Research - Bee Products
Efficacy and Safety of Honey Bee Venom (Apis mellifera) Dermal Injections to Treat Osteoarthritis Knee Pain and Physical Disability: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Vicki J. Conrad, Lydie L. Hazan, Agustin J. Latorre, Anna Jakubowska, and Christopher M.H. Kim
Abstract
Objectives: To evaluate purified honey bee (Apis mellifera) venom (HBV) biotherapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain and physical function.
Design and Patients: Five hundred and thirty-eight patients with Kellgren/Lawrence grade 1–3 radiographic knee OA and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score ≥2 were randomized 1:2 to either control (“histamine”) or HBV in this double-blind study.
Interventions: After a dose escalation period, patients received 12 weekly dermal injections of control (“histamine”) or HBV. At each of the 12 weekly visits, a set of 15 dermal injections (each containing 2.75 μg histamine or 100 μg HBV) were administered at prespecified acupuncture points (5 on each knee: knee top, eye-1 medial, eye-2 lateral, ST 34, BL 40 and 5 near the spinous processes: BL 19, 21, 23, 25, and 27).
Outcome Measures: Assessments included WOMAC pain and physical function subscales, visual analog scale (VAS), patient global assessment (PGA), and physician global assessment (PhGA). Rescue medication use (acetaminophen) and routine safety parameters were monitored.
Results: HBV biotherapy demonstrated a highly significant improvement over control in WOMAC pain score after 12 weeks (1.1 U mean difference; confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.3–2.0; analysis of covariance [ANCOVA] p = 0.0010 with baseline as covariate) that was also sustained 4 weeks post-treatment. Furthermore, WOMAC physical function was significantly improved over control with HBV (3.1 U mean difference; 95% CI: 0.3–5.9; ANCOVA p = 0.0046), and sustained 4 weeks post-treatment. VAS scores were significantly improved with HBV versus control, as well as PGA and PhGA evaluations, which showed that patients responded more favorably (”very good/good”) to their overall OA condition (82.0% vs. 62.4% [p = 0.0001] and 82.1% vs. 54.9% [p = 0.0015], respectively). Use of rescue acetaminophen was similar between the groups (77%–78% of patients). HBV was associated with higher incidence of injection site reactions (<5%); however, the overall safety profiles were comparable between the treatment groups.
Conclusions: This phase 3 trial demonstrated that HBV biotherapy resulted in significant improvements in knee OA pain and physical function.
Source : Journal Alternative and Complementary Medicine
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Propolis and Its Potential to Treat Gastrointestinal Disorders
Luisa Mota da Silva,1 Priscila de Souza,1 Soad K. Al Jaouni,2,3 SteveHarakeh,3,4 Shahram Golbabapour,5 and Sérgio Faloni de Andrade1
Abstract
There are a number of disorders that affect the gastrointestinal tract. Such disorders have become a global emerging disease with a high incidence and prevalence rates worldwide. Inflammatory and ulcerative processes of the stomach or intestines, such as gastritis, ulcers, colitis, and mucositis, afflict a significant proportion of people throughout the world. The role of herbal-derived medicines has been extensively explored in order to develop new effective and safe strategies to improve the available gastrointestinal therapies that are currently used in the clinical practice. Studies on the efficacy of propolis (a unique resinous aromatic substance produced by honeybees from different types of species of plants) are promising and propolis has been effective in the treatment of several pathological conditions. This review, therefore, summarizes and critiques the contents of some relevant published scientific papers (including those related to clinical trials) in order to demonstrate the therapeutic value of propolis and its active compounds in the treatment and prevention of gastrointestinal diseases.
In conclusion, this review included a summary of the data published by many researchers related to the protective and/or treatment role that propolis and/or its active ingredients play against gastrointestinal associated disorders that affect humans. The focus was on the following: oral mucositis, ulcerative colitis, gastrointestinal cancers, and gastric ulcers. Analysis of the published work indicated that the efficacy of propolis in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders could be attributed to its antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. The underling mechanism of action is mediated through the inhibition of some transcriptional factors and related proteins. Several experimental studies showed the beneficial effects of propolis and its related compounds in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases. However, only few clinical trials have been developed to prove their effectiveness and safety against human ulcers and other involved pathologies. Future studies should focus on the potential role of propolis and its related ingredients either alone or as a complementary therapy to ongoing conventional therapy against gastrointestinal diseases in humans.
Source : Journal Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Bee products and the treatment of blister-like lesions around the mouth, skin and genitalia caused by herpes viruses—A systematic review
KarstenMünstedt
Abstract
Objectives
To assess the value of bee products with respect to antiviral efficacy against herpes viruses.
Design
A systematic review was done using the JUSTfind System of the Justus-Liebig-University Gießen and Scopus.
Results
Three trials on honey and 6 trials on propolis were conducted. Each trial provided evidence that these two bee products are interesting alternatives to acyclovir, especially propolis, which was found to be superior to acyclovir in 4 trials.
Conclusions
The evidence from these trials suggests that propolis is the best of all natural possibilities in the treatment of herpetic skin lesions, especially those related to HSV-1. Future studies should analyse if propolis could be an adjunct to treatment with acyclovir. For lesions in the oral cavity, honey could be an interesting alternative.
