Authors

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is one of the most common endocrine disorders. In this disease due to increased blood glucose levels, protein glycation increases. Protein glycation in diabetes leads to irreparable consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate the synergic effect of Bee venom and aspirin on human hemoglobin glycation in the presence of glucose.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, hemoglobin (10 mg/ml) was incubated in the presence and absence of glucose (40 mM), aspirin (2.5 mM) and Bee venom (in different concentrations of 10, 20 and 40 µg/ml) for 5 weeks. Amount of hemoglobin glycation was evaluated via investigation of changes in soret band, amount of hemoglobin heme degradation and alteration in secondary structure of protein using UV-visible spectroscopy, fluorometry and Circular Dichroism Spectropolarimetry methods. The data were analyzed using InStat 3 software and statistical tests including one way variance analysis and Tukey test. P values less than 0.05 were considered significant.
Results: Hemoglobin incubation in the presence of glucose led to reduction of soret band absorption, degradation of heme and increment of beta sheet value in secondary structure of hemoglobin. Simultaneous presence of Bee venom and aspirin reduced the rate of heme degradation (p< 0.001) up to 36%, and the beta sheet formation up to 54% (p< 0.001). Also, the amount of structural alteration and hemoglobin glycation significantly decreased.
Conclusion: Bee venom and aspirin have significant antiglycation properties and simultaneous use of them can decrease protein glycation.

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