Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
7.5
3.9
Journals
Toxins
Special Issues
Clinical Evidence for Therapeutic Effects and Safety of Animal Venoms
share announcement

Clinical Evidence for Therapeutic Effects and Safety of Animal Venoms

A special issue of Toxins (ISSN 2072-6651). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Venoms".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 4885

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gihyun Lee

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, 67 Dongshindae-gil, Naju 58245, Republic of Korea
Interests: venom; drug discovery; pharmacology; herbal medicine; immune response
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Soo-Hyun Sung

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Department of Policy Development, National Institute of Korean Medicine Development, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Interests: endometriosis; infertility; pain management; herbal medicines; pharmacopuncture (herbal acupuncture)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bee venom therapy is used to treat musculoskeletal diseases (e.g., low back pain, knee osteoarthritis), Parkinson’s disease, adhesive capsulitis, and polycystic ovary syndrome; snake venom-based drugs are used to treat hypertension, heart attack, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, pulmonary embolism, and other diseases; scorpion venom has strong anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anticancer effects. New species of venomous animals are being discovered, requiring the establishing of the venom profiles and molecular mechanisms of venom action. Thus, in order to apply animal toxins to disease treatment, the establishment of clinical evidence and the verification of safety are required. However, recent basic/clinical knowledge has been lacking in the diverse clinical use of animal venoms, despite many off-label uses for them.

Thus, this Toxins Special Issue is devoted to understanding basic knowledge and clinical evidence for therapeutic effects and the safety of animal venoms for treating various diseases.

Dr. Gihyun Lee
Dr. Soo-Hyun Sung
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxins is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • animal venom
  • snail venom
  • spider venom
  • scorpion venom
  • snake venom
  • bee venom
  • clinical study
  • systematic review
  • clinical practice guidelines (CPG)
  • therapeutic effects and its mechanism
  • safety and adverse events

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 2838 KiB  
Article
Anti-Tumor Effects of Vespa bicolor Venom on Liver Cancer: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies
by Yong-Hua Wu, Feng Xiong, Zheng-Wen Ou, Jing-An Wang, Jing Cui, Lin Jiang and Wen-Jian Lan
Toxins 2025, 17(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins17010004 - 25 Dec 2024
Viewed by 657
Abstract
Despite the popular belief in the anti-tumor properties of Vespa bicolor venom (VBV), there is limited scientific evidence to support this claim. This study is the first to examine the anti-tumor effects of VBV on liver cancer, both alone and in combination with [...] Read more.
Despite the popular belief in the anti-tumor properties of Vespa bicolor venom (VBV), there is limited scientific evidence to support this claim. This study is the first to examine the anti-tumor effects of VBV on liver cancer, both alone and in combination with cisplatin (DDP), through in vitro and in vivo experiments. In vitro experiments evaluated VBV and its combination with DDP on HepG2 cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis. Animal studies examined the tumor-suppressive effects, safety (hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity), and immune impact of these treatments in tumor-bearing mice. VBV monotherapy significantly inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells by suppressing their proliferation and invasion and induced apoptosis in vitro. Notably, low VBV concentrations significantly promoted the proliferation of normal liver cells (L-02), suggesting a hepatoprotective effect. In vivo, VBV monotherapy enhanced immune function and exhibited tumor suppression comparable to DDP monotherapy but did not induce significant liver or kidney damage. In addition, VBV combined with DDP synergistically enhanced the anti-tumor effects of DDP, compensating for its limited apoptosis-inducing activity and insufficient enhancement of immune function. Initial studies have shown the strong potential of VBV as an anti-liver-tumor drug, highlighting its unique clinical value. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Evidence for Therapeutic Effects and Safety of Animal Venoms)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 1264 KiB  
Article
Revealing the Bioactivities of Physalia physalis Venom Using Drosophila as a Model
by Zuzanna Tomkielska, Jorge Frias, Nelson Simões, Bernardo P. de Bastos, Javier Fidalgo, Ana Casas, Hugo Almeida and Duarte Toubarro
Toxins 2024, 16(11), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16110491 - 15 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1214
Abstract
Physalia physalis, commonly known as the Portuguese Man o’ War, is one of the most venomous members of the Cnidaria yet is poorly understood. This article investigates the toxicity of P. physalis venom by assessing its behavioral and toxicological effects on Drosophila [...] Read more.
Physalia physalis, commonly known as the Portuguese Man o’ War, is one of the most venomous members of the Cnidaria yet is poorly understood. This article investigates the toxicity of P. physalis venom by assessing its behavioral and toxicological effects on Drosophila melanogaster. The venom administered orally revealed dose- and time-dependent mortality, with an LD50 of 67.4 μg per fly. At sublethal doses, the treated flies displayed uncoordinated movement and fell when attempting to climb. Real-time analysis of flies exposed to the venom revealed hyperexcitability followed by paralysis, with phenotypes similar to those observed in vertebrate models. The venom was shown to be non-thermolabile, as no significant differences in behavior and locomotion were observed between flies exposed to untreated or thermally treated venom. The circadian rhythm alterations, the enhanced light attraction, and the reduction in heat avoidance suggest altered neuronal function. This abnormal behavior indicates that the venom contains bioactive molecules, opening avenues for discovering new compounds with potential for pharmacological applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Evidence for Therapeutic Effects and Safety of Animal Venoms)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