Source : Journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine
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Bee Pollen as a Promising Agent in the Burn Wounds Treatment
tPaweł Olczyk,1 Robert Koprowski,2 Justyna Kaźmierczak,3 Lukasz Mencner,3 Robert Wojtyczka,4 Jerzy Stojko,5 Krystyna Olczyk,3 and Katarzyna Komosinska-Vassev3
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to visualize the benefits and advantages derived from preparations based on extracts of bee pollen as compared to pharmaceuticals commonly used in the treatment of burns. The bee pollen ointment was applied for the first time in topical burn treatment. Experimental burn wounds were inflicted on two white, domestic pigs. Clinical, histopathological, and microbiological assessment of specimens from burn wounds, inflicted on polish domestic pigs, treated with silver sulfadiazine or bee pollen ointment, was done. The comparative material was constituted by either tissues obtained from wounds treated with physiological saline or tissues obtained from wounds which were untreated. Clinical and histopathological evaluation showed that applied apitherapeutic agent reduces the healing time of burn wounds and positively affects the general condition of the animals. Moreover the used natural preparation proved to be highly effective antimicrobial agent, which was reflected in a reduction of the number of microorganisms in quantitative research and bactericidal activity of isolated strains. On the basis of the obtained bacteriological analysis, it may be concluded that the applied bee pollen ointment may affect the wound healing process of burn wounds, preventing infection of the newly formed tissue.
Source : Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Flavonoids Extraction from Propolis Attenuates Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy through PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway
Guang-wei Sun,1,2 Zhi-dong Qiu,3 Wei-nan Wang,3 Xin Sui,3 and Dian-jun Sui1,3
1China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China
2Chinese Traditional Medicine Institute of Ji Lin Province, Changchun 130021, China
3Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130117, China
Abstract
Propolis, a traditional medicine, has been widely used for a thousand years as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant drug. The flavonoid fraction is the main active component of propolis, which possesses a wide range of biological activities, including activities related to heart disease. However, the role of the flavonoids extraction from propolis (FP) in heart disease remains unknown. This study shows that FP could attenuate ISO-induced pathological cardiac hypertrophy (PCH) and heart failure in mice. The effect of the two fetal cardiac genes, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) and β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC), on PCH was reversed by FP. Echocardiography analysis revealed cardiac ventricular dilation and contractile dysfunction in ISO-treated mice. This finding is consistent with the increased heart weight and cardiac ANF protein levels, massive replacement fibrosis, and myocardial apoptosis. However, pretreatment of mice with FP could attenuate cardiac dysfunction and hypertrophy in vivo. Furthermore, the cardiac protection of FP was suppressed by the pan-PI3K inhibitor wortmannin. FP is a novel cardioprotective agent that can attenuate adverse cardiac dysfunction, hypertrophy, and associated disorder, such as fibrosis. The effects may be closely correlated with PI3K/AKT signaling. FP may be clinically used to inhibit PCH progression and heart failure.
Source : Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Bioactive Components of Chinese Propolis Water Extract on Antitumor Activity and Quality Control
Hongzhuan Xuan,1,2 Yuehua Wang,2 Aifeng Li,3 Chongluo Fu,2 Yuanjun Wang,2 and Wenjun Peng1
Abstract
To understand the material basis of antitumor activity of Chinese propolis water extract (CPWE), we developed a simple and efficient method using macroporous absorptive resin coupled with preparative high performance liquid chromatography and separated and purified eleven chemical components (caffeic acid, ferulic acid, isoferulic acid, 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid, pinobanksin, caffeic acid benzyl ester, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, apigenin, pinocembrin, chrysin, and galangin) from CPWE; then we tested the antitumor activities of these eleven components using different human tumor cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, HeLa, and A549). Furthermore, cell migration, procaspase 3 level, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) of effective components from CPWE were investigated. Our data showed that antitumor activities of the eleven components from CPWE were different from each other. CPWE and its effective components induced apoptosis by inhibiting tumor cell migration, activating caspase 3, and promoting ROS production. It can be deduced that the antitumor effects of propolis did not depend on a single component, and there must exist “bioactive components,” which also provides a new idea for Chinese propolis quality control.
Discussion
Previous studies from our group reported the biological activities of Chinese propolis [15–17] and the present study was the first one to investigate the effective components on antitumor activity in CPWE. Four phenolic acids (caffeic acid, ferulic acid, isoferulic acid, and 3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid) had little cytotoxicity on four tumor cell lines; the other seven constituents (pinobanksin, caffeic acid benzyl ester, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, apigenin, pinocembrin, chrysin, and galangin) obviously decreased four tumor cells’ proliferation, although the inhibitory effects of the seven components were different from each other, which indicated that the antitumor effects of CPWE did not depend on a single component, and at least the seven effective components might be “bioactive components” of antitumor activity. Admittedly, there must be other effective components needed to be studied further.....
Source : Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Propolis: A Complex Natural Product with a Plethora of Biological Activities That Can Be Explored for Drug Development
Ricardo Silva-Carvalho,1,2 Fátima Baltazar,1,2 and Cristina Almeida-Aguiar3
Abstract
The health industry has always used natural products as a rich, promising, and alternative source of drugs that are used in the health system. Propolis, a natural resinous product known for centuries, is a complex product obtained by honey bees from substances collected from parts of different plants, buds, and exudates in different geographic areas. Propolis has been attracting scientific attention since it has many biological and pharmacological properties, which are related to its chemical composition. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have been performed to characterize and understand the diverse bioactivities of propolis and its isolated compounds, as well as to evaluate and validate its potential. Yet, there is a lack of information concerning clinical effectiveness. The goal of this review is to discuss the potential of propolis for the development of new drugs by presenting published data concerning the chemical composition and the biological properties of this natural compound from different geographic origins.
