It is a cytotoxic and hemotoxic bitter colorless liquid containing proteins, which may produce local inflammation.
[5][6] Further protein components include apamin (2%), a neurotoxin, hyaluronidase (2%), which dilates blood vessels, increasing their permeability and facilitating the spread of the venom,[3] mast cell degranulating peptide (2%), tertiapin, and secapin.
[8] Mark Crislip, a practicing infectious disease specialist, examined the claims that bee venom can treat arthritis.
He was unable to "find a clean, i.e., a non-TCPM based, randomized, placebo-controlled study of bee venom in humans for the treatment [of] arthritis.
"[9] Bee venom is also considered ineffective for the treatment or prevention of cancer, with no clinical studies to date supporting such effects.