Bee Venom: Its Potential Use in Alternative Medicine

In recent times, bee venom (BV) from honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) has become the focus of interest as a form of alternative and preventive medicine for the treatment of a number of clinical cases such as arthritis, rheumatism, pain, cancer and a vast range of other conditions. BV contains several biochemically and pharmacologically active substances. Some of these compounds are well studied and their mechanisms of action established, despite the fact that few are undergoing clinical trials. Scientists are now performing intensive research work especially human clinical trials to improve the potential use of BV and its chemical constituents as the next drugs generation in the treatment of chronic disorders. Nevertheless, the dual effect of some bee venom components is also important in the design of future therapeutic goals. This paper gives recent evidences on the chemical and biological properties of the major components of bee venom, their underlying molecular action mechanism, and reasons of its consideration as a promising alternative medicine.