Animals and the Myriad Ways They Can Kill or Heal Us - Essay Example

Animals and the Myriad Ways They Can Kill or Heal Us     The at hand here is to try and look at the contributions animals tend to give us in the different areas of our lives. Be it in a positive or negative ways, such as the risk hazards, they pose to us as human beings while at the same time looking at the instances they tend to be the rescuers of the same lives they pose risks to. What are the health risks and benefits that bee venom cause to the human species? Introduction Use of honey and other bee products in human treatment traces back thousands if not hundreds of years and healing properties are included in many ancients’ books. This is in as much as the sting from the bee itself is fatal if the subject in discussion has encountered a fierce be attack from many bees whose result is incapacitation if not death. On the bright side, controlled bee stings are probably one of the first natural cures for arthritis (Krylov et al., 2007, p. 23). In the ancient civilization of countries like Egypt, India, Greece, Babylon and china bee venom was used for apitherapy. The bee venom in itself is composed of very complicated mixtures and combinations of peptides, very low molecular components and proteins (Bogdanov, 2012). In this mixture the main compositions are proteins and peptides. Its fresh counterpart mainly differs from it in regard to the volatile components but the biological activity is similar. Polypeptides: the constituents of polypeptides are the very small organelles that are composed of more than one amino acid with the main component of it being the melittin. This main component contains 2840 daltons and as a result it assumes a tetrameric form (Giri, et al., 2010, p. 95). The melittin and the protein electrophoretic patterns are typically of the honey bee species. Proteins: this component in itself is one that is catalysts specific in its reaction and since bee venom has around 5 enzymes, there is existence of very small quantities of very minimum or low molecular compounds which in themselves are not similar in any way (Bogdanov, 2012, p. 6). These may include amino acids, sugars, minerals and catecholamines. In the case of sugars, we see that they have been identified in bee venom preparations which is collected with a collector while preventing the likelihood of a contamination by pollen and nectar thus in most cases if not all, it usually does not contain carbohydrates. Composition of the dry matter of bee venom: The protein group has components that include Phospholipase A2, phospholipase B and hydraluronidase. Its counterpart i.e. peptides has Melittin, Apamine and Protease inhibitor. The biogenic animescontains Dopamine, Noradreanaline and Histamine while Amino acids contains Aminobuytyric acid. Sugar on its part contains glucose and fructose and lastly volatiles contain complex fructose. Biological action of bee venom: Beneficial and toxic biological effects of bee venom in humans and animals. Anti-cancer effects include antitumor effects on ovary, prostrate, bladder, renal cancers cells by different mechanisms of action depending on the tumor type (Mustedt & Bogdanov, 2009, p. 58). Anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritis action is Glucocorticoid and aspirin like effects while Anti-addictive effects may be Bee venom acupuncture modulated methamphetamine-induced hyperactivity. The effects of the central and peripheral nervous system include many peripheral chemoreceptors such as heart, sinucarotic, intestinal systems, affecting flow to the central nervous system, cholinolytic action, pain-soothing aspirin like action, increased brain blood circulation, blocked transmission of the vegetative synapse and the polysynapse neuronal paths and influence of brain EEG and behavior patterns of animal, inhibiting their conditioned reflex patterns. Effect on heart and blood system is characterized by Increased coronary and peripheral blood circulation, improves the microcirculation of blood in the tissues, Slowed down heart at lower doses and stimulated it at higher ones, lower blood pressure, antiarrhythmic and finally against blood coagulation fibrinolysis, stimulates the building of erythrocytes. On the part of Antibiotic fungicide and antiviral action, there is Bactericide action against different pathogens Action against Candida albicans, and inactivation of Herpes, Leukemia and HIV viruses .In the Gall bladder-intestine system, there is Increased fall flow and cholesterine and bilirubin concentrations while on the part of Endocrinological system there is Increased secretion of thyroid, hypothesis and of the hypothalamus hormones. In this case, protein levels increase to higher concentrations thus an increase in nucleoitide metabolism which results in the protection of the liver (Bogdanov, 2012). This is due to the suppressive effect on anti-apoptotic responses of TNF-alpha/ act D-treated hepacytes. Toxic effects of bee venom: The melittin causes higher doses that are inflammatory and hemolytic induces inflammatory, the strongest allergen and thus the most harmful bee venom component. While the Hyaluronidae cause Allergenic and Higher doses of it tend to be neurotoxic. MDC peptide and phospholipase A are the most toxic components. Therapeutic index: bee venom just like any other drug has it side effects. Both the therapeutic and toxic effects of the bee venom lie closely together (Giri, et