Background: Recent studies indicate the potential role of bee venom (BV) in cancer therapy. Moreover, many evidences suggest that the regulation of apoptosis plays an important role in tumorigenesis. Considering the apoptosis-inducing and anti-tumor effect of BV, this study aimed to determine the type of the cell death induced by BV on MOLT-4 cancer cell line.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, MOLT-4 cells were first cultured in RPMI-1640 medium in plate, then the cells were treated with different concentrations (1, 3, 6 and 8 μg/ml) of BV for 24 and 48 h. Morphology of cells, cell viability and type of the cell death were induced by BV were evaluated using inverted microscopy, the MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

Results: Cell survival findings showed the BV CC50 values of 6.3 and 0.6 μg/ ml for the cell line in 24 and 48 h, respectively. Moreover, Morphological and Annexin-V antibody analyses indicated that the BV-induced cell death might be an apoptosis.

Conclusion: As BV can induce the apoptosis in MOLT-4 cancer cells. Thus, it would bring hope for designing novel drugs for cancer-therapy in future.