3,10-Dihydroxy-decanoic acid, isolated from royal jelly, stimulates Th1 polarising capability of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Effects of Royal Jelly on Gut Dysbiosis and NAFLD in db/db Mice

Royal jelly (RJ) is a naturally occurring substance synthesized by honeybees and has various health benefits. Herein, we focused on the medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) unique to RJ and evaluated their therapeutic efficacy in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We examined db/m mice that were exclusively fed a normal diet, db/db mice exclusively fed a normal diet, and db/db mice fed varying RJ quantities (0.2, 1, and 5%). RJ improved NAFLD activity scores and decreased gene expression related to fatty acid metabolism, fibrosis, and inflammation in the liver. RJ regulated innate immunity-related inflammatory responses in the small intestine and decreased the expression of genes associated with inflammation and nutrient absorption transporters. RJ increased the number of operational taxonomic units, the abundance of Bacteroides, and seven taxa, including bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids. RJ increased the concentrations of RJ-related MCFAs (10-hidroxy-2-decenoic acid, 10-hydroxydecanoic acid, 2-decenedioic acid, and sebacic acid) in the serum and liver. These RJ-related MCFAs decreased saturated fatty acid deposition in HepG2 cells and decreased the gene expression associated with fibrosis and fatty acid metabolism. RJ and RJ-related MCFAs improved dysbiosis and regulated the expression of inflammation-, fibrosis-, and nutrient absorption transporter-related genes, thereby preventing NAFLD.

Royal Jelly: Beneficial Properties and Synergistic Effects with Chemotherapeutic Drugs with Particular Emphasis in Anticancer Strategies

Cancer is one of the major causes of death globally. Currently, various methods are used to treat cancer, including radiotherapy, surgery, and chemotherapy, all of which have serious adverse effects. A healthy lifestyle, especially a nutritional diet, plays a critical role in the treatment and prevention of many disorders, including cancer. The above notion, plus the trend in going back to nature, encourages consumers and the food industry to invest more in food products and to find potential candidates that can maintain human health. One of these agents, and a very notable food agent, is royal jelly (RJ), known to be produced by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular salivary glands of young nurse honeybees. RJ contains bioactive substances, such as carbohydrates, protein, lipids, peptides, mineral salts and polyphenols which contribute to the appreciated biological and pharmacological activities. Antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antibacterial impacts are among the well-recognized benefits. The combination of RJ or its constituents with anticancer drugs has synergistic effects on cancer disorders, enhancing the drug’s effectiveness or reducing its side effects. The purpose of the present review is to emphasize the possible interactions between chemotherapy and RJ, or its components, in treating cancer illnesses.

Bee Products: An Emblematic Example of Underutilized Sources of Bioactive Compounds

Beside honey, honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) are able to produce many byproducts, including bee pollen, propolis, bee bread, royal jelly, and beeswax. Even if the medicinal properties of these byproducts have been recognized for thousands of years by the ancient civilizations, in the modern era, they have a limited use, essentially as nutritional supplements or health products. However, these natural products are excellent sources of bioactive compounds, macro- and micronutrients, that, in a synergistic way, confer multiple biological activities to these byproducts, such as, for example, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. This work aims to update the chemical and phytochemical composition of bee pollen, propolis, bee bread, royal jelly, and beeswax and to summarize the main effects exerted by these byproducts on human health, from the anticancer and immune-modulatory activities to the antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, hypotensive, and anti-allergic properties.

Bee Products: A Representation of Biodiversity, Sustainability, and Health

Biodiversity strengthens the productivity of any ecosystem (agricultural land, forest, lake, etc.). The loss of biodiversity contributes to food and energy insecurity; increases vulnerability to natural disasters, such as floods or tropical storms; and decreases the quality of both life and health. Wild and managed bees play a key role in maintaining the biodiversity and in the recovery and restoration of degraded habitats. The novelty character of this perspective is to give an updated representation of bee products’ biodiversity, sustainability, and health relationship. The role of bees as bioindicators, their importance in the conservation of biodiversity, their ecosystem services, and the variety of the bee products are described herein. An overview of the main components of bee products, their biological potentials, and health is highlighted and detailed as follows: (i) nutritional value of bee products, (ii) bioactive profile of bee products and the related beneficial properties; (iii) focus on honey and health through a literature quantitative analysis, and (iv) bee products explored through databases. Moreover, as an example of the interconnection between health, biodiversity, and sustainability, a case study, namely the “Cellulose Park”, realized in Rome (Italy), is presented here. This case study highlights how bee activities can be used to assess and track changes in the quality of agricultural ecosystems—hive products could be valid indicators of the quality and health of the surrounding environment, as well as the changes induced by the biotic and abiotic factors that impact the sustainability of agricultural production and biodiversity conservation in peri-urban areas.

Dietary Structure and Nutritional Status of Chinese Beekeepers: Demographic Health Survey

BACKGROUND

Beekeeping and honey gathering are traditional forms of agricultural farming in China. However, only few studies have focused on the nutritional status and health level of this special occupational group.

