Honey Bee Dry Venom Reduces Hepatitis B Virus Surface Antigen Secretion in PLC/PRF/5 Cell Line

Abstract

Background and Aims: Currently, many efforts are directed toward functional Hepatitis B virus (HBV) treatment. This is achievable by suppression of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) secretion. In this regard, use of natural products has been the areas of interest by scientific communities.  Materials and Methods: Dried Honey Bee venom was extracted for assessing its anti-HBsAg secretion potential. Hepatoma cell-derived PLC/PRF/5 was propagated in complete medium. The cell line was treated by a serial dilution of Bee venom. Cell cytotoxicity (IC50) was measured by MTT colorimetric assay at three post-treatment times. HBsAg secretion was evaluated from PLC/PRF/5 supernatant treated by under-cytotoxic concentrations of Bee venom by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.  Results: The results indicated that dried Bee venom extract is able to reduce secretion of HBsAg from the cell line with Selectivity Index (SI) of eight. Reduced levels of HBsAg were in dose-dependent manner and it was in its lower concentrations at 8 ppm after 12 hr post treatment. The IC50 was observed to be 63.78 ppm. Conclusions: The Bee venom has anti-HBV activity. The way we used under-cytotoxic concentration of Bee venom, the HBsAg secretion was restored after 24 hr post treatment. Furthermore, mechanism of action of Bee venom in reducing HBsAg level needs to be further investigated.