• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.111-119
• /
• 2014

Objectives : I investigated whether Bee Venom can synergistically strengthen the cytotoxic effects of NK-92 cells, enhancing the inhibition of the growth of Lung Cancer Cells including A549 and NCI-H460 through induction of death receptor dependent extrinsic apoptosis and NO generation in the Nitro-oxide pathway. Methods : Bee Venom inhibited cell proliferation of A549 or NCI-H460 Human Lung Cancer Cells as well as NK-92 Cells. Moreover, when they were co-punctured with NK cells and concomitantly treated by 3 ${\mu}g/ml$ of Bee Venom, more influence was exerted on inhibition of proliferation of A549 or NCI-H460 Human Lung Cancer Cells than BV or NK cell co-culture alone. Results : The expression of Fas, TNFR2, DR3, DR6 in A549 Lung Cancer Cells was significantly increased by co-culture of NK-92 cells and treatment of 3 ${\mu}g/ml$ of Bee Venom, compared to co-culture of NK-92 cells alone, whereas the expression of Fas, TNFR2, DR6 in NCI-H460 Lung Cancer Cells was significantly increased by co-culture of NK-92 cells, representing no synergistic effects in the co-culture of NK-92 cell and concomitant treatment of 3 ${\mu}g/ml$ of Bee Venom. Coincidently, caspase-8, a expression of pro-apoptotic proteins in the extrinsic apoptosis pathway demonstrated same results as the above. Meanwhile, In NO generation, there is little change of NO generation in co-culture of NK-92 cells with A549 cells as well as the co-culture of NK-92 cell with them and concomitant treatment of 3 ${\mu}g/ml$ of Bee Venom, whereas increase of NO generation was shown in co-culture of NK-92 cells with NCI-H460 cells as well as the co-culture of NK-92 cell with them and concomitant treatment of 3 ${\mu}g/ml$ of Bee Venom, although synergistic effects by Bee Venom was not found. Conclusions : These present data provide that Bee Venom could be useful candidate compounds to enhance lung cancer growth inhibiting ability of NK-92 cells through DR expression and the related apoptosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.181-190
• /
• 2016

Objectives : This study reports the clinical effects of Korean medical treatment on a patient with suspected diabetic muscle infarction (DMI). Methods : A patient diagnosed with spinal stenosis was suspected of DMI. The patient was treated with acupuncture, bee-venom pharmacopuncture and gastrocnemius stretching. Symptoms were evaluated by verbal numeric rating scale (vNRS), Oswestry disability index (ODI) and Manchester foot pain and disability index (MFPDI). Results : After approximately 5 weeks of Korean medical treatment, including 8 bee-venom treatments, vNRS, ODI, and MFPDI all decreased. Conclusion : The results suggest that Korean medical treatment is effective for treating pain caused by DMI.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.173-176
• /
• 2020

Sweet bee venom (SBV) causes less hypersensitivity reactions compared with whole bee venom. To determine the appropriate SBV initial dose for pharmacopuncture treatment of lower back pain, the initial dose, and the dose which caused hypersensitivity were retrospectively reviewed between January 1^st, 2017 and December 31^st, 2019. There were 523 first-visit patients who received SBV pharmacopuncture for lower back pain and 41 showed hypersensitivity. No systemic reactions were observed and localized reactions were not severe. Hypersensitivity was observed during the first (7 cases), and fifth treatments (8 cases). An initial SBV (10%) volume of 0.1 mL was used in 2 cases, 0.2 mL in 6 cases, 0.6 mL in 41 cases, and 1.2 mL in 474 cases. The hypersensitivity rate during the first and fifth treatment was 1.34% and 1.53%, respectively. As a result, 1.2 mL of SBV was considered the acceptable initial dose. However, for safer treatment, we recommend limiting the initial dose of SBV to 0.5 mL.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.254-263
• /
• 2010

