Volume 6,Issue 3
The Function of Bee Venom PLA2 and Its Impact on Immune Responses
Bee venom (BV) is the secretion that is produced by a needle device for protecting the bee from an enemy. However, BV has been applied in folk medicine for various diseases because it has many enzymes which contain anti-inflammatory or anti-cancer action. Above all, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) is a hydrolytic enzyme that cleaves membrane phospholipids and occupies up to 12% of bee venom. PLA2 has been analyzed in great detail. This minireview sets out the latest scientific evidence concerning the therapeutic effects of PLA2 in the context of diseases and provides a detailed description of the mechanisms.
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