Review of the anticancer activities of bee products

Antibacterial Effects of Various Types of Bee Products in Malaysia: A Systematic Review

Antibiotics are widely used to treat bacterial infections. The effectiveness of antibiotics is very important, but unfortunately, prolonged exposure leads to the development of antibiotic resistance in some bacteria. Hence, using natural products as antibacterial agents is an attractive alternative, given that they have been used as traditional medicine since the existence of humanity. This study systematically reviewed the antibacterial activity of Malaysian bee products such as honey, propolis and bee bread. Five electronic databases: i) PubMed; ii) ScienceDirect; iii) Scopus; iv) Web of Science Core Collection and v) Google Scholar, were searched for relevant articles. A total of 153 articles were obtained from the initial search. Of these, 32 articles, including 24 on honey, eight on propolis and one on bee bread, were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Most studies reported that honey, propolis and bee bread demonstrated antibacterial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

In vitro cytotoxic activity on KATO-III cancer cell lines of mangiferolic acid purified from Thai Tetragonula laeviceps propolis

Gastric cancer is a global health concern, but current treatment with chemotherapy and surgery is often inadequate, prompting the exploration of alternative treatments. Propolis is a natural substance collected by bees known for its diverse properties linked to floral sources. The Dichloromethane Partitioned Extract (DPE) from Tetragonula laeviceps propolis, in Bankha district, Thailand was previously shown to possess significant cytotoxicity against KATO-III gastric cancer cells, while showing lower cytotoxicity toward WI-38 normal fibroblast cells. Here, the DPE was further fractionated by column chromatography, identified active fractions, and subjected to structural analysis using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Cytotoxicity against KATO-III cells was reevaluated, and programmed cell death was analyzed using flow cytometry. Expression levels of cancer-related genes were measured using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR. Cardol C15:2 (compound 1) and mangiferolic acid (MF; compound 2) were discovered in the most active fractions following structural analysis. MF exhibited strong cytotoxicity against KATO-III cells (IC50 of 4.78-16.02 μg/mL), although this was less effective than doxorubicin (IC50 of 0.56-1.55 μg/mL). Morphological changes, including decreased cell density and increased debris, were observed in KATO-III cells treated with 30 μg/mL of MF. Significant induction of late-stage apoptosis and necrosis, particularly at 48 and 72 h, suggested potential DNA damage and cell cycle arrest, evidenced by an increased proportion of sub-G1 and S-phase cells. Doxorubicin, the positive control, triggered late apoptosis but caused more necrosis after 72 h. Furthermore, MF at 30 μg/mL significantly increased the expression level of COX2 and NFκB genes linked to inflammation and cell death pathways. This upregulation was consistent at later time points (48 and 72 h) and was accompanied by increased expression of CASP3 and CASP7 genes. These findings suggest MF effectively induces cell death in KATO-III cells through late apoptosis and necrosis, potentially mediated by upregulated inflammation-related genes.

Bee Venom-Loaded Niosomes as Innovative Platforms for Cancer Treatment: Development and Therapeutical Efficacy and Safety Evaluation

Despite past efforts towards therapeutical innovation, cancer remains a highly incident and lethal disease, with current treatments lacking efficiency and leading to severe side effects. Hence, it is imperative to develop new, more efficient, and safer therapies. Bee venom has proven to have multiple and synergistic bioactivities, including antitumor effects. Nevertheless, some toxic effects have been associated with its administration. To tackle these issues, in this work, bee venom-loaded niosomes were developed, for cancer treatment. The vesicles had a small (150 nm) and homogeneous (polydispersity index of 0.162) particle size, and revealed good therapeutic efficacy in in vitro gastric, colorectal, breast, lung, and cervical cancer models (inhibitory concentrations between 12.37 ng/mL and 14.72 ng/mL). Additionally, they also revealed substantial anti-inflammatory activity (inhibitory concentration of 28.98 ng/mL), effects complementary to direct antitumor activity. Niosome safety was also assessed, both in vitro (skin, liver, and kidney cells) and ex vivo (hen's egg chorioallantoic membrane), and results showed that compound encapsulation increased its safety. Hence, small, and homogeneous bee venom-loaded niosomes were successfully developed, with substantial anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects, making them potentially promising primary or adjuvant cancer therapies. Future research should focus on evaluating the potential of the developed platform in in vivo models.

