Composition of Bee Venom

Enzymes

• Enzymes are proteins that help catalyze specific reactions. Bee venom has five enzymes that are phospholipase A2 and B, hyaluronidase, phosphatase and glucosidase. Of the enzymes, phospholipase A2 is the highest, ranging between 10 to 12 percent of dry venom.

Peptides

• Peptides are small proteins containing at least two amino acids. Bee venom contains 10 different peptides. The most common is melittin, which is also the main component of bee venom composing 40 to 50 percent of the total bee venom. According to the Natural Honey website many of the peptides present in bee venom - melittin, apamin, adolapin and protease inhibitors - are used as anti-inflammatories.

Biogenic Animes

• Three biogenic animes, histamine, dopamine and noradrenalin, also called neurotransmitters, are present in small quantities in bee venom. Histamine is closely linked to allergic reactions, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health. Dopamine is a major component in the coordination of body movement and is also believed to be involved in motivation, reward and reinforcement. Noradrenalin has been linked to sleep and wakefulness, attention and feeding behavior.

Other Components

• The remaining components of bee venom include amino acid, sugars and minerals. The amino acid present in bee venom is aminobutyric acid, which is part of GABA, a neurotransmitter. Bee venom contains both fructose and glucose sugars. The minerals present in bee venom include phosphorus, calcium and magnesium.