Source : Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Antifungal and Antibacterial Metabolites from a French Poplar Type Propolis
Séverine Boisard,1 Anne-Marie Le Ray,1 Anne Landreau,1 Marie Kempf,2,3 Viviane Cassisa,2,3 Catherine Flurin,4 and Pascal Richomme1
Abstract
During this study, the in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activities of different extracts (aqueous and organic) obtained from a French propolis batch were evaluated. Antifungal activity was evaluated by broth microdilution on three pathogenic strains: Candida albicans, C. glabrata, and Aspergillus fumigatus. Antibacterial activity was assayed using agar dilution method on 36 Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains including Staphylococcus aureus. Organic extracts showed a significant antifungal activity against C. albicansand C. glabrata (MIC80 between 16 and 31 µg/mL) but only a weak activity towards A. fumigatus (MIC80 = 250 µg/mL). DCM based extracts exhibited a selective Gram-positive antibacterial activity, especially against S. aureus (SA) and several of its methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) strains (MIC100 30–97 µg/mL). A new and active derivative of catechin was also identified whereas a synergistic antimicrobial effect was noticed during this study.
Source : Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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Alleviating exercise induced muscular stress using neat and processed bee pollen: oxidative markers, mitochondrial enzymes and myostatin expression in rats
- Sameer Ketkara,
- Atul Rathorea,
- Amit Kandharea,
- Sathiyanarayanan Lohidasana,
- Subhash Bodhankara,
- Anant Paradkarb, , ,
- Kakasaheb Mahadika,
Abstract
Background
Honeybee collected pollen, traditionally known rich source of antioxidant principles is claimed to be useful food for sportsmen and athletes, however very few scientific evidences are available for same. Current study was designed to investigate influence of monofloral Indian mustard bee pollen (MIMBP) and processed monofloral Indian mustard bee pollen (PMIMBP) supplementation on chronic swimming exercise induced oxidative stress implications in gastrocnemius muscle of Wistar rats.
Methods
MIMBP was processed with edible lipid-surfactant mixture (Captex355:Tween80) to increase the extraction of polyphenols and flavonoid aglycones as analyzed by UV spectroscopy and HPLC-PDA. Wistar rats in different groups were fed with MIMBP or PMIMBP supplements at a dose of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg individually when subjected to chronic swimming exercise for 4 weeks (5 days/week). Various biochemical (SOD, GSH, MDA, NO, total protein content), mitochondrial (complex I, II, III, IV enzyme activity) and molecular (myostatin mRNA expression) parameters were monitored in gastrocnemius muscle of all the groups.
Results
Administration of both MIMBP (300 mg/kg) and PMIMBP (100,200,300 mg/kg) exerted antioxidant effect by significantly improving SOD, GSH, MDA, NO and total protein levels. Further MIMBP (300 mg/kg) and PMIMBP (200,300 mg/kg) significantly improved the impaired mitochondrial complex I, II, III, IV enzyme activity. Significant down-regulation of myostatin mRNA expression by MIMBP (300 mg/kg) and PMIMBP (200,300 mg/kg) indicates their muscle protectant role in oxidative stress conditions.
Conclusion
The study establishes antioxidant, mitochondrial up-regulatory and myostatin inhibitory effect of both MIMBP and PMIMBP in exercise induced oxidative stress conditions, suggesting their usefulness in effective management of exercise induced muscular stress. Further, processing of MIMBP with edible lipid-surfactant mixture was found to improve the therapeutic efficiency of pollen.
Source : Integrative Medicine Research
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Antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like activities of an oil extract of propolis in rats.
Abstract
Purpose: Propolis biological effects are mainly attributed to its polyphenolic constituents such as flavonoids and phenolic acids that were recently described in the chemical composition of an extract of propolis obtained with edible vegetal oil (OEP) by our group. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of OEP on the behavior of rats.
Materials and methods: An in vivo open field (OF), elevated Plus-maze (EPM), and forced swimming (FS) tests were performed to evaluate locomotor activity, anxiolytic- and antidepressant effects of the extract. Besides, oxidative stress levels were measured in rat blood samples after the behavioral assays by evaluation of the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and nitric oxide levels.
Results: OEP increased locomotion in the OF test (50 mg/kg) and central locomotion and open arm entries in the OF and EPM tests (10-50 mg/kg) and decreased the immobility time in the FS test (10-50 mg/kg). Moreover, OEP reduced nitric oxide levels in response to swim stress induced in rats.
Conclusion: OEP exerted stimulant, anxiolytic and antidepressant effects on the Central Nervous System and antioxidant activity in rats, highlighting propolis as a potential therapeutic compound for behavior impairment of anxiety and depression
Source : International Journal of Phytotherapy and Phytopharmacology
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Bacteria found in honeybee stomachs could be used as alternative to antibiotics, scientists claim
Bacteria found in honeybees could be used as an alternative to antibiotics and in the fight against antibiotic-resistant strains of MRSA, scientists have claimed.
For millenia, raw unmanufactured honey has been used to treat infections.
Scientists believe its effectiveness could lie in a unique formula comprised of 13 types of lactic acid bacteria found in the stomachs of bees. The bacteria, which are no longer active in shop-bought honey, produce a myriad of active anti-microbial compounds.
The findings could be vital both in developing countries, where fresh honey is easily available, as well as for Western countries where antibiotic resistance is an increasingly concerning issue.
By applying the bacteria to pathogens found in severe human wounds - including MRSA - scientists from Lund University, Sweden, found that the formula from a bee’s stomach successfully counteracted the infections.
Researchers believe that the formula works so potently because it contains a broad spectrum of active substances, unlike conventional man-made antibiotics.
