본 연구는 설치모델 동물에서 봉독의 항통각 효과를 평가하고, 한국산 봉독과 미국산 봉독의 항통각 효과를 비교하는 것이 주된 관심이다. 한국산 봉독은 특별히 고안된 봉독 추출기를 사용하여 일벌 (Apis mellifera L.)에 전기충격을 가하여 생봉독을 수집하였으며, 수집된 생봉독은 봉독 건조기를 이용하여 봉독을 건조하였다. 미국산 봉독은 미국 시그마회사에서 상업적으로 판매되는 건조 봉독을 이용하였다. 한국산 봉독과 미국산 건조봉독을 생리식염수에 희석하여 체중 kg당 6 mg과 0.6 mg, 0.06 mg을 마우스와 랫드에 피하로 투여하여 항진통 효과를 조사하였다. 항통각 효과는 한국산 봉독과 미국산 봉독은 서로 비슷하였으며, 봉독의 용량이 많을수록 항통각 효과가 크게 나타났다. 이상의 결과에서 한국산 건조 봉독은 통증 치료에 사용될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.
Experiments were undertaken to assess the antinociceptive effect of bee venom (BV) in rodent animal models. Comparison of antinociceptive efficacy between Korean BV and commercially available American BV was the primary interest of the study. Korean BV was collected using BV collector devices in which an electrical impulse is used to stimulate the worker bee (Apis mellfera L.) to sting and release venom. After collection, whole BV was evaporated until dry using the BV collector. Commercially available dried American BV was purchased from Sigma Company in USA. Korean and American sourced BVs were diluted and amounts of 6 mg/kg body weight (BW), 0.6 mg/kg BW and 0.06 mg/kg BW were tested. BV was subcutaneously injected to produce an antinociceptive effect and the antinociceptive efficacy was evaluated using a writhing test in mice and a formalin test in rats. The antinociceptive effects of the two BVs tested were similar in mice for visceral pain and showed a dose-dependent response. The antinociceptive effect of Korean BV was not significantly different compare to American BV. These results suggest that Korean BV may be used to achieve an antinociceptive effect for use in medical therapies.
