A team of researchers in Perth, Australia has discovered something amazing about honeybee venom. A study by the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research found that venom from honeybees can kill 100% of certain aggressive breast cancer cells within just 60 minutes without harming normal cells.
The focus was on two hard to treat breast cancer types:
• Triple negative breast cancer (known for spreading quickly and having few treatment options)
• HER2 enriched breast cancer
Both types were destroyed by the venom’s main component, a natural peptide called melittin. Melittin makes up about half of the venom’s dry weight. It works by creating tiny holes in the cancer cells, causing them to die. It also disrupts the signals cancer cells use to grow and divide.
Dr. Ciara Duffy, who led the research, said they tested venom from 312 honeybees and bumblebees in Australia, Ireland, and England. They found that honeybee venom from all three regions worked in the same way, while bumblebee venom had no effect.
What’s more, melittin can also help existing treatments work better. In the study, combining melittin with a chemotherapy drug (docetaxel) reduced tumor growth even more in tests on mice.
Western Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Peter Klinken, called the results “incredibly exciting,” showing how compounds from nature might help fight serious diseases.
This discovery is still in the research stage. More studies are needed to figure out the best way to deliver melittin safely and what doses are effective. But it opens up new hope for treating aggressive breast cancers in the future.
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