Australian scientists have discovered that a unique molecule in the venom of honeybees is able to destroy aggressive breast cancer cells – without harming healthy cells.
A team from the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and the University of Western Australia tested the venom from 312 honeybees and bumblebees from Australia, Ireland and England.
They extracted a peptide called melittin, which is what produces the acute pain from a bee sting, from the honeybees.
In a lab study on various subtypes of aggressive breast cancers, such as triple-negative breast cancer, the melittin was able to destroy 100 percent of tumours and cancerous cells.