Antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of gamma irradiated honey bee venom

This study was done to assess the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effect of raw and irradiated bee venom. Bee venom samples were irradiated at doses of 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 kGy using gamma irradiator. Antimicrobial characteristic of raw and irradiated venom was determined using well diffusion assay. 300 µl of sample was poured in well and diameter of the clear zone of inhibition of growth for the bacteria and fungi was measured. Anti-inflammatory effect of venom was assessed using injection of formalin 2.5% in paw of rats. 24 rats was assigned to 6 treatments and 4 replicates for measurement of IL-6 and IL-10 in blood of rats. Raw and irradiated venom were injected to rats at a dose of 1mg/kg BW and blood sample was taken after 2, 4 and 6h, then serum was separated. Spleen was removed and hold in liquid nitrogen until gene expression analysis of IL-6 and IL-10. Data were analyzed based on randomized complete block design using SAS software. Irradiation of bee venom had no negative effect on antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory characteristics (P>0.05). IL-6 and IL-10 gene expression in spleen samples in rats taken 6, 48 and 72h post injection down regulated for venom irradiated doses of 4, 6 and 8 kGy compared with the control and dose of 2 kGy (P<0.05). Also, IL-6 and IL-10 gene expression down regulated in spleen samples of rats taken after 72h as compared with those taken 6 and 48h (P<0.05). There were no differ among serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 in raw venom and irradiated at doses of 2, 4 and 6 kGy (P>0.05), but serum level of IL-6 increased (P<0.05) in those received 8 kGy irradiated venom compared with the control and other treatments. Based on the results of this study, gamma irradiation at dose of 6 kGy could applicable for honey bee venom processing without negative effects on positive venom characteristics.