"Antibiotics are mostly one active substance, effective against only a narrow spectrum of bacteria. When used alive, these 13 lactic acid bacteria produce the right kind of antimicrobial compounds as needed, depending on the threat,” Dr Tobias Olofsson of the Medical Microbiology department at Lund Unviersity explained.
"It seems to have worked well for millions of years of protecting bees' health and honey against other harmful microorganisms.
"However, since store-bought honey doesn't contain the living lactic acid bacteria, many of its unique properties have been lost in recent times," he added.
To take the study forward, scientists will investigate wider clinical use against topical infections, on both humans and animals.
The findings are likely to give further ammunition to bee protection groups, after a separate study found that the use of neonicotinoids – the world’s most commonly used pesticides - damage vital bee populations.
It warned that the pesticides, which are linked to the decline of honeybees and other beneficial organisms including earthworms and butterflies, are having a dramatic impact on ecosystems that support food production and wildlife.
Source : Independent
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Effects of the Czech Propolis on Sperm Mitochondrial Function
Miroslava Cedikova,1,2 Michaela Miklikova,1,2 Lenka Stachova,3 Martina Grundmanova,4 Zdenek Tuma,2,5 Vaclav Vetvicka,6 Nicolas Zech,7 Milena Kralickova,1,2 and Jitka Kuncova2,4
1Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, 301 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
2Biomedical Centre, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, 301 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
3Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, 301 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
4Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, 301 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
51st Internal Department, Faculty of Medicine and Teaching Hospital in Pilsen, Charles University in Prague, 301 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
6Department of Pathology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
7IVF Centers Prof. Zech - Pilsen, 301 00 Pilsen, Czech Republic
Abstract
Propolis is a natural product that honeybees collect from various plants. It is known for its beneficial pharmacological effects. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of propolis on human sperm motility, mitochondrial respiratory activity, and membrane potential. Semen samples from 10 normozoospermic donors were processed according to the World Health Organization criteria. Propolis effects on the sperm motility and mitochondrial activity parameters were tested in the fresh ejaculate and purified spermatozoa. Propolis preserved progressive motility of spermatozoa in the native semen samples. Oxygen consumption determined in purified permeabilized spermatozoa by high-resolution respirometry in the presence of adenosine diphosphate and substrates of complex I and complex II (state OXPHOS I + II) was significantly increased in the propolis-treated samples. Propolis also increased uncoupled respiration in the presence of rotenone (state ETS II) ) and complex IV activity, but it did not influence state LEAK induced by oligomycin. Mitochondrial membrane potential was not affected by propolis. This study demonstrates that propolis maintains sperm motility in the native ejaculates and increases activities of mitochondrial respiratory complexes II and IV without affecting mitochondrial membrane potential. The data suggest that propolis improves the total mitochondrial respiratory efficiency in the human spermatozoa in vitro thereby having potential to improve sperm motility.
Source : Evidence Based Complementary and alternative Medicine
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Propolis alleviates aluminium-induced lipid peroxidation and biochemical parameters in male rats
Al-Sayeda A. Newairya, Afrah F. Salamab, Hend M. Hussiena, Mokhtar I. Yousefc, ,
- a Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
- b Chemistry Department, Biochemistry Section, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Egypt
- c Department of Home Economic, Faculty of Specific Education, Alexandria University, 14 Mohamed Amin Shohaib Street, Moustafa Kamel, P.O. Box Roushdi, Alexandria 21529, Egypt
Abstract
Aluminium is present in many manufactured foods and medicines and is also added to drinking water during purification purposes. Therefore, the present experiment was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of propolis in alleviating the toxicity of aluminium chloride (AlCl3) on biochemical parameters, antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation of male Wistar Albino rats. Animals were assigned to 1 of 4 groups: control; 34 mg AlCl3/kg bw; 50 mg propolis/kg bw; AlCl3 (34 mg/kg bw) plus propolis (50 mg/kg bw), respectively. Rats were orally administered their respective doses daily for 70 days. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was increased, and the activities of glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were decreased in liver, kidney and brain of rats treated with AlCl3. While, TBARS was decreased and the antioxidant enzymes were increased in rats treated with propolis alone. Plasma transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose, urea, creatinine, bilirubin, total lipid, cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-c were increased, while total protein, albumin and high HDL-c were decreased due to AlCl3 administration. The presence of propolis with AlCl3 alleviated its toxic effects in rats treated with AlCl3. It can be concluded that propolis has beneficial influences and could be able to antagonize AlCl3 toxicity.
Source : Food and Chemical Toxicity
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Honey as a Potential Natural Anticancer Agent: A Review of Its Mechanisms
Sarfraz Ahmed and Nor Hayati Othman
Department of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
Abstract
The main treatment for cancer is by using chemotherapy and radiotherapy which themselves are toxic to other viable cells of the body. Recently, there are many studies focusing on the use of natural products for cancer prevention and treatment. Of these natural products, honey has been extensively researched. The mechanism of the anti-cancer activity of honey as chemopreventive and therapeutic agent has not been completely understood. The possible mechanisms are due to its apoptotic, antiproliferative, antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, estrogenic and immunomodulatory activities. We collate the findings of several studies published in the literature in order to understand the mechanism of its action.
