• Journal of Apiculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.239-250
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• 2018

We investigated the pollination activity of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in terms of different climatic conditions in the greenhouse cultivation of watermelons (Citrullus lanatus L.) during winter. The aim of the study was to search a climatic condition which effectively can be use honeybees as pollinators during the flowering season of watermelons in winter or early spring. The average climatic conditions inside the greenhouse during the bee activity time (BAT)-between 10:00 and 16:00 in mid-Februarywere a temperature of $30.4^{\circ}C$, relative humidity of 53.7%, illuminance level of 22,728.4lx, and UV level of $0.233mW/cm^2$. Bee traffic and foraging activity were at their greatest at 10:00 and tended to decrease with time. Male watermelon flowers typically dehisced between 10:00 and 12:00. Climatic conditions were significantly correlated with bee activities, including bee traffic and foraging activity. Bee activities were positively correlated with temperature, illuminance level, and UV level but negatively correlated with relative humidity. Temperature had the greatest effect on honeybee behavior. Among the foraging honeybees, the number of high-flying bees that did not pollinate flowers showed a strong positive correlation with temperature, and the number of bees landing on the flowers showed a positive correlation with the UV level. The temperature range inside greenhouses at which the pollination activities of honeybees can be maintained efficiently during winter watermelon pollination was found to be $21{\sim}25^{\circ}C$.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 1988

In order to determine the approptiate usage of insecticides to honeybee(Apis mellifera L.), median effective dose to seven insecticides were studied. $LC_(50)$ value of DDT was the highest as being 58 ppm, and that of EPN was the lowest as being 1.61ppm. Various detoxifying enzymes from the midget cf adult worker bee, including microsomal oxidases, glutathione Stransferases, esterases, and DDT-dehydrochlorinase were assayed. Effects of various insecticides on microsomal enzyme activities were as follows: Aldrin epoxidase activity was inhibited by malathione and permethrin treatment. N-demethylase activity was induced by diazinon and EPN treatment and O-demethlase activity was induced by diazinon treatment. Of the glutathione S-transferases, aryltransferase(DCNB conjugation) activity was significantly induced by diazinon, and moderately induced by permethrin. Of the esterases, ${\alpha}-NA$ esterase activity was moderately inhibited by malatjione and permethrin. Acetylcholinesterase activity was not affected by the sublethal exposure of honeybee to the insecticides. Sublethal exposure of honeybee to the insecticides had no effect on DDT-dehydrochlorinase activity, except carbaryl and permethrin were significantly induced.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.365-370
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• 2017

The flowering season of jujube (Zizyphus jujuba var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder) is overlaps with the rainy season and the abnormal weather conditions in Korea, thereby affecting pollination, fertilization, and fruit setting. We studied the pollinating activities of Apis mellifera L. and Bombus terrestris L. in rain shelter houses and their effects on fruit setting, with the ultimate aim of stabilizing fruit setting in Z. jujuba. A. mellifera and B. terrestirs were used for pollination in jujube orchard in the rain shelter house for approximately 55 days from June 1, 2016, to July 25, 2016. The peak time of the rate of outgoing and incoming A. mellifera was recorded in the afternoon. However, the diurnal activity of B. terrestris was constant between 09:30 and 17:30 h. The rate of jujube fruit set on current shoots by A. mellifera and B. terrestirs was 10.2 and 8.9%, whereas that in plots with no pollinators was 5.5%. Therefore, using pollinator in the rain shelter house in jujube orchard is effective in promoting jujube fruit setting.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.109-116
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• 2018

