Could Honeybee Venom Hold a Cure for Breast Cancer?

People have used bee venom as a therapy for over 5,000 years, mainly to treat arthritis, but research in recent decades has uncovered far more potential. In addition to showing anti-inflammatory properties and possible benefits against neurodegenerative diseases, honeybee venom could also hold a cure for cancer. Here’s what we’ve found so far.

Honeybee Venom and Cancer

Honeybees can have a nasty sting, but according to Mayo Clinic, they only make this aggressive move when they feel threatened. Despite their relatively docile nature, many people have a strong fear of the tiny creatures, some for good reason as they're allergic but even for others, the little buzzers strike fear into the hearts of many. But maybe it’s time we appreciated them for the friends they are.

Researchers have investigated bee venom for the potential treatment of numerous forms of cancer. While several areas have been promising, much of the recent focus has been on breast cancer, which kills about 42,690 people in the United States each year. A study published in Nature demonstrates how honeybee venom may have the ability to wipe out aggressive triple-negative and HER2-enriched breast cancer cells.

The Power of a Toxin in Treating Cancer

Honeybee venom contains several different components, but about half of its pain-inducing cocktail is composed of a toxin called melittin. Researchers believe melittin could be one key to treating aggressive, hard-to-treat forms of breast cancer. In mice with mammary carcinoma, the toxin inhibited tumor growth, reduced metastasis to the lungs and increased overall lifespan.

Interestingly, when the researchers compared the effects of melittin between healthy and cancer cells, the toxin appeared far more destructive to the cancer cells. Could it be that we will soon be injecting what amount to bee stings on purpose? Certainly, the various drug companies will take up this question but in the meantime, it's fascinating to think that tiny amounts of bee venom could save countless lives. 

Nature is full of all sorts of mysteries and surprises. Even its “darker side” could offer the potential for great healing. We tend to take for granted how awesome some of our tiniest creatures can be. They might turn out to be more important than any of us could have imagined. Thank you bees, for feeding us and now maybe also saving our lives. What heroes, huh?

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