Objectives : The neuroprotective effects of bee venom (BV) have been demonstrated in many studies, but bee venom has many side effects. So we used sweet bee venom (SBV), which has high molecular elements removed to reduce the side effects. I examined the neuroprotective effect of sweet bee venom in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine ($MPP^+$)-induced human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Methods : To observe the possible toxicity of SBV itself, SH-SY5Y cells were treated with SBV in various concentrations for 3 h and $MPP^+$ in concentrations (1 and 5mM) for 24h. To investigate the protective effect of SBV against $MPP^+$ toxicity, SH-SY5Y cells were pretreated with vehicle or nontoxic concentrations of SBV for 3h and the cells were not washed, followed by incubation with respective concentrations of SBV and 1 mM $MPP^+$ for 24h. To investigate the protective effect of SBV against $MPP^+$ toxicity, SH-SY5Y cells were pretreated with vehicle or nontoxic concentrations of SBV for 3h and the cells were not washed, followed by incubation with respective of SBV(0.5%), 1 mM $MPP^+$, 5uM AKT inhibitor(LY984002) and 10uM ERK inhibitor(PD98059) for 24 h. The protective effect was measured by cell viability assay. To investigate the degree of apoptosis, caspase-3 enzyme activity was measured in control, $MPP^+$, SBV+$MPP^+$. Results : SBV (0.5%) pretreatment protected the SH-SY5Y cells against $MPP^+$-induced apoptotic cell death. The cell viability was higher in the SH-SY5Y cells that were pretreated with vehicle or nontoxic concentrations of SBV than those not pretreated. The caspase-3 activity was lower in the pretreated groups than these not pretreated. ERK and AKT enzymes have a role in the neuroprotective effects of the sweet bee venom. Conclusions : The results demonstrate that SBV has a protective effect on dopaminergic neurons against $MPP^+$ toxicity. This data suggest that SBV could be a potential therapeutic tool for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease(PD).

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.324-329
• /
• 2006

Neuropathic pain syndromes resulted from peripheral nerve injury appear to be resistant to conventional analgesics like opioids. However, it has been demonstrated that acupuncture including aqua-acupuncture may be effective in managing neuropathic pain. The present study was conducted to determine if bee venom injection into acupoint ihibits neuropathic pain, which is difficult to be treated by usual analgesics. Under pentobarbital anesthesia, male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to neuropathic surgery. Two weeks after nerve injury, mechanical and cold allodynia were tested in order to evaluate the antiallodynic effects of bee venom injection into an acupoint. Intraperitoneal injection of morphine inhibited mechanical allodynia dose-dependently. Bee venom injected into Zusanli acupoint significantly inhibited mechanical and cold allodynia. These results suggest that bee venom-acupuncture as well as morphine is very effective to inhibit mechanical allodynia.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.155-165
• /
• 2006

Objectives : This study was conducted to carry out quantitative evaluation and safety of Bee Venom Acupuncture. Methods : Content analysis was done using HPLC, measurement of $LD_{50}$, and histological observations were made on the skin and muscles. Results : 1. According to HPLC analysis, each BVA-1 contained approximately $0.36{\mu}g$, and BVA-2 contained approximately $0.54{\mu}g$. But the volume of coating was so minute, slight difference exists between each needle. 2. LD50 of mouse with BVA-1 was 16 counts and this is equivalent to 640 needles/kg, making Bee Venom Acupuncture safe treatment apparatus. 3. Regardless of the number of needles, there was no sign of blood stasis or inflammation detected on the skin and muscle tissues. Conclusion : Above results indicate that the Bee Venom Acupuncture can complement shortcomings of syringe usage as a part of Oriental medicine treatment, but extensive researches should be done for further verification.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.85-90
• /
• 2009

Objectives : Sweet bee venom(SBV) is pure melittin, the main component of bee venom, made by removing another components through gel filtration chromatography and propionic acid/urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In the using SBV, 2 patients were experienced anaphylaxis by SBV. So, we reported the process of anaphylaxis and consider these situation. Methods : We observed 2 patients suffered from anaphylaxis after treated with SBV in the Korean Medical Hospital, Sangji University. Results : Though SBV was removed allergen from bee venom, it is not possible to complete prevention of anaphylactic shock in the clinics. So, Korean medical doctor using BV or SBV must be prepare the system consider a countermeasure by anaphylaxis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.169-186
• /
• 2000