We investigated the effects of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colony size on the pollination of greenhouse-cultivated watermelon grown under the forcing cultivation system. The highest pollination activity of bees was observed ($14.3{\pm}5.0$ honey bees/day) when the bee colony size was 10,000 followed by 7,500 and 5,000 honey bees. There was a positive correlation between the bee colony size and pollination activity (R = 0.262) but insignificant difference in fruit set with different honey bee colony sizes (88%-91%). Evaluation of physical properties revealed that the weight and shape of watermelon were also not significantly different among different colony sizes. However, larger the bee colony size, higher the number of seeds were fertilized and rate of seed fertilization (p > 0.05). Number of seeds and content of sugar were negatively correlated (R = -0.714). Fertilized seeds showed a significant increase in mealy flesh, which has a negative effect on fruit quality, compared with that of the unfertilized seeds. Overall, we found that a colony size of 5,000 honey bees was the most effective for the pollination of watermelon grown under forcing cultivation. A comparison of the effects of bee pollination with those of artificial pollination suggested that artificial pollination can be effectively replaced by bee pollination in the forcing cultivation of watermelon, because fruit set, weight, and shape by bee pollination were similar to those achieved by artificial pollination.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.228-233
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• 2017

The aim of the current study was to examine genotoxicological safety of purified bee venom (Apis mellifera L.) The bacterial reverse mutation in Salmonella typhimurium (TA100, TA1535, TA98, and TA1537) and Escherichia coli (WP2 uvrA) were evaluated with purified bee venom at concentrations of 0, 1.5, 5, 15, 50, 150, and $500{\mu}g/plate$. Purified bee venom was negative in Ames test with both in the presence and absence of rat liver microsomal enzyme. According to these results, we concluded that purified bee venom did not cause bacterial reverse mutation. The safety of the purified bee venom at practical doses needs to be further evaluated in in vivo genotoxicity assays.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.154-160
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• 2022

Background: The mango is one of the essential fruit trees for the economy of Thailand. Mango pollination relies primarily on insects. Other external forces, such as wind, are less efficient since pollen is sticky and aggregating. There is only one report from Thailand on the use of bees as mango pollinators. The study of the behavior and pollination efficiency of honey bees (Apis mellifera) and stingless bees (Tetragonula laeviceps species complex) was conducted in Nam Dokmai mango plantings in Phrao and Mae Taeng districts, Chiang Mai province, between February and March 2019. Results: Our results reveal that the honey bees commenced foraging earlier than the stingless bee. The number of flowers visited within 1 minute by honey bees was higher than that visited by stingless bees. The average numbers of honey bees and stingless bees that flew out of the hive per minute from 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the Phrao district were 4.21 ± 1.62 and 9.88 ± 7.63 bees/min, respectively, i.e., higher than those observed in Mae Taeng, which were 3.46 ± 1.13 and 1.23 ± 1.20 bees/min, respectively. The numbers of fruits per tree were significantly higher in the honey bee and stingless bee treatments (T1 and T2) than in the open pollination treatment (T3). The number of fruits between T1 and T2 treatments was not different. In the pollinator exclusion treatment (T4), no fruit was produced. Fruit size factors were not significantly different among T1, T2, and T3 treatments. Conclusions: Our results showed that insect pollination is crucial for mango production, especially with the Nam Dokmai variety in Northern Thailand. As pollinator exclusion treatment showed no fruit set, and pollinator treatment significantly increased the fruit sets compared to open access plots, a managed pollinator program would benefit the mango growers for better productivity. Both the honey bee and the stingless bee were shown to be effective as pollinators.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2012