Exploring the in vitro potential of royal jelly against glioblastoma and neuroblastoma: impact on cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, and the biomolecular content

Neuroblastoma and glioblastoma are the most commonly seen nervous system tumors, and their treatment is challenging. Relatively safe and easy acquisition of nutraceutical natural products make them suitable candidates for anticancer research. Royal jelly (RJ), a superfood, has many biological and pharmacological activities. This study was conducted to, for the first time, elucidate its anticancer efficiency, even in high doses, on neuroblastoma and glioblastoma cell lines through cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle and biomolecular content evaluation. We performed experiments with RJ concentrations in the range of 1.25-10 mg mL-1 for 48 h. Cell viability assays revealed a notable cytotoxic effect of RJ in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment with a high dose of RJ significantly increased the apoptotic cell population of both cell lines. Furthermore, we observed G0-G1 phase arrest in neuroblastoma cells but G2-M arrest in glioblastoma cells. All these cellular changes are closely associated with the alterations of the macromolecular makeup of the cells, such as decreased saturated lipid, protein, DNA and RNA amounts, protein conformational changes, decreased protein phosphorylation and increased protein carbonylation. These cellular changes are associated with RJ triggered-ROS formation. The clear segregation between the control and the RJ-treated groups proved these changes, obtained from the unsupervised and supervised chemometric analysis. RJ has good anticancer activity against nervous system cancers and could be safely used with current treatment strategies.

Antimicrobial, Anticancer, and Antioxidant Activities of Maize and Clover Pollen Grains Extracts: A Comparative Study with Phytochemical Characterizations

The failure to treat infectious diseases due to the continual emergence of drug-resistant microbes poses a huge and serious challenge for human health globally. Currently, the discovery and development of natural therapeutic compounds are attracting considerable attention from researchers worldwide. In this project, two types of pollen grains (maize and clover) were evaluated for potential antimicrobial activities. Extracts of both pollen grains were purified using HPLC, which has been shown to have numerous phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Pyro catechol and methyl gallate were detected in high concentrations (1145.56 and 1056.57 µg/mL, respectively) in the maize extract, while caffeic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol (464.73, 393.05, and 390.93 µg/mL, respectively) were among the compounds observed at high concentrations in the clover pollen grains extract. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, and Candida albicans were more sensitive to the clover pollen grains extract with inhibition zones of 22 ± 0.2, 18 ± 0.1, 29 ± 0.3, and 42 ± 0.4 mm compared to the size of the inhibitory zones caused by the maize pollen grains extract (19 ± 0.3, 15 ± 0.4, 27 ± 0.1, and 22 ± 0.4 mm, respectively). Moreover, lower MIC values for the clover pollen grains extract were recorded against C. albicans (1.97 ± 0.04 µg/mL), S. aureus (62.5 ± 1.00 µg/mL), and E. coli (62.5 ± 0.07 µg/mL) than the MICs caused by the maize pollen grains extract. The use of a transmission electron microscope revealed that the E. coli that had been treated with the clover pollen grains extract showed changes in its cell walls compared to that treated with the maize pollen grains extract. The clover pollen grains extract exhibited a stronger antioxidant potential, with an IC50 value of 22.18 µg/mL, compared to an IC50 value of 54.85 µg/mL for the maize pollen grains extract, via a DPPH scavenging assay. Regarding anticancer activity, the maize pollen grains extract was revealed to be more effective in terms of inhibiting the human colon cancer cell line HCT-116, with an IC50 value of 67.02 ± 1.37 µg/mL, compared with the observed toxicity caused by the clover extract, with an IC50 value of 75.03 ± 1.02 µg/mL. Overall, the clover pollen grains extract demonstrated potent antibacterial and antioxidant activities, but not anticancer activity, when compared to the maize grains extract. Thus, the current findings related to both types of pollen grains (clover and maize) highlight their potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of certain infectious diseases and malignancies.

