Major Components of Clinically used Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the components of the clinically used bee venom (BV) pharmacopuncture. Methods :Two kinds of bee venom pharmacopuncture (BV-I and II), three kinds of separate purification BV (SPBV) pharmacopuncture (SPBV-I, II, and III), and apitoxin were investigated in this study. We performed a component analysis of melittin, apamin, and phospholipase A2 using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results : 1. BV-I contained approximately 40% more melittin than BV-II did. 2. In the three separate purification BV pharmacopuncture, SPBV-I, SPBV-II, and SPBV-III, phospholipase A2 content decreased remarkably. 3. The melittin content in SPBV-I increased by 5% compared to that in BV-I. 4. The amount of melittin in apitoxin was similar to that in SPBV-I. Conclusion : The compositions of the BV pharmacopuncture and separate purification BV pharmacopuncture changed depending on the collection method and concentration. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the most suitable BV for each specific medical treatment target. Furthermore, research into the composition of BV may be needed for its safe and effective use.