The effects of bee venom production techniques on venom quality and amount

The aim of the study was collection of bee venom samples from front and inside of the hive in Anatolian honey bees (Apis mellifera anatoliaca), to determine collected bee venom amounts, analyze of the samples for apamin, phospholipase A2 and melittin, and to evaluate obtained results. Totally 20 bee venom samples were collected consist of eight of honey bee samples were collected from front of the hive and 12 bee venom samples were collected from inside of the hive. Bee venom samples were collected by two kinds of collectors that have 280cm2 (Tip I) and 480cm2(Tip II) glass surface areas for bee venom collection at midday (13:00-14:00) and evening (17:00-18:00). Bee venom samples analyzed by HPLC-DAD system for apamin, phospholipase A2 and melittin. The amounts of bee venoms were different for Tip I for between front and inside of hive, and between midday and evening, but these differences were not significant. However, the phospholipase A2 amount of venom samples collected in evening with Tip II collector was higher than amount of midday and this difference was significant (p=0.048) as statistically. Apamin, phospholipase A2 and melittin results were similar with literatures results.