Effect of Apis mellifera syriaca Bee Venom on Glioblastoma Cancer: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Abstract

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive and fatal primary brain tumor. The resistance of GBM to conventional treatments is attributed to factors such as the blood–brain barrier, tumor heterogeneity, and treatment-resistant stem cells. Current therapeutic efforts show limited survival benefits, emphasizing the urgent need for novel treatments. In this context, natural anti-cancer extracts and especially animal venoms have garnered attention for their potential therapeutic benefits. Bee venom in general and that of the Middle Eastern bee, Apis mellifera syriaca in particular, has been shown to have cytotoxic effects on various cancer cell types, but not glioblastoma. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the potential of A. mellifera syriaca venom as a selective anti-cancer agent for glioblastoma through in vitro and in vivo studies. Our results revealed a strong cytotoxic effect of A. mellifera syriaca venom on U87 glioblastoma cells, with an IC50 of 14.32 µg/mL using the MTT test and an IC50 of 7.49 µg/mL using the LDH test. Cells treated with the bee venom became permeable to propidium iodide without showing any signs of early apoptosis, suggesting compromised membrane integrity but not early apoptosis. In these cells, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) underwent proteolytic cleavage similar to that seen in necrosis. Subsequent in vivo investigations demonstrated a significant reduction in the number of U87 cells in mice following bee venom injection, accompanied by a significant increase in cells expressing caspase-3, suggesting the occurrence of cellular apoptosis. These findings highlight the potential of A. mellifera syriaca venom as a therapeutically useful tool in the search for new drug candidates against glioblastoma and give insights into the molecular mechanism through which the venom acts on cancer cells.