Hymenoptera venom has a complex relationship with the heart. The toxins in venom are known to drastically decrease heart rate, sometimes to fatal levels (Hussein et al., 2001; Prado et al., 2010). However, recent studies have shown the positive effects of hymenoptera venom on the heart. Studies suggest that bee venom could be used to increase the ATP output but raising calcium levels within mitochandria (Saleh and Saleh, 2011). Bee venom has also been shown to prevent several cardiovascular disesase including atherosclerosis and vessel restenosis.  This occurs because melittin in the venom inhibits the NF-KB pathway and surpresses platelet-derived growth factor beta receptor phosphorylation, which in turn inhibits the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cell (Son et al., 2007).

The cardiovascular effects of venom are quite similar to the anti-tumoral ones. Both rely on the protien melittin and the NF-KB pathway. Furthermore, both supress the proliferation of unwanted cells (Son et al., 2007; Park et al., 2011) .

This website was made as part of a project for Animal Physiology class at Davidson College.