OBJECTIVE

By comparing the health status of apiculturists (beekeepers) and vegetable farmers in plain areas of Hubei Province, and analyzing the influence of dietary structure and intake on their nutritional level, this paper provides a scientific theoretical basis for the further development of health education and disease prevention for beekeepers.

METHODS

From February to April 2016, 191/236 beekeepers (80.9% of the total beekeepers) with large-scale breeding (300-500 colonies) and 182 vegetable farmers in the same area were sampled by the cluster sampling method. Their nutrient composition was analyzed using a human body composition analyzer, dietary structure information was collected using the dietary frequency query method, and cognitive function was investigated. In addition, blood samples of both groups were collected.

RESULTS

A total of 362 valid questionnaires (beekeepers/vegetable farmers: 185/177) were collected, with an effective response rate of 97.1% (362/373). Both beekeepers and vegetable farmers were overweight, and the beekeepers' grip strength was much stronger than that of the vegetable farmers' regardless of gender. The dietary structure of beekeepers is very unique: 29.7% (55/185) of beekeepers indicated consuming royal jelly regularly for more than 10 years. Their main foods are grain, cereals, and fresh vegetables; 68.1% (126/185) of the beekeepers never drank milk and other dairy products, and their overall nutrient intake is unbalanced. The average intake of cellulose in this group was also significantly higher than that in the epidemiological survey in the same sex and age group. The intake of vitamin A and selenium in the beekeepers group was significantly higher than that in the vegetable-farmers group (all P<.001). The blood indices of creatinine (P=.03) and blood copper (P<.001) in the beekeepers group were significantly higher than those in the vegetable-farmers group, and the total protein, albumin, calcium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, folic acid, and vitamin B12 in the beekeepers group were significantly lower than those in the vegetable-farmers group (P<.03 for potassium and P<.001 for others). The total Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of the beekeepers group was 28.1, significantly higher (P=.006) than that of the vegetable-farmers group (23.3).

CONCLUSIONS

The beekeepers in this area have their special dietary structure, body nutrient level, and disease characteristics. The cognitive level of the beekeepers who regularly consume royal jelly is significantly higher than that of their peers. The chronic diseases of this special occupational group are closely related to their lifestyle and nutritional status, so more attention and in-depth studies are needed to improve the quality of life of this population.

Health Promoting Properties of Bee Royal Jelly: Food of the Queens

Royal jelly (RJ) demand is growing every year and so is the market for functional foods in general. RJ is formed by different substances, mainly carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, but also vitamins, minerals, and phenolic or volatile compounds in lower proportion. Major royal jelly proteins (MRJP) are, together with 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), key substances of RJ due to their different biological properties. In particular, 10-HDA is a unique substance in this product. RJ has been historically employed as health enhancer and is still very relevant in China due to the traditional medicine and the apitherapy. Nowadays, it is mainly consumed as a functional food or is found in supplements and other formulations for its health-beneficial properties. Within these properites, anti-lipidemic, antioxidant, antiproliferative, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiaging, and estrogenic activities have been reported for RJ or its specific components. This manuscript is aimed at reviewing the current knowledge on RJ components, their assessment in terms of authenticity, their biological activities, and related health applications.

Antiviral and Immunomodulatory Effects of Phytochemicals from Honey against COVID-19: Potential Mechanisms of Action and Future Directions

The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has recently put the world under stress, resulting in a global pandemic. Currently, there are no approved treatments or vaccines, and this severe respiratory illness has cost many lives. Despite the established antimicrobial and immune-boosting potency described for honey, to date there is still a lack of evidence about its potential role amid COVID-19 outbreak. Based on the previously explored antiviral effects and phytochemical components of honey, we review here evidence for its role as a potentially effective natural product against COVID-19. Although some bioactive compounds in honey have shown potential antiviral effects (i.e., methylglyoxal, chrysin, caffeic acid, galangin and hesperidinin) or enhancing antiviral immune responses (i.e., levan and ascorbic acid), the mechanisms of action for these compounds are still ambiguous. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work exclusively summarizing all these bioactive compounds with their probable mechanisms of action as antiviral agents, specifically against SARS-CoV-2.

New Insights into the Biological and Pharmaceutical Properties of Royal Jelly

Royal jelly (RJ) is a yellowish-white and acidic secretion of hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of nurse bees used to feed young worker larvae during the first three days and the entire life of queen bees. RJ is one of the most appreciated and valued natural product which has been mainly used in traditional medicines, health foods, and cosmetics for a long time in different parts of the world. It is also the most studied bee product, aimed at unravelling its bioactivities, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-aging, immunomodulatory, and general tonic action against laboratory animals, microbial organisms, farm animals, and clinical trials. It is commonly used to supplement various diseases, including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, and Alzheimer's disease. Here, we highlight the recent research advances on the main bioactive compounds of RJ, such as proteins, peptides, fatty acids, and phenolics, for a comprehensive understanding of the biochemistry, biological, and pharmaceutical responses to human health promotion and life benefits. This is potentially important to gain novel insight into the biological and pharmaceutical properties of RJ.