Melittin: a possible regulator of cancer proliferation in preclinical cell culture and animal models

BACKGROUND

Melittin is a water-soluble cationic peptide derived from bee venom that has been thoroughly studied for the cure of different cancers. However, the unwanted interactions of melittin produce hemolytic and cytotoxic effects that hinder their therapeutic applications. To overcome the shortcomings, numerous research groups have adopted different approaches, including conjugation with tumor-targeting proteins, gene therapy, and encapsulation in nanoparticles, to reduce the non-specific cytotoxic effects and potentiate their anti-cancerous activity.

PURPOSE

This article aims to provide mechanistic insights into the chemopreventive activity of melittin and its nanoversion in combination with standard anti-cancer drugs for the treatment of cancer.

METHODS

We looked over the pertinent research on melittin's chemopreventive properties in online databases such as PubMed and Scopus.

CONCLUSION

In the present article, the anti-cancerous effects of melittin on different cancers have been discussed very nicely, as have their possible mechanisms of action to act against different tumors. Besides, it interacts with different signal molecules that regulate the diverse pathways of cancerous cells, such as cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, metastasis, angiogenesis, and inflammation. We also discussed the recent progress in the synergistic combination of melittin with standard anti-cancer drugs and a nano-formulated version of melittin for targeted delivery to improve its anticancer potential.

Chemical Properties and Biological Activity of Bee Pollen

Pollen, a remarkably versatile natural compound collected by bees for its abundant source of proteins and nutrients, represents a rich reservoir of diverse bioactive compounds with noteworthy chemical and therapeutic potential. Its extensive biological effects have been known and exploited since ancient times. Today, there is an increased interest in finding natural compounds against oxidative stress, a factor that contributes to various diseases. Recent research has unraveled a multitude of biological activities associated with bee pollen, ranging from antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties to potential antiviral and anticancer applications. Comprehending the extensive repertoire of biological properties across various pollen sources remains challenging. By investigating a spectrum of pollen types and their chemical composition, this review produces an updated analysis of the bioactive constituents and the therapeutic prospects they offer. This review emphasizes the necessity for further exploration and standardization of diverse pollen sources and bioactive compounds that could contribute to the development of innovative therapies.

Chrysin inhibits adipogenesis by modulating PPARγ: in silico and in vitro studies

Adipose tissue is the major storage site of lipids and plays a vital role in energy homeostasis. Adipogenesis is a well-regulated process wherein preadipocytes differentiate into adipocytes. It requires the sequential activation of numerous transcription factors, including peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). Phytochemicals have been reported to regulate adipogenesis and flavonoids represent the most researched groups of phytochemicals with regard to their effect on adipogenesis. Chrysin is a naturally occurring flavone and is reported to have anti-inflammatory effects in obese conditions. The present study was aimed to examine the effect of chrysin on adipogenesis. In silico Molecular docking, dynamic simulation studies and in vitro cell-based assays showed that chrysin inhibited adipogenesis by modulating key adipogenic transcription factor PPARγ. Enhanced adipogenesis leads to obesity and targeting adipogenesis is potential in regulating adipose tissue development. So, these investigations may provide important information for designing therapeutic interventions to control adiposity.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Recent advances and opportunities related to the use of bee products in food processing

Nowadays, natural foods that can provide positive health effects are gaining more and more popularity. Bees and the products they produce are our common natural heritage that should be developed. In the article, we presented the characteristics of bee products and their use in industry. We described the development and importance of beekeeping in the modern world. Due to their high nutritional value and therapeutic properties, bee products are of great interest and their consumption is constantly growing. The basis for the use of bee products in human nutrition is their properties and unique chemical composition. The conducted research and opinions confirm the beneficial effect of bee products on health. The current consumer awareness of the positive impact of food having a pro-health effect on health and well-being affects the increase in interest and demand for this type of food among various social groups. Enriching the daily diet with bee products may support the functioning of the organism. New technologies have appeared on the market to improve the process of obtaining bee products. The use of bee products plays a large role in many industries; moreover, the consumption of bee products and promotion of their medicinal properties are very important in shaping proper eating habits.

