Wax moth larvae have long been used in folk medicine to treat cardiovascular, inflammatory, age-related diseases and tuberculosis. We owe the revival of interest in this ancient remedy to the famous Russian scientists-immunologists I.I. Mechnikov and his follower S.A. Mukhin, on the basis of whose works the preparation "Dr. Mukhin's Natural Extract" was developed in ITEB RAS. It is known that the preparation, due to the presence of these specific enzymes in it has antituberculosis, immunostimulating and antioxidant action, and is effective in bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic bronchopulmonary diseases. The enzymes are able to destroy and weaken the lipidoprotein shell, which shelters many bacteria. Including Koch's bacillus. It is worth noting that such properties of Wax Moth Larvae have been noted, such as changing scar colloidal tissues to ordinary connective tissues. In fact, in addition to the positive effect on internal organs, products from the wax moth larvae are also interesting for external use as a regenerating, anti-inflammatory and restorative agent, as well as for accelerating mitosis of epithelial cells (indirect division of skin cells, as a result of which the skin is renewed).
To confirm the value of wax moth larval products, a comparative study of alcoholic extracts from larvae and their life products of similar concentrations was carried out.
The color of the extract of wax moth larvae life products was saturated red-yellow, while that of larvae was the same but slightly saturated. Computer diagnostics according to the Voll method showed a great activity of the alcoholic extract of LPWML, by an order (10 times) exceeding the alcoholic extract of wax moth larvae. The first work on the study of LPWML was carried out by I.A. Kuhtikov under the supervision of Prof. N.P. Maksyutina (Bogomolets National Medical University, Kiev).
He prepared and successfully defended the work "Pharmacognostic study of the life product of the large wax moth and the creation of NTDs for raw materials". As a result of studying the chemical composition of the product of wax moth vital activity three groups of biologically active compounds of flavonoid, iridoid nature were reliably identified. The results of the studies of the products of wax moth larvae (LPWML) have shown that the tincture of LPWML not only has no less biological activity than the tincture of the larvae (caterpillars) of the wax moth, but some components even surpasses it (and by an order of magnitude - 10 times!).
A special digestive enzyme of wax moth larvae, which is contained in the tincture of LPWML, was discovered by the Russian scientist immunologist Metalnikov S. I. and first mentioned in the work "On the question of immunity of bee moths to tuberculosis infection" published in 1906. Metalnikov experimentally proved and substantiated that the high immunity of wax moth larvae to tuberculosis pathogens (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) is due to a specific enzyme that breaks down wax. Later it was named cerase (cerase): from the name of the substrate (initial substance transformed by the enzyme) cera (cer) - wax and the suffix -ase (ase), which is how enzymes (enzymes) are systematically classified according to international agreement. Cerase is able to break down fat-like compounds on the walls of blood vessels (prevention of atherosclerosis).
The first publication in PubMed was in 1938, describing the genetic characteristics of wax moth larvae following X-ray treatment. Then, in 1951, this insect was used for the first time as a toxicity model for an antituberculosis drug. Further studies in 1957 and 1961 used it to test antifungal agents, and since the 60s wax moth larvae was validated as an infection model for many bacterial species.
In the future, the high biological activity of the cerase enzyme in the products of wax moth activity with respect to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and a number of other microorganisms pathogenic for humans was confirmed by many scientists (Olivier in 1947, Mankiewicz in 1949, Kuzniecow and Wojciechowski in 1950, Paszewski in 1959) in different countries of the world.
Many works on the properties of cerase enzyme were published in reputable scientific publications by the Bosnian scientist MK Muftic (Mahmud Kamal Muftic) between 1955 and 1970. In the works of MK Muftic, the enzyme cerase is an iron-peroxidase (cerase is an iron-peroxidase).
According to the assumption of modern researchers of wax moth larvae properties from the Institute of Cell Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences: proteolytic enzyme - serine protease (cerase enzyme) not only has a destructive effect on mycobacterium tuberculosis, but also plays a leading role in the dissolution of plaques and blood clots in blood vessels, myocardial cells and lung tissue, as well as in the regeneration of scar tissue after a heart attack.
Bee product LPWML has a unique, balanced chemical composition, has a pronounced immunostimulating effect, promotes purification and normalization of all functions and systems of the human body.
As a prophylactic, tonic, immunity-boosting means and as part of a complex therapy - bee product LPWML is effective in almost any disease (in the absence of contraindications).
It is scientifically substantiated and experimentally proven the use of tincture of LPWML in the treatment and prevention of many diseases.