Research Paper : The Effect of Cosmetic Included Purified Bee Venom on the Improvement of Acne

Han, Sang Mi; Han, Chung Sub

Journal of the Korean Society of Cosmetology 2012;18(2):391-396.
Published online April 30, 2012.

정제봉독을 함유한 봉독화장품의 여드름 개선 효과

한상미, 한충섭

Research Paper : The Effect of Cosmetic Included Purified Bee Venom on the Improvement of Acne

Sang Mi Han, Chung Sub Han

Abstract

Propionibacterium acnes is a key therapeutic target in acne. We investigated whether the purified bee venom (PBV, Apis mellifera L.) is a potential candidate for anti-acne cosmetics. To determine whether the PBV kills P. acnes, we tested the activity of PBV against P. acnes using the CFU assay and transmission electron microscopic observation. PBV exhibited against antimicrobial activity in a concentration dependent manner, reducing the number of P acnes CFU by approximately 4 logs (to less than 5% maximum growth) at a concentration of 10 ng/mL. TEM observation of P. acnes treated with bacteriocin revealed cell lysis, indicating the cell membrane appears to be the primary site of action. Clinical tests were recruited with 12 subjects who were suffering from acne were selected and evaluate acne for two weeks. Based on the korean type acne severity scoring system were measured 2 times; before the test and two weeks after the test. There was a significant improvement in acne skin in both objective and subjective parameter(total microbial number in face) after the treatment with cosmetics containing PBV compared with control group (placebo). The results of this study showed that PBV had an anti-acne effects by reducing the microbial number in face through the antibacterial acivities. Taken all together, we concluded that the PBV would be an useful ingredient for the development of anti-acne cosmetics.

Key Words: Apis mellifera, Purified Bee Venom, Acne, Propionibacterium acnes