Diversity investigation of cultivable yeasts associated with honeycombs and identification of a novel Rhodotorula toruloides strain with the robust concomitant production of lipid and carotenoid

Oleaginous yeasts-derived microbial lipids provide a promising alternative feedstock for the biodiesel industry. However, hyperosmotic stress caused by high sugar concentration during fermentation significantly prevents high cell density and productivity. Isolation of new robust osmophilic oleaginous species from specific environment possibly resolves this issue to some extent. In this study, the cultivable yeast composition of honeycombs was investigated. Totally, 11 species of honeycomb-associated cultivable yeast were identified and characterized. Among them, an osmophilic yeast strain, designated as Rhodotorula toruloides C23 was featured with excellent lipogenic and carotenogenic capacity and remarkable cell growth using glucose, xylose or glycerol as feedstock, with simultaneous production of 24.41 g/L of lipids and 15.50 mg/L of carotenoids from 120 g/L glucose in 6.7-L fermentation. Comparative transcriptomic analysis showed that C23 had evolved a dedicated molecular regulation mechanism to maintain their high simultaneous accumulation of intracellular lipids and carotenoids and cell growth under high sugar concentration.

Determinants of Honey and Other Bee Products Use for Culinary, Cosmetic, and Medical Purposes

Bee products have been used for centuries for culinary, medicinal, and cosmetic purposes, and their properties are still a subject of research, which provide new arguments in favour of their use. The research aimed to determine the current state of use of bee products by Polish consumers and determine the ways and conditions of their use, with particular reference to the level of nutritional knowledge and health status. The survey was conducted using the CAWI (Computer-Assisted Web Interview) method on 487 respondents. It was found that honey is used mainly for culinary purposes and, to a lesser extent, for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Other bee products are much less commonly used than honey-mainly beeswax and royal jelly for cosmetic purposes and propolis and bee pollen for medicinal purposes. Segments distinguished by the frequency of use of honey for particular purposes were differentiated by gender, age, income level, use of other bee products, and motivation to use them. Their differences were also found in terms of the level of nutritional knowledge and self-assessed health status-the highest ratings in both categories were indicated by representatives of the Honey users' segment, which consisted of people who use honey most frequently for cooking, cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Regression analysis additionally showed that higher levels of nutritional knowledge and better health status were associated with the use of honey to treat gastrointestinal ailments and with the use of propolis for medicinal purposes.

Insight into the Recent Application of Chemometrics in Quality Analysis and Characterization of Bee Honey during Processing and Storage

The application of chemometrics, a widely used science in food studies (and not only food studies) has begun to increase in importance with chemometrics being a very powerful tool in analyzing large numbers of results. In the case of honey, chemometrics is usually used for assessing honey authenticity and quality control, combined with well-established analytical methods. Research related to investigation of the quality changes in honey due to modifications after processing and storage is rare, with a visibly increasing tendency in the last decade (and concentrated on investigating novel methods to preserve the honey quality, such as ultrasound or high-pressure treatment). This review presents the evolution in the last few years in using chemometrics in analyzing honey quality during processing and storage. The advantages of using chemometrics in assessing honey quality during storage and processing are presented, together with the main characteristics of some well-known chemometric methods. Chemometrics prove to be a successful tool to differentiate honey samples based on changes of characteristics during storage and processing.

Apis mellifera anatoliaca Venom Exerted Anti-Inflammatory Activity on LPS-Stimulated Mammalian Macrophages by Reducing the Production of the Inflammatory Cytokines

Extraction and characterization of natural products provide the opportunity to expand our arsenal of drug candidates against a wide range of diseases including cancer and inflammatory disorders. Previous studies have shown bee venom to have immense potential as an anti-inflammatory drug candidate. In this study, we focused on the venom of Apis mellifera anatoliaca and characterized its content by HPLC. An in vitro inflammation model based on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mammalian macrophages was utilized to examine the venom's anti-inflammatory potential. Additionally, its antiproliferative activity was evaluated in vitro against a human glioblastoma cell line. Based on the TNF, IL6, GMCSF, and IL12p40 pro-inflammatory cytokine production level in LPS-induced macrophages, venom-treated groups showed substantial decrease in the inflammatory action compared to untreated LPS-stimulated macrophages. When the cells were analyzed for viability, the venom did not have any cytotoxic effect on the macrophages at the concentration ranges that were utilized. Moreover, IC₅₀ value of the venom was above 60 µg/mL on glioblastoma cancer cell line. These results suggest that the Apis mellifera anatoliaca venom does not have anticancer drug candidate potential, whereas it can efficiently be used against inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. To our knowledge, this is the first study to specifically examine the effect of anti-inflammatory activity of Apis mellifera anatoliaca venom on macrophages.