Bee venom (Apis mellifera L., BV) has been used as a cosmetic ingredient for antiaging, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial functions. The aim of this study was to access the skin sensitization of BV, a Buehler test was conducted fifty healthy male Hartley guinea pigs with three groups; Group G1 (BV-sensitization group, 20 animals), group G2 (the positive control-sensitization group, 20 animals), and group G3 (the ethyl alcohol-sensitization group, 10 animals). The exposure on the left flank for induction was repeated three times at intervals of one week. Two weeks after the last induction, the challenge was performed on the right flank. No treatment-related clinical signs or body weight changes were observed during the study period. The average skin reaction evaluated by erythema and edema on the challenge sites and sensitization rate in the BV-sensitization group at 30 hours were 0.0 and 0%, respectively, which are substantially low compared with in positive control group (average skin reaction: 0.55, sensitization rate: 40%) and identical with in vehicle control group, representing a weak sensitizing potential. The average skin reaction and sensitization rate observed at 54 hours were 0.0 and 0% in the BV-sensitization group, respectively, and 0.25 and 20% in the positive control group, respectively. It was concluded that BV classified to Grade I, induced no sensitization when tested in guinea pigs and may provide a developmental basis for a cosmetic ingredient or external application for topical uses.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.287-292
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate effects of bee venom (Apis mellifera L.) on the calving, reproductive efficiency of Hanwoo dams and the growth performance and disease occurrence of calves. Eighty seven experimental dams were allocated into two groups, bee venom treated (n=53, BV) and non-treated (n=34, control) of Hanwoo dams in Icheon, Kyonggi province. Calving period ($14.08{\pm}4.8$) and percentages of retained placenta (7.5%) in BV was shortened compared to control ($17.2{\pm}4.3$, 14.7%, respectively. P>0.05). Post-placenta periods was similar between two groups (P>0.05). Postpartum days ($36.5{\pm}4.3$) to first estrus and calving interval ($358{\pm}18$) were shortened compared to control ($40.2{\pm}5.2$, $375{\pm}23$, respectively) but have not significantly affected (P>0.05). Body weights ($43.5{\pm}3.0$) and average daily gains (0.62) of calves before 30 days old in BV were significantly higher than control ($40.3{\pm}5.3$, 0.52, respectively). The occurrence of respiratory disease and diarrhea in BV was relatively lower compared with Control. The present results indicate that bee venom may affect reproductive efficiency of dams and growth performance of calves.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.177-183
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate the antibiotic effects of bee venom (Apis mellifera) on the growth performance and blood characteristics in broiler chicken. 1-day-old broiler chicks were randomly divided into 3 groups with 3 replicates of 5,000 birds each. The treatments were control without antibiotic and bee venom, 0.5ppm or 1ppm bee venom. The final body weight and body weight gain were significantly higher in bee venom than control (P<0.05). The feed conversion ratio in all treated groups were significantly improved as compared to that of control (P<0.05). No significant differences among the groups were observed in the contents of total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total protein, albumin and globulin in blood serum. The white blood cell, red blood cell, heterophil, lymphocyte, and stress indicator (heterophil:lymphocyte rate) were not significantly different among the groups. The superoxide dismutase-like activities in the groups that were water containing bee venom were significantly increased compared to those in the control group (P<0.05). It has been suggested that bee venom promotes the growth of broilers without any negative effect when added in broiler water.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.383-388
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• 2003

Bee venom is used as a traditional medicine for treatment of arthritis. The anti-inflammatory activity of the n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous partitions from bee venom (Apis mellifera) was studied using cyclooxygenase (COX) activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$) production, in vitro. COX-2 is involved in the production of prostaglandins that mediate pain and support the inflammatory process. The aqueous partition of bee venom showed strong dose-dependent inhibitory effects on COX-2 activity ($IC_{50} = 13.1 \mu$ g/mL), but did not inhibit COX-1 activity. The aqueous partition was subfractionated into three parts by molecular weight differences, namely, B-F1 (above 20 KDa), B-F2 (between 10 KDa and 20 KDa) and BF-3 (below 10 KDa). B-F2 and B-F3 strongly inhibited COX-2 activity and COX-2 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner, without revealing cytotoxic effects. TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$ are potent pro-inflammatory cytokines and are early indicators of the inflammatory process. We also investigated the effects of three subfractions on TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$ production using ELISA method. All three subfractions, B-F1, B-F2 and B-F3, inhibited TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$production. These results suggest the pharmacological activities of bee venom on anti-inflammatory process include the inhibition of COX-2 expression and the blocking of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-$\alpha and IL-1\beta$) production.