Scientists extract bee venom as powder

Lucknow, Apr 30: Even the bee stings could be beneficial, scientists have made it realise in a breakthrough research in Allahabad University.

In a major breakthrough in the field of Bio-technology, a group of researchers of Zoology department in Allahabad University (AU) have succeeded in extracting the Indian honey bee venom and collect it in powder form, a very useful thing in the medicinal world.

The technique indigenously developed by Prof Sandeep Kumar Mehrotra and his team of researchers is second after almost similar feat was achieved in Rajasthan but converting the Bee venom into powder form was the first research of its kind. Indian Honey bee, zoologically known as Apis Cerana, has always been knwon for its pinching sting and painful allergy afterwards but the researchers have put forth another aspect.

The venom was collected only after the bees were made to sting, the technique developed by Prof Mehrotra and his team. The technique is rather simple and involves no big cost and was being spread to rural areas as the resaerch has been undertaken by Jana Jaiv Welfare Society, the part of Department of Bio Technology (DBT) scheme at Parasitology Laboratory of AU.

''We are preparing to file patent for the technique of extraction and making it into powder form,'' Dr Mehrotra told UNI here over phone from Allahabad.

UNI