Cytotoxicity of Propolis Extracts obtained using Dichloromethane and Hexane Solvent on Human Salivary Gland Tumor Cell Line

AIM

This in vitro study aimed to investigate the effect of propolis extracts from two different solvents on human submandibular salivary gland (HSG) tumor cell line.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Propolis was extracted by dichloromethane (DCM) and hexane (HEX). Crude extracts were prepared from 6.25 to 200 µg/mL in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium without serum. Flavonoid and total phenolic contents of crude extracts were measured using a modified colorimetric method. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. The statistics were analyzed by independent sample t-test.

RESULTS

Propolis extracts obtained using DCM and HEX exhibited comparable % yield (38.58 and 38.25) and physical characteristics and different amounts of flavonoid (0.439 ± 0.02 and 0.250 ± 0.01 mg catechin/g sample) and total phenolic compounds (3.759 ± 0.03 and 1.618 ± 0.03 mg gallic acid equivalents/g sample). The DCM group at 25, 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL as well as the HEX group at 50, 100, and 200 µg/mL significantly displayed a decrease in % cell viability and an increase in % cytotoxicity, compared with the untreated control group (P < 0.05). The DCM group showed the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of MTT (42.93 ± 2.70) and LDH (34.94 ± 0.22). The HEX group showed the IC50 of MTT (61.30 ± 5.39) and LDH (42.32 ± 1.00). Propolis extracts obtained using both DCM and HEX are effective to inhibit HSG viability.

CONCLUSION

Regarding to the cell morphological observation, MTT and LDH assays, propolis extracts obtained using DCM and HEX exhibited the cytotoxic effect on HSG tumor cell line. Based on our knowledge, this research demonstrates the first preliminary result suggesting propolis as a natural product of choice for salivary gland cancer prevention and therapy.

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.

Elevated Bax/Bcl-2 Ratio: A Cytotoxic Mode of Action of Kermanian Propolis Against an Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cell Line, NALM-6

Currently, alternative cancer remedies, especially herbal-derived medicines, have attracted great interest. Propolis, a honeybee-produced naturopathic formulation, is an available, affordable, and safe example of such remedies with different content according to its geographic location. Findings regarding the protective properties of this resinous substance across numerous pathological conditions are promising. Although the anti-tumor effects of propolis from different origins have been explored to some degree, yet there is no study on the effects of Kermanian propolis in the treatment of hematologic malignancies. Accordingly, the objective of the present experiment was to divulge the anti-tumor potential of this bioactive substance both as monotherapy and in combination with doxorubicin against an acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line (NALM-6).The viability of cells treated with Kermanian propolis (5-500 μg/mL) and doxorubicin (5-100 μg/mL) was analyzed during 72 h. Based on the MTT results, the best incubation time, IC50 concentrations, and finally the cytotoxicity of the combination therapy were ascertained. Next, the apoptotic rate and expression of apoptosis-related genes (Bcl-2 and Bax) were assessed in mono and combination therapies using flow cytometry and real-time PCR assays, respectively. Kermanian propolis and doxorubicin have impressive tumor-suppressing activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 concentrations: 100 and 40 μg/mL respectively). The best incubation time was considered 48 h. For the combination approach, 50 and 10 μg/mL were determined as optimum concentrations of the compounds. The selected concentrations induced notable apoptosis in the studied cells through significant (P < 0.01) upregulation of Bax/Bcl-2 level. The present study clearly suggests that Kermanian propolis, as an adjunct treatment option, has a promising apoptosis-induced cell death potential in the NALM-6 cell line.