Conclusion
Evidence is growing that honey may have the potential to be anticancer agent through several mechanisms (Figure 3). Though the full mechanism is yet to be fully understood, studies have shown that honey has anticancer effect through its interference with multiple cell-signaling pathways, such as inducing apoptosis, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and antimutagenic pathways. Honey modulates the body immune system. There are still many unanswered questions; why sugar is carcinogenic, while honey which is basically sugar has anticarcinogenic properties. Honey of different floral sources may give different effects. More research is needed to improve our understanding of the positive effect of honey and cancer. What is seen in cell cultures or animal experimentations may not apply to humans. Prospective randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to validate the authenticity of honey either alone or as adjuvant therapy.
Source : Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
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In vitro Antibacterial Activity of Propolis, Alum, Miswak, Green and Black Tea, Cloves Extracts Against Porphyromonas Gingivalis Isolated from Periodontitis Patients in Hilla City, Iraq
Huda Hadi Mohammad
Microbiology Department, College of Medicine, Babylon University, Babylon province, Iraq
ABSTRACT
Background
Human periodontal disease has been associated with a complex microbiota, the development of destructive periodontitis seems to be the result of a specific infection. Gram positive coccoid bacteria have been related to periodontal health, while periodontal disease was associated with Gram negative rods. The clinical use of antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents, as adjuvants for the treatment of periodontitis, has been extensively investigated in the past decade. Recently, special attention has been paid to natural medication including propolis, alum and various plant extracts.
Methods
Swabs were taken from periodontal pockets of 30 patients (periodontic Department, teaching clinics of oral and dental surgery in Hilla city), porphyromonas gingivalis was identified according to the cultural properties, microscopic examination and biochemical tests. Antibacterial action was evaluated on this isolate by using six different aqueous extracts of Salvadora persica (Miswak), aluminum potassium sulphate (alum), propolis, green and black tea, cloves (Syzygium aromaticum ) .
Results
Antimicrobial activity of propolis, alum and plant aqueous extracts at 50% concentration by well-diffusion method was characterized by inhibition zones. At this concentration, the maximum inhibition zone diameters 35mm, 40 mm were found in Salvadora persica and alum, respectively, for propolis the inhibition zone was 30 mm, while green tea and clove give the same inhibition zone 20 mm, the minimum inhibition zone 10 mm was found in black tea.
Conclusions
In summary, they showed a wide spectrum antibacterial activity. These results suggest that, propolis, alum, Salvadora persica (Miswak), clove, green and black tea have antibacterial actions against black pigmented P.gingivalis (from periodontal pockets) and may be used for the treatment and prophylaxis against periodontal diseases.
Source : American Journal of Phytomedicine and Therapeutics
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Cytoprotective Potential of Royal Jelly on Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells against Nicotine Toxicity via Catalase
Roongtawan Supabphol1* and Athikom Supabphol2
1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand.
2Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center (MSMC), Srinakharinwirot University, Ongkharak, Nakorn Nayok, Thailand.
Abstract
Aims: To examine the cytoprotective effects and mechanisms of a royal jelly extract in protecting the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from nicotine toxicity.
Study Design: Laboratory experimental tests.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Physiology and Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok 10110, Thailand, between June 2011 and February 2012.
Methodology: Cytotoxic assay of royal jelly to HUVECs was performed by using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol,2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reagent. The cytoprotective effect was then investigated by examining the presence of vacuole-like structures in HUVECs exposed to nicotine 5 or 7.5 mM with and without royal jelly. Cells were stained with crystal violet and photographed under phase contrast microscope. mRNA levels of genes involved in intracellular antioxidant system, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GSR) were confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Catalase activity was also determined by examining peroxidative function.
Results: Vacuole-like structures were found in the cytoplasm of HUVECs exposed to 5 mM nicotine and higher. Royal jelly alone at the concentrations lower than 2 mg/ml did not affect the structure or the survival rate of HUVECs after 1, 4, and 7 days of treatment. For cytoprotective effect, royal jelly 1-4 mg/ml mixed with 5 mM nicotine could obviously decrease the numbers of cells containing vacuole-like structures in the cytoplasm of HUVECs with the dose- and time-dependent fashion. The catalase mRNA levels and catalase activity in HUVECs exposed to 5 mM nicotine decreased significantly, but recovered when the cells were treated with royal jelly.
Conclusion: Royal jelly can be safety applied to endothelial cells even at high doses. Royal jelly is able to attenuate the abnormal vacuole-like structures induced in endothelial cell cytoplasm when exposed to nicotine. Further investigation of antioxidant gene expression showed that the mechanism possibly involves a reduction of oxidative stress via an up-regulation of catalase. Besides the supplementary food, royal jelly could be useful for endothelial cell protection from nicotine toxicity found in smoking or nicotine addiction.
Source : European Journal of Medicinal Plants
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Preliminary Screening for Various Bioactivities in Honey and Propolis Extracts from Thai Bees
Jirattikarn Kaewmuangmoon1, Pawornrat Nonthapa1, Atsalek Rattanawannee2, Pakorn Winayanuwattikun3 and Chanpen Chanchao4*
1Program of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phya Thai Rd., Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
2Program of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phya Thai Rd., Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phya Thai Rd., Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
4Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phya Thai Rd., Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Abstract
Aims: Honey and propolis have long been used in traditional medicine whilst honey is consumed as food. A screening for various bioactivities in honey from Apis florea and A.andreniformis, and the crude water and ethanol extracts of propolis from A. mellifera and Tetragonula laeviceps, from Thailand are reported.
Methodology: Various components such as protein, sugar, gluconic acid were assayed in honey while total sugar, reducing sugar, total polyphenol and flavonoid content were assayed in crude propolis. Samples were tested for in vitro antimicrobial, in vitro
antiplasmodial and antiproliferative activities.
