Determination of physicochemical properties of naturally obtained bee venoms from Anatoli̇an honeybee (Apis mellifera Anatoliaca)

Bee venom is a pharmacologically relevant bee product. There are numerous studies on the determination of its physical properties and characterization of the chemical components of bee venom. However, there is no information available on the characterization and standardization of bee venom contents obtained from the Anatolian honey bee. Therefore, this study represents the first data about Anatolian bee venom according to our knowledge. This study exhibits a comparison of the chemical contents of two types of samples; fresh bee venoms obtained from the Anatolian honey bees and the commercial bee venoms. Three bee venom samples were collected from beekeepers in Denizli, Malatya, and Manisa, and two commercially available samples imported from China and Bulgaria were purchased. The moisture content and sugar profiles of the samples were determined using a moisture analyzer and HPLC-RID. Melittin, apamin, and phospholipase A2 contents were analyzed by HPLC-UV method. The results showed significant differences in the chemical contents of two types of samples. Commercial samples were found to contain lower amounts of apamin and melittin in the range of 0.91-1.60% and 18.76-25.35%, respectively. On the other hand, the Anatolian samples showed higher amounts of apamine and melittin in the range of 2.09-2.63% and 36.95% -43.51%, respectively. Similarly, bee venom phospholipase A2 activity was found to be higher in samples produced by beekeepers in Turkey than that of commercial samples. In local bee venom samples, phospholipase activity was in the range of 10.52-11.00%, but 6.90-9.08% in imported samples. The phospholipase A2 activities of the bee venom samples produced in Turkey were found to be significantly higher. Also, the moisture contents averaged 11.81% and 9.64% in imported samples and bee venom samples of Anatolian bees, respectively. Sugar profiles of the samples showed no significant difference in samples except that the sucrose content was higher in samples produced by the beekeepers in Turkey.