Species and/or component | Efficacy and properties | Source |
---|---|---|
Beeswax, honey & royal jelly | Bio-active, oestrogenic and immunosuppressive compounds | |
Bee venom | Anti-malignant, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic peptides, e.g. melittin | |
Lice salivary glands | Medically effective toxins | [182] |
Fly maggots | Anti-microbial secretions | |
Stinging ants | Antimicrobial, haemolytic, cytolytic, insecticidal compounds, e.g., peptides | |
Meloid beetles, e.g., Mylabris phalerata | Cytotoxic effect on human mononuclear leukaemic U937 cells and anti-cancer and anti-leismanial activities; apoptosis inducer | |
Centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans | Peptides with strong antimicrobial and moderate haemolytic activity against human and rabbit red cells | |
Chelicerates (e.g., Heterometrus bengalensis scorpion) | Apoptogenic, anti-proliferative, anti-osteoporosis substance, e.g., bengalin | |
Ticks (e.g., Ixodes sp.) and leeches | Cell proliferation inhibitors and Anti-coagulants, e.g., hirudin | |
Earthworms, e.g. Eisenia foetida and Lumbricus rubelus | Anti-pyretic, anti-spasmodic, diuretic, anti-asthmatic, anti-hypertensive, anti-allergic, anti-neoplastic properties |