Adolapin--a newly isolated analgetic and anti-inflammatory polypeptide from bee venom.

Adolapin was isolated by a two-step procedure: gel filtration and chromatography on CM cellulose. The molecular mass of the polypeptide as determined by SDS electrophoresis and amino acid composition proved to be 11500 and 11092 respectively. Adolapin exhibited a potent analgesic effect demonstrated by the "writhing" test (ED50-0,016mg/kg) and by the Randall-Sellito's test (ED50-0,013 mg/kg). The anti-inflammatory activity of adolapin was most marked with regard to carrageenin, prostaglandin and adjuvant rat hind paw edemas and adjuvant polyarthritis. The adolapin effects are presumably due to its capacity to inhibit the prostaglandin synthase system, following a biphasic dose-response relationship. It is likely that central mechanisms are also involved in the analgetic action of adolapin.