Results: The crude propolis extracts showed good bioactivities. Antibacterial activity was found against Bacillus cereus (a model Gram-positive bacteria) in the water extracts of propolis from T. laeviceps (TLW) and A. mellifera (AMW), with MIC values of 50 and 100 μg/ml, respectively, whilst against Escherichia coli (a model Gram-negative bacteria), TLE revealed some 24.0% growth inhibition. Most interestingly, the ethanol extract of propolis from T. laeviceps (TLE) displayed a strong anti-malarial activity with a MIC of 4.48 μg/ml against in vitro Plasmodium falciparum growth, whilst AMW revealed a high inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis growth (74.3%). Furthermore, TLW (50 μg/ml) provided the highest anti-Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 replication activity at 33.0% without any sign of cytotoxicity to the host Vero cells. Finally, in vitro anti-proliferation activity against four cancer cell lines in tissue culture was noted with IC50 vales ranging between 25.5 - 29.3 and 26.8 – 49.5 μg/ml for TLE and AME, respectively.
Conclusion: Overall, the propolis of Thai A. mellifera and T. laeviceps exhibit diverse and some novel bioactivities worthy of further enrichment and characterization.
Source : European Journal of Medicinal Plants, 2(2): 74-92, 2012
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Medicinal Honey Improves Wound Healing, Decreases Pain
Floral honey as a secondary dressing can promote healing, minimize slough and necrosis, and reduce the affected area of many types of wounds, according to a prospective observational study published online April 12 in International Wound Journal. Of all the wounds in a study population of European patients who received topical honey as an adjunct to other dressings, 31.4% completely healed and 53.3% improved during an observational period of several weeks, reported Bahram Biglari, MD, from the Department of Paraplegia and Technical Orthopedics, Insurance Association Trauma Centre, Ludwigshafen, Germany, and colleagues. Stagnation occurred in 9.2% of the group's wounds, and 6.1% of the wounds worsened.
Measured as an average total wound surface area for all patients, wound size decreased significantly during the study period, from 29.66 ± 57.57 cm2 (P < 0.05; 2-tailed t-test). Honey dressings also demonstrated a measurable effect on wound cleanliness and patient-reported pain levels.
The study, which received financial support from a manufacturer of Medihoney, lends additional credence to earlier investigations that focused on honey-assisted autolysis and wound debridement.
"I commend Biglari et al in this timely, multicenter study for the treatment of diverse wounds with Medihoney. Obviously, the effect of decreased wound size…demonstrates the effectiveness of honey," wrote Sammy Sinno, MD, from the Institute of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at New York University, in an email interview with Medscape Medical News. "This study was a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of honey, particularly Medihoney, in treating wounds."
Dr. Sinno is one of the coauthors of a review article on honey and wound healing that appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology (2011;12:181-190). He was not involved in Dr. Biglari and colleagues' research.
Researchers enrolled patients treated at 10 medical institutions in Germany and Austria between March 2007 and March 2009. The causes of 154 wounds in the 121-patient study group included general and postoperative wounds, pressure ulcers, soft tissue infections, burns, scalds, and skin lesions. Seventeen patients dropped out, leaving 104 to be included in the treatment assessment. Almost half the participants were younger than 18 years, and nearly one third (32%) were oncology patients.
Investigators applied antibacterial Medihoney alone in 66% of the treatments. In another 22% of cases they used antibacterial Medihoney wound gel, which is composed of 80% honey and 20% plant emollients. They used a combination of both products in 6% of the wounds. In the remainder of the cases they applied honey secondarily to other dressings, including calcium alginate, hydrofiber dressings, and sterile gauzes moistened with isotonic sodium chloride solution.
Investigators changed dressings after 1 to 3 days if they observed wound exudation. They protected wound margins when necessary and cleaned the wounds with sterile solution. The investigators assessed each patient's wounds at least 3 times over observational periods averaging just under 5 weeks.
High tolerance of topical honey was reflected in 89% of the wound assessments.
Wounds were rated as "clean" (grade 1, no slough or necrosis) or "not clean" (grade 0, slough and/or necrosis present). After the application of honey dressings, wound cleanliness improved significantly, from an average grade of 0.16 ± 0.37 to 0.74 ± 0.44 (P < .05; paired Student's t-test).
To assess pain, investigators asked patients to grade the discomfort they felt on a scale of 0 to 10. The total average pain scores reported between recruitment and the end of the observation period decreased significantly, from 1.71 ± 1.89 to 0.55 ± 1.22 (P < .05; paired Student's t-test).
Yet the authors cautioned that "the extent of pain reduction that can be attributed to honey is difficult to evaluate from a non-controlled observational study. A comparative trial with other dressings or remedies would be more conclusive in this regard."
Floral honey drawn from Leptospermum scoparium (manuka) has been shown in many case studies to accelerate healing. And numerous studies have focused on its antimicrobial benefits, especially with regard to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. The current investigation, however, did not focus on the antibacterial effects of applied honey because physicians had already committed to the use of local antiseptics or systemic antibiotics for conditions afflicting many of the study's participants.
According to Dr. Sinno, Medihoney is one of several honey products that are Food and Drug Administration–approved for wound healing. "I believe [Medihoney] is a safe and efficacious product for the treatment of pressure ulcers and lower extremity ulcers (venous, arterial, and diabetic)," Dr. Sinno wrote. "Although the data is limited, honey also has promise in other wounds including Fournier gangrene, pyoderma gangrenosum, infected surgical wounds, burn and traumatic wounds."
