The Effects of Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture on Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Ischemic Cerebral Damage in Mice

Background The therapeutic potential of Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture (BVP) on acute ischemic cerebral infraction was determined in mice in vivo and in vitro. Methods Analysis of acute ischemic cerebral infraction was performed using 7 week old male ICR mice (n = 20) and microglial BV-2 cells. Bee venom (5 μg/kg) was injected into the caudal vein of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) mice (1 hour after reperfusion, 3 hours after MCAo probe insertion), and also used to treat LPS-stimulated microglial BV-2 cells (1, 2, 5 μg/mL). Markers of inflammation were monitored. Results NO declined statistically significantly in BVP treated MCAo mice compared to the untreated MCAo group (p < 0.05). Compared to the MCAo group, the BVP-treated MCAo group showed a decreased production volume of malondialdehyde, but an increased glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio. Compared to the untreated MCAo group, the BVP treated MCAo group showed a statistically significant decline in TNF and IL-1β levels (p < 0.05). BVP inhibited the levels of p65, p50, p-IκB-α, and levels of p-ERK1/2, p-JNK2, p-P38 declined. Conclusions BVP is effective at dampening the inflammatory response in vivo and in vitro and may supplement rt-PA treatment.