Honey bee venom can kill cancer cell membranes in just an hour says breakthrough research

Cancer has been silently wiping out millions of lives every year. The aggressive growth of cells leave no trace in the initial stage and by the time they are visible, the cancerous growth might have already reached an irreversible stage. Several researches and studies are currently underway to act upon the silent killer cancer.

One such breakthrough has been done by researchers at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and the University of Western Australia. These researchers have found that honeybee venom can kill cancerous cells.

The study, done in 2020, was published in international journal NPJ Nature Precision Oncology. It found that honeybee venom rapidly destroyed triple-negative breast cancer and HER2-enriched breast cancer cells.

“No-one had previously compared the effects of honeybee venom or melittin across all of the different subtypes of breast cancer and normal cells.

“We tested honeybee venom on normal breast cells, and cells from the clinical subtypes of breast cancer: hormone receptor positive, HER2-enriched, and triple-negative breast cancer.

“We tested a very small, positively charged peptide in honeybee venom called melittin, which we could reproduce synthetically, and found that the synthetic product mirrored the majority of the anti-cancer effects of honeybee venom,” Dr Ciara Duffy from the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and The University of Western Australia said.


For the study, the researchers examined the venom of 312 honeybees and bumblebees in Perth Western Australia, Ireland and England.

“Melittin is extremely potent”

The study found that melittin can destroy cancer cell membranes within 60 minutes and is extremely potent. Melittin was able to reduce the chemical messages of cancer cells that are essential to cancer cell growth and cell division in just 20 minutes.

The researchers also found that melittin can be used with small molecules or chemotherapies, such as docetaxel, to treat highly-aggressive types of breast cancer. The combination of melittin and docetaxel was extremely efficient in reducing tumor growth in mice.

Interesting facts about melittin, the principal component of honeybee venom

Melittin is the primary component of honeybee venom, comprising about 50% of its dry weight. It is a small, powerful peptide known for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antimicrobial properties. Melittin works by disrupting cell membranes, making it useful in scientific research, particularly in cancer treatment, where it can target and kill cancer cells. However, it also causes localized pain, swelling, and redness when injected by a bee sting. Despite its therapeutic potential, melittin can trigger allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in sensitive individuals, requiring medical attention. Ongoing research explores its use in targeted drug delivery systems.