Apitoxin, is a colorless transparent colloid liquid. It has a sharp, peculiar smell, reminiscent of the smell of honey. The taste is bitter, burning. The reaction is sour. The bee venom is highly resistant to alkalis, acids, freezing, high temperature, while maintaining its properties. It remains active, withstanding sterilization at a temperature of 115° C for an hour, but it quickly decomposes in sunlight. In dry form, the bee venom retains its biological activity for 5-8 years. Oxidizing agents, like potassium permanganate, significantly affect the bee venom activity.
The intake of bee venom by humans is not dangerous because it is rapidly destroyed by digestive juices and enzymes. Up to 40% of the bee venom composition is soluble in water. The bee venom is also soluble in a weak solution of formic acid. In the air, it dries quickly, losing all volatile aromatic substances and about 25% of fatty acids.
The chemical composition of bee venom is complex. It consists of peptides, biologically active amines, proteins, enzymes, sugars, phospholipids, free amino acids and volatile substances. Peptides (biopolymers, low molecular weight fragments of protein molecules) make up to 50% of the composition of the bee venom. It also contains inorganic acids (like formic, hydrochloric and others).