Melittin: A Natural Component of Honeybee Venom as a Potential Anti-Cancer Therapy
Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide and while chemotherapy is the main approach there are many negative associations in current treatment procedures. These include lack of selectivity, side effects and drug resistance. The hallmarks of cancer are a fundamental concept which aids the developme...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Technological University Dublin
2023-12-01
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| Series: | SURE Journal: (Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal) |
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| Online Access: | https://arrow.tudublin.ie/sure_j/vol5/iss1/2 |
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| author | Niamh Donnellan Anne M Friel |
| author_facet | Niamh Donnellan Anne M Friel |
| author_sort | Niamh Donnellan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide and while chemotherapy is the main approach there are many negative associations in current treatment procedures. These include lack of selectivity, side effects and drug resistance. The hallmarks of cancer are a fundamental concept which aids the development of new means to treat human cancers through the understanding of the acquisition of these hallmarks from cells.
Melittin is a major peptide component of bee venom which has shown to be efficacious as an anticancer agent in preclinical and animal models. Melittin has many biological functions including pore formation in the phospholipid bilayer causing cell permeability and lysis. It interacts with various biological signalling pathways which suppress tumour cells, notably, the Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and the Nuclear Factor Kappa B pathways. Despite convincing data presented, its pertinency to human studies has been met with challenges due to non-specific cytotoxicity and haemolytic capabilities. Optimisation techniques for melittin have been developed including the use of gene therapy, co-delivery and nanoparticles.
Melittin’s biological functions, the potential methods of delivery and current trends in melittin development for therapy are presented and discussed in this review. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ec465f2044640ac96ec046a85ea156e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2990-8167 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Technological University Dublin |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SURE Journal: (Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal) |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ec465f2044640ac96ec046a85ea156e2025-01-31T10:28:14ZengTechnological University DublinSURE Journal: (Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal)2990-81672023-12-015110.21427/68br-qx27Melittin: A Natural Component of Honeybee Venom as a Potential Anti-Cancer TherapyNiamh Donnellan0Anne M Friel1Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands MidwestTechnological University of the Shannon: Midlands MidwestCancer is a major cause of death worldwide and while chemotherapy is the main approach there are many negative associations in current treatment procedures. These include lack of selectivity, side effects and drug resistance. The hallmarks of cancer are a fundamental concept which aids the development of new means to treat human cancers through the understanding of the acquisition of these hallmarks from cells. Melittin is a major peptide component of bee venom which has shown to be efficacious as an anticancer agent in preclinical and animal models. Melittin has many biological functions including pore formation in the phospholipid bilayer causing cell permeability and lysis. It interacts with various biological signalling pathways which suppress tumour cells, notably, the Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and the Nuclear Factor Kappa B pathways. Despite convincing data presented, its pertinency to human studies has been met with challenges due to non-specific cytotoxicity and haemolytic capabilities. Optimisation techniques for melittin have been developed including the use of gene therapy, co-delivery and nanoparticles. Melittin’s biological functions, the potential methods of delivery and current trends in melittin development for therapy are presented and discussed in this review.https://arrow.tudublin.ie/sure_j/vol5/iss1/2melittinhoneybee venomanticancertherapy |
| spellingShingle | Niamh Donnellan Anne M Friel Melittin: A Natural Component of Honeybee Venom as a Potential Anti-Cancer Therapy SURE Journal: (Science Undergraduate Research Experience Journal) melittin honeybee venom anticancer therapy |
| title | Melittin: A Natural Component of Honeybee Venom as a Potential Anti-Cancer Therapy |
| title_full | Melittin: A Natural Component of Honeybee Venom as a Potential Anti-Cancer Therapy |
| title_fullStr | Melittin: A Natural Component of Honeybee Venom as a Potential Anti-Cancer Therapy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Melittin: A Natural Component of Honeybee Venom as a Potential Anti-Cancer Therapy |
| title_short | Melittin: A Natural Component of Honeybee Venom as a Potential Anti-Cancer Therapy |
| title_sort | melittin a natural component of honeybee venom as a potential anti cancer therapy |
| topic | melittin honeybee venom anticancer therapy |
| url | https://arrow.tudublin.ie/sure_j/vol5/iss1/2 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT niamhdonnellan melittinanaturalcomponentofhoneybeevenomasapotentialanticancertherapy AT annemfriel melittinanaturalcomponentofhoneybeevenomasapotentialanticancertherapy |