• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.10 no.2 s.23
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• pp.47-55
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• 2007

Objectives : To verify pain relief effects and allergy inhibitory action for the osteoarthritis of the knee joint in Sweet Bee Venom in which allergy causing enzyme is removed. Methods : We randomly allocated 36 participants to treatment group Sweet Bee Venom and Bee Venom. Outcomes on pain reduction were measured by 100mm VAS(Visual Analog Scale). And we recorded into details allergic responses during Pharmacopuncture treatment. Results : Whole body condition and pain rate through VAS measurement were improved significantly in 2 weeks. We could get difference in pain score of two Pharmacopuncture groups significantly in 2 weeks. BV group showed superior reduction in pain compared to the Sweet BV group. But we could not get difference in whole score of two pharmacopuncture groups significantly. On the other hand other allergic responses such as edema, itchiness, pain were significantly lower in the Sweet BV group.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.9 no.3 s.21
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• pp.97-104
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was conducted to compare antibacterial activities and free radical scavenging activity between the Bee Venom and Sweet Bee Venom in which the allergy-causing enzyme is removed. Methods : To evaluate antibacterial activities of the test samples, gram negative E. coli and gram positive St. aureus were compared using the paper disc method. For comparison of the antioxidant effects, DPPH(1,1-diphenyl-2picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances(TBARS) assay were conducted. Results : 1. Antibacterial activity against gram negative E. coli was greater in the Sweet Bee Venom group than the Bee Venom group. 2. Antibacterial activity against gram positive St. aureus was similar between the Bee Venom and Sweet Bee Venom groups. 3. DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the Bee Venom group showed 2.8 times stronger than that of the Sweet Bee Venom group. 4. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation of the Bee Venom group showed 782 times greater than that of the Sweet Bee Venom group. Conclusions : The Bee Venom group showed outstanding antibacterial activity against gram positive St. aureus, and allergen-removed Sweet Bee Venom group showed outstanding antibacterial activity against both gram negative E. coli and gram positive St. aureus. For antioxidant effects, the Bee Venom was superior over the Sweet Bee Venom and the superiority was far more apparent for lipid peroxidation.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.37-47
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• 2011

Objective : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture on the post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain. Methods : 40 patients with post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain were randomly divided into 2 groups : study group(sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture treatment group, n=21) and Control group(normal saline treatment group, n=19). They were monitored for 4 weeks, followed up with visual analog scale(VAS), pain rating score(PRS), painless passive shoulder range of movement(PROM) and Fugl-Meyer Motor assessment(FMMA) at before treatment(T0), after 2 weeks(T2) and after 4 weeks(T4). Results : 1. Study group and control group showed pain decrease, but study group showed more significant effectiveness in VAS and PRS than control group. 2. Although there is no significant difference in PROM between study group and control group, both groups showed increase of PROM, and study group had some effectiveness on abduction and flexion as the treatment progresses. 3. There is no significant difference in FMMA between study group and control group. Conclusions : This study suggests that sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture has significant analgesic effect on the post-stroke hemiplegic shoulder pain. And it seems that sweet bee venom pharmacopuncture can be applicable to improve PROM in hemiplegia patients with stroke. Further studies based on larger population and long term follow-up are needed to confirm this suggestion.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.25-31
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effect of four pharmacopuncture drugs (scolopendrid, Calculus Bovis-Fel Uris-Moschus (BUM), bee venom 25%, and sweet bee venom 10%) on the cerebral hemodynamics, including changes in the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and in the mean arterial blood pressure (MABP). Methods: The changes in the rCBF and the MABP were determined by using a laser-Doppler flowmeter and a pressure transducer, respectively. Results: Scolopendrid (0.3 ml, 1 ml/kg) caused no significant changes in the rCBF and the MABP, whereas BUM (0.3 ml, 1 ml/kg) decreased the rCBF and the MABP, bee venom 25% (0.3 ml, 1 ml/kg) increased the rCBF and lowered the MABP, and sweet bee venom 10% (0.3 ml, 1 ml/kg) increased the rCBF and had no significant effect on the MABP. Conclusions: The rCBF and the MABP were influenced differently by the administration of various pharmacopunctures. Further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.10 no.2 s.23
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• pp.81-86
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was conducted to carry out quantitative evaluation and safety of Sweet Bee Venom. Methods : Content analysis was done using HPLC, measurement of LD$^{50}$ was conducted intravenous, subcutaneous, and intramuscular injection to the ICR mice. Results : 1. According to HPLC analysis, removal of the enzymes containing phospholipase A2 was successfully rendered on Sweet Bee Venom. And analyzing melittin content, Sweet Bee Venom contained 12% more melittin than Bee Venom. 2. LD$^{50}$ of ICR mice with Sweet Bee Venom was more than 20mg/kg in subcutaneous injection and intravenous injection, between 15mg/kg and 20mg/kg in muscular injection. 3. LD$^{50}$ of ICR mice with Bee Venom was between 6 and 9mg/kg in subcutaneous injection and intravenous injection, and more than 9mg/kg in muscular injection. Conclusion : Above results indicate that Sweet Bee Venom was more safe than Bee Venom and the process of removing enzymes was well rendered in Sweet Bee Venom.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.55-62
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• 2008

