Angry bees' produce higher quality venom that could help against Parkinson's, osteoarthritis: study

Angry bees' produce higher quality venom than mild bees, which could help in the fights against Parkinson's and osteoarthritis, study says

'Angry' honeybees produce better venom than docile ones, according to a new study
Experts found there are 99 bee venom proteins and the more protein in the venom, the higher quality it is
'Angry bees' reacted better to the researchers' electrical stimulating devices that produced a 'minimal shock' to the bees
Warmer temperatures also resulted in 'lower venom production,' experts said
The venom came from domesticated honeybees in southwestern, Australia

Published: 19:37 BST, 16 August 2021 | Updated: 19:37 BST, 16 August 2021

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The sting from a honeybee may not feel like warm apple pie, but researchers at Curtin University in Australia have discovered that angry bees produce better venom, which could help in the fight against Parkinson's and osteoarthritis, according to a new study.

In looking at bees at multiple sites, the researchers found there are 99 bee venom proteins - one-third that have previously been identified - and the more protein in the venom, the higher quality it is.

'Angry' honeybees produce better venom than docile ones and used to fight against Parkinson's and osteoarthritis, according to a new study

The so-called 'angry bees,' those that are considered more active, reacted better to the researchers' electrical stimulating devices, created with a glass plate and an electrical pulse system that produced a 'minimal shock' to the bees.

'A compelling behavioral factor was revealed by the association between docile and active bees,' the study's lead author, Dr Daniela Scaccabarozzi, from Curtin's School of Molecular and Life Sciences, said in a statement.

'Interestingly, we discovered that the 'angry bees' that reacted intensively to our stimulating devices produced a richer, more protein-dense bee venom.'

Scaccabarozzi continued: 'The overall quantity of venom released by bees relies on the alarm pheromone secretion that induces other bees to aggressively react by stinging. This may be a result of changes in genetics that can provoke aggression in bees.'

The healing properties of bee venom have been known for some time. Some have used it for chronic injuries, due to its enzymes and peptides that can treat inflammation and central nervous system diseases, such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and others.

Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with Parkinson's each year, with more than 10 million across the world suffering from the disease, according to the Parkinson's Foundation.

Osteoarthritis, conversely, impacts over 32.5 million US adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Experts found there are 99 bee venom proteins and the more protein in the venom, the higher quality it is

The venom came from domesticated honeybees, Apis Mellifera Ligustica, from 25 hives near Harvey in southwestern, Australia.

The researchers also found that warmer temperatures resulted in 'lower venom production,' Dr Scaccabarozzi explained.

'This met our expectation that seasonal factors do cause a change in the protein profile of bee venom. The optimal range for high protein diversity varies from 33 to 36˚C.'

The researchers also found that geographic location impacted the composition of the bee venom.

In one of the sites, at Byford, Australia, there was a significant difference in bee venom compared to the two extreme sites, Chittering and Harvey.

'Angry bees' reacted better to the researchers' electrical stimulating devices that produced a 'minimal shock' to the bees

'This geographical evidence suggests that exogenic site factors definitely warrant further work to enable effective control of product quality and to design cost-effective strategies for BV harvest,' the researchers wrote in the study.

The price of bee venom can vary widely, ranging from $30 per gram on the low-end to as high as $300 per gram, according to Bee Venom Lab.

The research was published in June in the scientific journal PLOS One.

The experts say further research is needed to help beekeepers meet the demand for bee venom, which is used for a variety of different use cases, including face creams, therapeutics.

It has also been used in treating certain conditions, including arthritis and eczema.

Bee venom has also been used to treat certain types of cancer, researchers have found.