10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid of royal jelly exhibits bactericide and anti-inflammatory activity in human colon cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Royal jelly (RJ), the exclusive food for the larva of queen honeybee, is regarded as the novel supplement to promote human health. The function of RJ may be attributed to its major and unique fatty acid, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA). The current study investigated the anti-inflammory function of 10-HDA on human colon cancer cells, WiDr, as well as its effect on the growth of pathogenic bacterium.

METHODS

The pro-inflammatory cytokines, receptor antagonist cytokine (IL-1ra) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in WiDr cells was analyzed by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or western blot. The growth inhibition of 10-HDA on bacterium was evaluated by determination of minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimal bactericide concentrations (MBC).

RESULTS

The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, Interleukin (IL)-8, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in WiDr cells was modulated by 10-HDA. IL-8 were dramatically declined by 10-HDA at 3 mM, while IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly decreased. 10-HDA increased IL-1ra in a dose manner. NF-κB pathway is primarily in response to prototypical pro-inflammatory cytokines, and NF-κB was reduced after 10-HDA treatment. 10-HDA acted as potent bactericide against animal- or human-specific pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus alactolyticus, Staphylococcus intermedius B, Staphylococcus xylosus, Salmonella cholearasuis, Vibro parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli (hemolytic).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study showed that in vitro 10-HDA from RJ exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in WiDr cells, as well as anti-bacterial activity against animal pathogens. 10-HDA showed its potential as anti-imflammtory agent and bactericide to benefit human gastrointestinal tract.

Therapeutic Properties of Bioactive Compounds from Different Honeybee Products

Honeybees produce honey, royal jelly, propolis, bee venom, bee pollen, and beeswax, which potentially benefit to humans due to the bioactives in them. Clinical standardization of these products is hindered by chemical variability depending on honeybee and botanical sources, but different molecules have been isolated and pharmacologically characterized. Major honey bioactives include phenolics, methylglyoxal, royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), and oligosaccharides. In royal jelly there are antimicrobial jelleins and royalisin peptides, MRJPs, and hydroxy-decenoic acid derivatives, notably 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuromodulatory, metabolic syndrome preventing, and anti-aging activities. Propolis contains caffeic acid phenethyl ester and artepillin C, specific of Brazilian propolis, with antiviral, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. Bee venom consists of toxic peptides like pain-inducing melittin, SK channel blocking apamin, and allergenic phospholipase A2. Bee pollen is vitaminic, contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant phenolics, as well as antiatherosclerotic, antidiabetic, and hypoglycemic flavonoids, unsaturated fatty acids, and sterols. Beeswax is widely used in cosmetics and makeup. Given the importance of drug discovery from natural sources, this review is aimed at providing an exhaustive screening of the bioactive compounds detected in honeybee products and of their curative or adverse biological effects.

Long-term treatment with royal jelly improves bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats

This study investigated the anti-fibrotic potential of royal jelly (RJ) powder against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. The rats were given RJ orally (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg per day) for 7 consecutive days before the administration of single intratracheal instillation of bleomycin (BLM) at 7.5 IU/kg. RJ doses were continued for 21 days after BLM exposure. Fibrotic changes in the lungs were studied by cell count and analysis of cytokine levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), histopathological examination, and assaying oxidative stress biomarkers in lung tissue. The results showed that BLM administration significantly increased the fibrotic changes, collagen content, and levels of malondialdehyde and decreased total thiol and glutathione peroxidase antioxidant contents in the rats' lung tissue. An increase in the level of cell counts and pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines such as TNF-α and TGF-β in BALF was observed. Also, it significantly decreased IFN-γ, an anti-fibrotic cytokine, in BALF. However, RJ (50 and 100 mg/kg) reversed all of these biochemical indices as well as histopathological alterations induced by BLM. The present study demonstrates that RJ, by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, attenuates oxidative damage and fibrosis induced by BLM.

Long-term administration of Greek Royal Jelly improves spatial memory and influences the concentration of brain neurotransmitters in naturally aged Wistar male rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Royal Jelly (RJ) is a bee-derived product that has been traditionally used in the European and Asian systems of medicine for longevity. RJ has various pharmacological activities that may prevent aging e.g., anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-hypercholesterolemic and anti-hyperglycemic properties.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the behavioral and neurochemical effects of long-term oral, previously chemically analyzed, Greek RJ administration to aged rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RJ powder was given to 18-month old male Wistar rats (50 and 100mg of powder/kg b.w./day) by gastric gavage for 2 months. The spatial memory was assessed in the water maze and next the level of neurotransmitters, their metabolites and utilization in the selected brain regions were estimated.

RESULTS

The improvement of memory in rats pretreated with the smaller dose of RJ was observed compared with controls. In biochemical examination mainly the depletion of dopamine and serotonin in the prefrontal cortex along with an increase in their metabolite concentration and turnover were seen.

CONCLUSION

Better cognitive performance in the old animals using a non-toxic, natural food product in the view of the process of the aging of human population is noteworthy. Our results contribute towards validation of the traditional use of RJ in promoting a better quality of life in old age.