Objective Sweet bee venom is made by removing allergen from the bee venom through gel filtration chromatography and propionic acid/urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The aim of this study was to verify allergy inhibitory action in Sweet Bee Venom(SBV) and New Sweet Bee Venom(NSBV) removed enzymes and compounds of low molecular weight. Methods 84 healthy adult men and women were selected through a survey whom had never received the bee venom therapy in the past. The concentration of Normal Saline, SBV and NSBV pharmacopuncture was equally at 0.1mg/mL and the experiment was conducted as the double blind test. Results Participants of the study was comprised of 63 men and 21 women with the average age of 28.3 years. According to results of pain sense, SBV group showed significant higher score compared with NS group and NSBV group using VAS in treating time. And SBV and NSBV group showed significant higher score compared with NS group after 30 minutes. Other allergic responses were insignificant between the groups. Conclusions As a result of removed allergen and compounds of low molecular weight, NSBV significantly inhibits pain sense in treating time compared with SBV. This indicates wider and easier application of NSBV for the useful application in clinical treatment. Further comparative studies should be conducted to yield more objective verification.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.85-89
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• 2007

Objective The aim of this study is to investigate if Sweet Bee Venom therapy has the equal effect in comparison with Bee Venom Therapy on Low back pain with Radiation pain. Methods Clinical studies were done 24 patients who were treated low back pain with radiation pain to Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibusition, of Oriental Medicine Se-Myung University from April 1, 2007 to September 30, 2007. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups ; Bee Venom treated group(Group A, n=10), Sweet Bee Venom treatred group(Group B, n=14). In Bee Venom treated group(Group A), we treated patients with dry needle acupuncture and Bee Venom therapy. In Sweet Bee Venom treatred group(Group B), we treated patients with dry needle acupuncture and Sweet Bee Venom therapy. All process of treatment were performed by double blinding method. To estimate the efficacy of controlling pain. we checked Visual Analog Scale(VAS). For evaluating functional change of patients, Straight Leg Raising Test(S.L.R.T) was measured. Results 1. In controlling pain, Sweet Bee Venom treatred group(Group B) had similar ability in comparison with Bee Venom treated group(Group A). 2. In promoting function, Sweet Bee Venom treatred group(Group B) had similar ability in comparison with Bee Venom treated group(Group A). Conclusions It may be equal effects as compared with using Bee Venom to treat low back pain with radiation pain using Sweet Bee Venom. We can try to treat other disease known to have effect with Bee Venom.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.23-32
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was performed to examine the antigenic potential of pure melittin (Sweet Bee Venom - SBV) extracted from the bee venom by utilizing protein isolation method of gel filtration. Methods: All experiments were conducted at Biotoxtech (Chungwon, Korea), authorized a non-clinical studies institution, under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Antigenic potential of SBV was examined by active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA) and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in guinea pigs. SBV was subcutaneously administered at 0.07 and 0.28mg/kg and also as a suspension with adjuvant (Freund's complete adjuvant: FCA). Ovalbumin (OVA) as a suspension with adjuvant was used to induce positive control response ($5mg/m{\ell}$-FCA). Results: 1. In the ASA test, experimental groups showed some symptoms of anaphylaxis like piloerection, hyperpnea and staggering gait. 2. In the PCA test, low dosage group did not show any antibody responses, whereas high dosage group showed positive responses. 3. In the weight measurement and clinical observation, experimental groups didn't show any significant changes compared with control group. 4. In the autopsy of body, the abnormalities of lung were detected in the corpse. This means that the cause of death may induced anaphylactic shock. Conclusions: Above findings suggested that SBV had antigenic potential in guinea pig. Further studies on the subject should be conducted to yield more concrete evidences.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.47-53
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was performed to analyse the effects of Sweet Bee Venom(SBV-purified melittin supported by G&V Co., the major component of honey bee venom) on the respiratory system in rats. Methods: All experiments were conducted at Biotoxtech Company, a non-clinical studies authorized institution, under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice(GLP). Male rats of 5 weeks old were chosen for this study and after confirming condition of rats was stable, SBV was administered in thigh muscle of rats in 0.175, 0.35 and 0.7 mg/kg dosage. And checked the effects of SBV on the respiratory system using the whole body plethysmography. And respiratory rate, tidal volume and minute volume of rats were checked after administered SBV (melittin). Results: 1. In the measurement of respiratory rate, there were not observed any significant differences compared with control group. 2. In the measurement of tidal volume, there was not observed any significant differences compared with control group. 3. In the measurement of minute volume, 0.35mg/kg dosage group showed significant differences compared with control group. But we estimated that this result was caused by individual differences. Conclusions: Above findings suggest that SBV seems to be safe treatment in the respiratory system of rats. And further studies on the subject should be conducted to yield more concrete evidences.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.59-61
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this case report are to introduce an Anaphylaxis occurred when using Sweet Bee Venom (SBV) and common Bee Venom (CBC) at the same time and a risk when used SBV and CBC together without skin test. Methods: A patient, an Anaphylaxis occurred when treated her with SBV and CBC at the same time without additional skin test, we observed the progress of the Anaphylaxis with care for her. Results & Conclusions: The Anaphylaxis in the patient was taken a turn for the better by emergency response. Based on this case, Sometimes the use of SBV and CBC at the same time without skin test can be dangerous, and to avoid the risk when used CBC together, in advance allergy test should be conducted.