But Dr. Sinno acknowledged that the use of honey for wound healing has not yet reached the mainstream. "Despite a growing number of clinical trials such as the one by Biglari et al, medicinal honey is still not familiar to many wound care practitioners. Based on this study and many others reviews in our review paper…this skepticism is certainly not justified. I think larger, randomized controlled trials in major wound centers across the country would be needed to once and for all put to rest the skepticism surrounding this age-old remedy and help honey find a place in the physician's armamentarium for treating wounds."
Source : Medscape via International Wound Jrnl (Multicentre prospective observational study on professional wound care using honey (Medihoney™)
Link to Source
Comparison of bee products based on assays of antioxidant capacities
Yoshimi Nakajima,#1 Kazuhiro Tsuruma,#1 Masamitsu Shimazawa,#1 Satoshi Mishima,#2 and Hideaki Hara1
1Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Molecular Pharmacology, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 5-6-1 Mitahora-higashi, Gifu 502-8585, Japan
2Nagaragawa Research Center, API Co. Ltd, 692-3 Nagara, Gifu 502-0071, Japan
Abstracts
BackgroundBee products (including propolis, royal jelly, and bee pollen) are popular, traditional health foods. We compared antioxidant effects among water and ethanol extracts of Brazilian green propolis (WEP or EEP), its main constituents, water-soluble royal jelly (RJ), and an ethanol extract of bee pollen.MethodsThe hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-, superoxide anion (O2·-)-, and hydroxyl radical (HO·)- scavenging capacities of bee products were measured using antioxidant capacity assays that employed the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive probe 5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, acetyl ester (CM-H2DCFDA) or aminophenyl fluorescein (APF).ResultsThe rank order of antioxidant potencies was as follows: WEP > EEP > pollen, but neither RJ nor 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) had any effects. Concerning the main constituents of WEP, the rank order of antioxidant effects was: caffeic acid > artepillin C > drupanin, but neither baccharin nor coumaric acid had any effects. The scavenging effects of caffeic acid were as powerful as those of trolox, but stronger than those of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) or vitamin C.ConclusionOn the basis of the present assays, propolis is the most powerful antioxidant of all the bee product examined, and its effect may be partly due to the various caffeic acids it contains. Pollen, too, exhibited strong antioxidant effects.
Source : BMC Complement Altern Med. 2009; 9: 4.
Link to Full Article
Antidepressant-Like Activity of 10-Hydroxy-Trans-2-Decenoic Acid, a Unique Unsaturated Fatty Acid of Royal Jelly, in Stress-Inducible Depression-Like Mouse Model
Abstract
Symptoms of depression and anxiety appeared in mice after they had been subjected to a combination of forced swimming for 15 min followed by being kept in cages that were sequentially subjected to leaning, drenching, and rotation within 1-2 days for a total of 3 weeks. The animals were then evaluated by the tail-suspension test, elevated plus-maze test, and open-field test at 1 day after the end of stress exposure. Using these experimental systems, we found that 10-hydroxy-trans-2-decenoic acid (HDEA), an unsaturated fatty acid unique to royal jelly (RJ), protected against the depression and anxiety when intraperitoneally administered once a day for 3 weeks simultaneously with the stress loading. Intraperitoneally administered RJ, a rich source of HDEA, was also protective against the depression, but RJ given by the oral route was less effective. Our present results demonstrate that HDEA and RJ, a natural source of it, were effective in ameliorating the stress-inducible symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Source : Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 139140
Link to Full Article
Floral honey as a secondary dressing can promote healing, minimize slough and necrosis, and reduce the affected area of many types of wounds, according to a prospective observational study published online April 12 in International Wound Journal. Of all the wounds in a study population of European patients who received topical honey as an adjunct to other dressings, 31.4% completely healed and 53.3% improved during an observational period of several weeks, reported Bahram Biglari, MD, from the Department of Paraplegia and Technical Orthopedics, Insurance Association Trauma Centre, Ludwigshafen, Germany, and colleagues. Stagnation occurred in 9.2% of the group's wounds, and 6.1% of the wounds worsened.
Measured as an average total wound surface area for all patients, wound size decreased significantly during the study period, from 29.66 ± 57.57 cm2 (P < 0.05; 2-tailed t-test). Honey dressings also demonstrated a measurable effect on wound cleanliness and patient-reported pain levels.
The study, which received financial support from a manufacturer of Medihoney, lends additional credence to earlier investigations that focused on honey-assisted autolysis and wound debridement.
"I commend Biglari et al in this timely, multicenter study for the treatment of diverse wounds with Medihoney. Obviously, the effect of decreased wound size…demonstrates the effectiveness of honey," wrote Sammy Sinno, MD, from the Institute of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at New York University, in an email interview with Medscape Medical News. "This study was a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of honey, particularly Medihoney, in treating wounds."
Dr. Sinno is one of the coauthors of a review article on honey and wound healing that appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology (2011;12:181-190). He was not involved in Dr. Biglari and colleagues' research.
Researchers enrolled patients treated at 10 medical institutions in Germany and Austria between March 2007 and March 2009. The causes of 154 wounds in the 121-patient study group included general and postoperative wounds, pressure ulcers, soft tissue infections, burns, scalds, and skin lesions. Seventeen patients dropped out, leaving 104 to be included in the treatment assessment. Almost half the participants were younger than 18 years, and nearly one third (32%) were oncology patients.
Investigators applied antibacterial Medihoney alone in 66% of the treatments. In another 22% of cases they used antibacterial Medihoney wound gel, which is composed of 80% honey and 20% plant emollients. They used a combination of both products in 6% of the wounds. In the remainder of the cases they applied honey secondarily to other dressings, including calcium alginate, hydrofiber dressings, and sterile gauzes moistened with isotonic sodium chloride solution.