To study anti-cancer effect and molecular biological mechanism of bee venom for aqua-acupuncture, the effects of bee venom on cell viability, apoptosis, and cell cycle were analyzed using MTT assay, tryphan blue assay, [3H]thymidine release assay, flow cytometric analysis, activity of caspase-3 protease activity assay, and immunocytometric analysis of PCNA. To explore whether anti-cancer effects of bee venom are associated with the transcriptional control of gene expression, quantitative RT-PCR analysis of apoptosis- and cell cycle-related genes was performed. The obtained results are summarized as follows: 1. The MTT assay demonstrated that cell viability was decreased by bee venom in a dose-dependant manner. 2. Significant induction of apoptosis was identified using tryphan blue assay, [$^3H$]thymidine release assay, and flow cytometric analysis of sub $G_1$ fraction. 3. In analysis of caspase-3 protease activity, the activity had increased significantly, in a dose-dependant manner. 4. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of the apoptosis-related genes showed that Bcl-2 and $Bcl-X_L$ were down-regulated whereas Bax was up-regulated by bee venom treatment. 5. In flow cytometric analysis of cell cycle and immunocytometric analysis of PCNA expression, cell numbers of $G_1$ phase was increased by a dose-dependant manner. 6. In quantitative RT-PCR analysis of the cell cycle-related genes, p21, p27, and p57 were increased, while Cyclin D1, CDK4, c-Myc, c-Fos, and Histone H3 were decreased. In contrast, there were no remarkable changes in expression levels of CDC2 and c-Jun.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.15-21
• /
• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the current trends in research on pharmacopuncture in Korea since 2007. Methods: A literature review was performed by using the search engines 'Science and Technology Society Village', 'Korean Studies Information Service System', 'National Discovery for Science Leaders', and 'Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System' in Korea from January 2007 to December 2013. Searched key words were 'pharmacopuncture', 'herbal acupuncture', 'aqua-acupuncture', and 'bee venom'. Finally, we selected 457 papers, including Korean experimental studies and clinical studies. Selected papers were classified according to year of publication, type of pharmacopuncture, disease & topic, research type and the publishing journal. Results: One hundred fifty pharmacopunctures were studied in 457 papers. Single compound pharmacopuncture was the most studied pharmacopuncture in experimental studies while animal-based pharmacopuncture was the most studied pharmacopuncture in clinical studies. Bee venom placed first among the various pharmacopunctures, followed by placenta, sweet bee venom, mountain-ginseng, and anti-inflammatory pharmacopunctures. Experimental research on pharmacopuncture has fallen since 2007 when 55 papers were published. However, clinical research has been increasing steadily. In clinical studies, case reports were numerous than randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Musculoskeletal diseases were the most frequently-treated diseases in studies on pharmacopuncture; among the musculoskeletal diseases, rheumatoid arthritis was the most frequently-treated disease in experimental studies and low back pain was the most frequently-treated condition in clinical studies. Since 2007, 45 different journals have published studies on pharmacopuncture, with the Journal of the Korean Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine Society having the largest number of papers on pharmacopuncture and the Journal of Pharmacopuncture the second largest number. Conclusion: The trends in research on pharmacopuncture published in studies from 2007 to 2013 were similar to those in studies published before 2006. Many studies on pharmacopuncture focused on bee venom and musculoskeletal diseases. Additional studies on diverse types of and indications for pharmacopuncture are needed.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.245-255
• /
• 2000

After observing a patient diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus from the September 21, 2000 to the January 13, 2001, the following results are obtained. Method and Result: We treated one case of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with the Korean Bee Venom Therapy and the other Oriental Medical treatments. In acupuncture therapy, Korean Bee-venom Therapy is believed to be outstanding way to treat Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Korean Bee Venom Therapy is treated on the following acupuncture points: ST36(B23(Shinsu:腎兪), BL26(Guanyuanshu:關元兪), ST36(Chok-Samni:足三里), LI4(Hapkok:合谷), LV3(Taechung), SP10(Hyolhae:血海) SP6 (Samumgyo;三陰交). In addition, CFC(Carthami Flos;紅花 and Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu;) Herbal-Acupuncture was applied on the acupucture points of GB20(Pungji: 風池), GB21(Kyonjong:), as well as BUM(It was made of Boviscalculus(牛黃), Moschus and Fel ursi Herbal-Acupuncture was given on CV17(Chonjung). In herbal medication, based on the Sasang Constitution, Taeyumin Chungsimyunja-Tang was given to the patient. As the results of these treatments, general conditions of this patient improved drastically. Conclusion: Based on the clinical results, traditional Korean Medical treatment is believed to be effective for treating Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and futher studies should be carried out to provide more valuable information.