title: Evaluation of cytotoxicity and absorption enhancing effects of melittin - a novel absorption enhancer.
abstract: Melittin is the major active ingredient in bee venom and has been widely studied for its membrane-fusion property. We have explored the possibility of determining a concentration range of melittin where it is relatively safe to be used as an adsorption enhancer. Melittin's potential use as an adsorption enhancer for mannitol was determined using Caco-2 cells as the model epithelial membrane. The results indicated that at concentrations below 2.4 (M melittin is safe. Using a melittin concentration of 1.5 (M there was 3.5 times increased transepithelial transport of mannitol across Caco-2 cell monolayers.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Krishnan
mesh_terms: D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005079:Excipients; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects*; D008353:Mannitol / Q000378:metabolism; D008555:Melitten / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity*; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
chemical_list: D005079:Excipients; D008555:Melitten; D009580:Nitroblue Tetrazolium; D008353:Mannitol