Investigators changed dressings after 1 to 3 days if they observed wound exudation. They protected wound margins when necessary and cleaned the wounds with sterile solution. The investigators assessed each patient's wounds at least 3 times over observational periods averaging just under 5 weeks.
High tolerance of topical honey was reflected in 89% of the wound assessments.
Wounds were rated as "clean" (grade 1, no slough or necrosis) or "not clean" (grade 0, slough and/or necrosis present). After the application of honey dressings, wound cleanliness improved significantly, from an average grade of 0.16 ± 0.37 to 0.74 ± 0.44 (P < .05; paired Student's t-test).
To assess pain, investigators asked patients to grade the discomfort they felt on a scale of 0 to 10. The total average pain scores reported between recruitment and the end of the observation period decreased significantly, from 1.71 ± 1.89 to 0.55 ± 1.22 (P < .05; paired Student's t-test).
Yet the authors cautioned that "the extent of pain reduction that can be attributed to honey is difficult to evaluate from a non-controlled observational study. A comparative trial with other dressings or remedies would be more conclusive in this regard."
Floral honey drawn from Leptospermum scoparium (manuka) has been shown in many case studies to accelerate healing. And numerous studies have focused on its antimicrobial benefits, especially with regard to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. The current investigation, however, did not focus on the antibacterial effects of applied honey because physicians had already committed to the use of local antiseptics or systemic antibiotics for conditions afflicting many of the study's participants.
According to Dr. Sinno, Medihoney is one of several honey products that are Food and Drug Administration–approved for wound healing. "I believe [Medihoney] is a safe and efficacious product for the treatment of pressure ulcers and lower extremity ulcers (venous, arterial, and diabetic)," Dr. Sinno wrote. "Although the data is limited, honey also has promise in other wounds including Fournier gangrene, pyoderma gangrenosum, infected surgical wounds, burn and traumatic wounds."
But Dr. Sinno acknowledged that the use of honey for wound healing has not yet reached the mainstream. "Despite a growing number of clinical trials such as the one by Biglari et al, medicinal honey is still not familiar to many wound care practitioners. Based on this study and many others reviews in our review paper…this skepticism is certainly not justified. I think larger, randomized controlled trials in major wound centers across the country would be needed to once and for all put to rest the skepticism surrounding this age-old remedy and help honey find a place in the physician's armamentarium for treating wounds."
Source : Medscape via International Wound Jrnl (Multicentre prospective observational study on professional wound care using honey (Medihoney™)
Link to Source
Comparison of bee products based on assays of antioxidant capacities
Yoshimi Nakajima,#1 Kazuhiro Tsuruma,#1 Masamitsu Shimazawa,#1 Satoshi Mishima,#2 and Hideaki Hara1
1Department of Biofunctional Evaluation, Molecular Pharmacology, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, 5-6-1 Mitahora-higashi, Gifu 502-8585, Japan
2Nagaragawa Research Center, API Co. Ltd, 692-3 Nagara, Gifu 502-0071, Japan
Abstracts
BackgroundBee products (including propolis, royal jelly, and bee pollen) are popular, traditional health foods. We compared antioxidant effects among water and ethanol extracts of Brazilian green propolis (WEP or EEP), its main constituents, water-soluble royal jelly (RJ), and an ethanol extract of bee pollen.MethodsThe hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-, superoxide anion (O2·-)-, and hydroxyl radical (HO·)- scavenging capacities of bee products were measured using antioxidant capacity assays that employed the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-sensitive probe 5-(and-6)-chloromethyl-2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, acetyl ester (CM-H2DCFDA) or aminophenyl fluorescein (APF).ResultsThe rank order of antioxidant potencies was as follows: WEP > EEP > pollen, but neither RJ nor 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) had any effects. Concerning the main constituents of WEP, the rank order of antioxidant effects was: caffeic acid > artepillin C > drupanin, but neither baccharin nor coumaric acid had any effects. The scavenging effects of caffeic acid were as powerful as those of trolox, but stronger than those of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) or vitamin C.ConclusionOn the basis of the present assays, propolis is the most powerful antioxidant of all the bee product examined, and its effect may be partly due to the various caffeic acids it contains. Pollen, too, exhibited strong antioxidant effects.
Source : BMC Complement Altern Med. 2009; 9: 4.
Link to Full Article
Antidepressant-Like Activity of 10-Hydroxy-Trans-2-Decenoic Acid, a Unique Unsaturated Fatty Acid of Royal Jelly, in Stress-Inducible Depression-Like Mouse Model
Abstract
Symptoms of depression and anxiety appeared in mice after they had been subjected to a combination of forced swimming for 15 min followed by being kept in cages that were sequentially subjected to leaning, drenching, and rotation within 1-2 days for a total of 3 weeks. The animals were then evaluated by the tail-suspension test, elevated plus-maze test, and open-field test at 1 day after the end of stress exposure. Using these experimental systems, we found that 10-hydroxy-trans-2-decenoic acid (HDEA), an unsaturated fatty acid unique to royal jelly (RJ), protected against the depression and anxiety when intraperitoneally administered once a day for 3 weeks simultaneously with the stress loading. Intraperitoneally administered RJ, a rich source of HDEA, was also protective against the depression, but RJ given by the oral route was less effective. Our present results demonstrate that HDEA and RJ, a natural source of it, were effective in ameliorating the stress-inducible symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Source : Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 139140
Link to Full Article