Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.2478/10004-1254-60-2009-1896
Evaluation of the Cytogenetic Status of Human Lymphocytes After Exposure to a High Concentration of Bee Venom In Vitro
Verica Garaj-Vrhovac
; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Mutagenesis Unit, Zagreb, Croatia
Goran Gajski
; Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Mutagenesis Unit, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Several studies have reported radioprotective, antimutagenic, anti-infl ammatory, antinociceptive, and anticancer effects of bee venom both in the cell and the whole organism. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a single high dose of 100 µg mL-1 of whole bee venom in human lymphocytes in vitro over a variety of time spans (from 10 min to 24 h). After the treatment, we used the comet assay and micronucleus test to see the effect of bee venom on the cell. The comet assay confi rmed that the venom damaged the DNA molecule. Tail length, tail intensity, tail moment showed a signifi cant increase (P<0.05). The percentage of long-tailed nuclei (LTN) with the tail length exceeding the 95th percentile also increased in a time-dependent manner. The micronucleus parameters (number of micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges, and nuclear buds) also showed a signifi cant time-dependent increase (P<0.05). This research indicates that high concentrations of bee venom can lead to cellular instability. Further research is needed to understand the mechanism of action of bee venom and its components in human cells and to see if this natural product may fi nd application in medicine.
Keywords
comet assay; DNA damage; in vitro studies; melittin; micronucleus test
Hrčak ID:
34844
URI
Publication date:
27.3.2009.
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