13 pages, 539 KiB  
Review
Bee Venom Acupuncture for Shoulder Pain: A Literature Review of Clinical Studies
by Hyein Jeong, Soobin Jang, Jang-Kyung Park, Kyeong Han Kim, Jong Hyun Park, Gihyun Lee and Soo-Hyun Sung
Toxins 2024, 16(11), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16110501 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1081
Abstract
Managing shoulder pain typically involves the use of acetaminophen or oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but prolonged use of these medications can lead to dependence and various side effects. To overcome the dose dependency and side effects of these conventional drugs, animal venoms have [...] Read more.
Managing shoulder pain typically involves the use of acetaminophen or oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but prolonged use of these medications can lead to dependence and various side effects. To overcome the dose dependency and side effects of these conventional drugs, animal venoms have begun to be utilized. Among them, bee venom stands out for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which help relieve pain and treat chronic inflammatory conditions. This review evaluates the efficacy and safety of bee venom acupuncture (BVA) for shoulder pain. In March 2024, we searched 11 databases: 5 international and 6 Korean databases. We identified 23 clinical studies on BVA for shoulder pain. The causes of shoulder pain were post-stroke pain (43.5%), rotator cuff syndrome (17.4%), and brachial plexus palsy (13.0%). The BVA concentration and dosage per session were 0.005–1.0 mg/mL and 0.01–2.0 mL, respectively. All included clinical studies reported positive effects on pain outcomes. This review suggests that BVA, which involves injecting bee venom into acupuncture points, may serve as a viable alternative for pain management. However, the level of evidence in the included studies was low and adverse effects were reported infrequently, indicating that further research is needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Evidence for Therapeutic Effects and Safety of Animal Venoms)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1022 KiB  
Review
Clinical Effectiveness of Bee Venom Acupuncture for Bone Fractures and Potential Mechanisms: A Narrative Overview
by Jung-Hyun Kim and Byung-Kwan Seo
Toxins 2024, 16(11), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins16110465 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1151
Abstract
Bee venom acupuncture, a type of herbal acupuncture, combines the pharmacological actions of bioactive compounds from bee venom with the mechanical stimulation of meridian points. Bee venom acupuncture is gaining popularity, particularly in the Republic of Korea, primarily for pain relief of various [...] Read more.
Bee venom acupuncture, a type of herbal acupuncture, combines the pharmacological actions of bioactive compounds from bee venom with the mechanical stimulation of meridian points. Bee venom acupuncture is gaining popularity, particularly in the Republic of Korea, primarily for pain relief of various conditions. This study aimed to summarize and evaluate the available evidence on the use of bee venom acupuncture for recovery after bone fractures. Electronic literature searches for experimental studies and clinical trials were conducted using the PubMed, China Academic Journals (CAJ), and OASIS databases. The search revealed 31 studies, of which six met our criteria. These studies demonstrated that bee venom acupuncture can be effective in treating bone fractures, suggesting a promising area for future research. However, evidence supporting its efficacy in this context is limited. Rigorous trials with large sample sizes and robust designs are needed to clarify the role of bee venom acupuncture for these indications. In addition, future studies should explore the optimal dosage and concentration of bee venom acupuncture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Evidence for Therapeutic Effects and Safety of Animal Venoms)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-4
Back to TopTop