. Composition was analyzed using SDS-PAGE, reverse-phase HPLC (RP-HPLC) for melittin quantification, and mass spectrometry for confirmation. Biological activities were evaluated through hemolytic assays, colorimetric PLA₂ assays, turbidometric hyaluronidase assays, and MTT cytotoxicity tests on human cancer cell lines (AGS gastric adenocarcinoma, Panc-1 pancreatic carcinoma, DLCL-2 B-cell lymphoma, HT-29 colon adenocarcinoma, HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma, and A549 lung adenocarcinoma).
Results
Melittin content ranged from 59.25% to 72.85% of dry weight, with the highest in Hormozgan autumn samples (72.85%), exceeding typical global ranges (40–60%). Pronounced seasonal variation occurred in Fars (~20% autumn increase). Autumn samples generally showed higher PLA₂ and hyaluronidase activities. Cytotoxicity was stronger in autumn venoms, particularly from warmer regions (Hormozgan, Fars), with CC₅₀ values <1–2 µg/well against DLCL-2, AGS, and Panc-1 lines, correlating with elevated melittin levels. Hemolytic activity remained consistent across samples.
Conclusion
Iranian bee venom demonstrates potent anticancer activity in vitro, with composition and efficacy significantly varying by region and season—favoring autumn collections from hot-arid zones. These findings underscore environmental influences on venom potency and support optimized, region-specific harvesting for potential therapeutic applications in oncology.
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