al., 2010). Thus for general purpose therapeutics, bee venom is safer to use while for specific medicinal applications bee venom seem to be preferable i.e. Apitherapy with bee venom: In Arthritis, Both osteoarthritis and rheumatic arthritis Rheumatic arthritis being more susceptible to BVT while in Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system (CNS, PNS) applications such as Multiple sclerosis, Dementia, Post stroke paralysis, Polyneuritis, Ganglion nerve inflammation and Cerebellar ataxy (muscular dysfunction). In Heart and blood system, we see Hypertension, Arteriosclerosis and Endarteritis (chronic inflammation of the inner layer of (arteries) while for Skin diseases there is Healing of cicatrices and Furunculosis (recurring boil). From what we have seen so far, arthritis in itself cannot be ignored. Hence we are forced to analyze and take an inner look at its composition (Bogdanov, 2012). Arthritis is composed of two types which include: 1. Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis is a very dangerous disorder that affects the tissues and organs where it tends to affect joints and as a result there is damage on the cartilage. The treatment involves the administration of bee venom which blocks the building of the pro inflammatory substances cytokine, tumor necrosis factor and enzyme COX-2 2. Osteoarthritis This type of disease is in the manifestation of wearing out of joints. These usually result in swelling of the affected joints. Appearance of bones on the surface is the next stage and at this point in time extreme pain is a must. Bee venom against diseases of the nervous system: Bee venom is used in the treatment of the nervous system and different heart conditions. For instance the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) provides evidence of specific biological effects of the bee venom components Apamine in the brain. Individuals report positive effects in dementia and there are also specific brain effects of bee venom in Alzheimer patients being elucidated. Bee venom in homeopathy i.e. a particular type of medicine heals a similar manifestation of a disease (Giri, et al., 2010, p. 100). Here the use of Apis is applicable where medical practitioners use stinging as a form of treatment. Thus the burning sensation “drives out” the disease. However people who are allergic or sensitive to bee venom should be cautious. They might react adversely to certain potencies of homeopathy apis. Reactions to bee stings and bee venom allergy: The most outstanding biological effect of bee venom is the painful inflammatory caused by the bee sting (Mustedt & Bogdanov, 2009, p. 60). Stings in the area of the eye are very dangerous because of the extreme pain and swelling thus immediate medical assistance is required. An immediate measure should be rinsing the eye with water that is cold. In the case of a sting on the tongue or the pharynx, the risks are very high. This is because of the rapid swelling of the mucous membrane there is an acute life threat of suffocation. Immediate measures include one sucking a piece of ice or drinking ice-cold water to prevent further swelling before a doctor’s assistance. The snake venom: Active components which are characteristic of snake venom tend to have therapeutic potentials thus there is the possibility of its use in the treatment of cancer. Elapid venoms contain very high cytotoxic activity than other types of venom. Thus, venom from snake family Elapidae act directly on tumor cells. Thus as a result of their characteristic antitumor activity due to the phenomena of inflammatory response they are perfect for this type of application. Also to take note of is that snake venom cytotoxins cause different physiological effects that include inhibition of platelet aggregation, cardiac arrest, hemolysis and cytotoxins. These cytotoxins are part of polypeptides that have a very wide variety of pharmacological actions that include haemolysis and Cardiotoxin3 that has anticancer activities. The presence of anticancer enzymes in snake venom is as a result of the lipolytic enzyme that contains phospholipase that mediate cytotoxicity. Another substance that is in the snake venom is the L-amino acid oxidase. These are multifunctional enzymes that show platelets aggression inducing and inhibiting anti-bacteria, anti-coagulant and anti-HIV effects. Conclusion From the analysis above we can confidently state that in as much as venomous animals pose great risks to us as humans, they also play a very important role in the sustainability of our being. The venom that at times tend to be the cause of many fatal deaths in humans is at time the only option that keeps us alive. Be it that lethal dose we dread, if put into better use it can be a worth investment. References Bogdanov, S. (2012) Bee Venom: Composition, Health, Medicine: A Review. Bee Product Science. www.bee-hexagon.net. Giri, B. Dasgupta, S., Biwas, A., Mishra, R., Bhattacharjee, P. & Gomes, A. (2010) Anticancer potential of animal venoms and toxins. Indian Journal of Experimental Biology. 48(3), 93-103. Krylov, V. Agafonov, A., Krivtsov, N., Lebedev, V., Burimistrova, L., Oshevenski, L. & Sokolski, S. (2007) Theory and agents of apitherapy (in Russian). Moscow. Cambridge, Massachusetts & London: Harvard University Press. Mustedt, K. & Bogdanov, S. (2009) Bee products and their potential use in modern medicine. Journal of ApiProduct and ApiMedical Science 1(3): 57-63. Read More