engleski

Honeybee venom: compositon, quality and collecting methods

Honeybee venom is extract of worker honeybee’s venom glands produced in the first three weeks of life, while the maximum of production is between 18 and 21 day of life. It is used in folk medicine in the treatment of a variety of diseases since ancient times. Recently, some of the positive effects of honeybee venom therapy have been scientifically proved. The main component of honeybee venom is melittin, a peptide consisting of 26 amino acids, whose concentration is up to 50 % of bee venoms’ dry weight. The honeybee venom was collected in two ways: collectors installed on the hive entrance and collectors located inside the hive. Origin of the samples, collection methods and manipulation conditions have significant effect on melittin concentration in honeybee venom. Melittin concentration is used as quality and purity parameter but the quality standard as well as official method of analysis are not available yet. On the collectors inside the hive, significantly higher amount of venom was collected. The collection of venom did not influence the strength or the aggressiveness of the colonies in period after the collection.

honeybee venom ; composition ; quality ; collecting methods

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