Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of melittin in honeybee venom and drug products containing honeybee venom

A reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (RP -HPLC ) method was developed and validated for the analysis of honeybee venom samples and drug products containing honeybee venom. The validation parameters were linearity, sensitivity, precision, and recovery. Melittin is the main component of honeybee venom was extracted with pure water, and then evaluated by RP -HPLC with a photodiode array (PDA ) detector. Separation of the samples was achieved on a Europa Protein C18 column with linear gradient elution of acetonitrile and 0.4% phosphoric acid at 25°C. There was a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Detection was set at 220 nm. Limits of detection (LOD ) and quantification (LO Q) for melittin were 1.1 and 3.2 μg/mL, respectively. The amount of melittin in honeybee venom samples ranged from 21.9 to 66.4 %.