In Vitro and In Vivo Antioxidant and Anticancer Potentials of Royal Jelly for Dimethylhydrazine-Induced Colorectal Cancer in Wistar Rats

Methods

This study was conducted among 60 rats, and groups consist of control, three separate groups for RJ, dimethylhydrazine (DMH), and vitamin E, and two separate treated groups with DMH + RJ and DMH + vitamin E. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of royal jelly was examined on HT-29 cell line. Findings. Based on the in vitro assessment using MTT assay, the LC50 of royal jelly was 1.781 mg/ml, and the highest cytotoxicity was observed at 25 mg/ml concentration after 48 hours. Meanwhile, in the in vivo study, after the 13th week, compared to the DMH group, the rats exposed to DMH + royal jelly experienced a significant less oxidative stress (P < 0.05) and a significantly greater total antioxidant capacity (TAC) level (P < 0.05). The expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) proteins significantly decreased among the animals receiving DMH + royal jelly compared to the DMH group. The pathological examinations revealed less congestion, necrosis, inflammation, and cell proliferation in the colon tissue of the RJ-treated group than that of the DMH group. Overall, the biochemical indices were better in the treatment groups in comparison with the DMH group.

Conclusion

The results represented the clinical usability of royal jelly, as a substance with anticancer properties, to prevent and treat colorectal cancer. This issue is related to its effective antioxidant potential, which even exhibits more effectiveness than the vitamin E, which is known as a strong antioxidant.

Arabinoxylan-Based Microcapsules Being Loaded with Bee Products as Bioactive Food Components Are Able to Modulate the Cell Migration and Inflammatory Response-In Vitro Study

The aim of the research was to use bioactive heteropolysaccharides isolated from rye bran to obtain innovative systems for the controlled release of bioactive compounds. The core of the obtained encapsulates was honey and royal jelly. It was shown for the first time that preparations effectively ameliorated inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages, decreasing the secretion of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and nitric oxide (NO). The in vitro digestion process revealed that bee products’ encapsulates were stronger oxidative stress reducers and had sustained ability to reduction in inflammation state mediators. The lack of inhibitory effect on migration rate of human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) endothelial cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (NIH-3T3), both cell models involved in wound healing process, additionally identified these preparations as agents potentially used in the management of inflammatory response. In the process of a simulated digestion in vitro, the innovative microcapsules showed 85% higher biostability and two to ten times better bioavailability, compared to natural bee products.

Antioxidative, Antibacterial and Antiproliferative Properties of Honey Types from the Western Balkans

This paper presents the physicochemical characteristics and antioxidative, antibacterial and antiproliferative effects of nineteen samples of different honey types (acacia, linden, heather, sunflower, phacelia, basil, anise, sage, chestnut, hawthorn, lavender and meadow) collected from different locations in the Western Balkans (Republic of Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Northern Macedonia). Physicochemical parameters (moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, free acidity, and hydroxymethylfurfural [HMF]) were analysed. Based on the obtained results, all tested honey samples were in agreement with EU regulation. The antioxidant potential of honey samples was assessed by determination of total phenolic content (TPC) and evaluation of scavenging activity towards diphenilpicrylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH·). The highest phenolic content was found in basil honey (101 ± 2.72 mg GAE/100 g), while the lowest was registered in rapeseed honey (11.5 ± 0.70 mg GAE/100 g). Heather, anise, phacelia, sage, chestnut and lavender honey samples were also rich in TP, containing 80−100 mg GAE/100 g. DPPH scavenging activity varied among the samples being the highest for lavender honey (IC50 = 88.2 ± 2.11 mg/mL) and the lowest for rapeseed honey (IC50 = 646 ± 8.72 mg/mL). Antibacterial activity was estimated in vitro using agar diffusion tests and measuring minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Among investigated bacterial strains following resistant potencies were determined: Escherichia coli > Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 > Enterococcus faecalis > Proteus mirabilis > Staphylococcus aureus > Staphylococcus epidermidis. The linden honey from Fruška Gora (MIC values of 3.12% and 6.25% against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, respectively) and phacelia honey (MIC values of 6.25% and 3.12% against S.Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, respectively) showed the strongest antibacterial activity. Antiproliferative activity was evaluated using the colorimetric sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The highest antiproliferative activity was obtained from linden honey sample 1 (IC50MCF7 = 7.46 ± 1.18 mg/mL and IC50HeLa =12.4 ± 2.00 mg/mL) and meadow sample 2 (IC50MCF7 = 12.0 ± 0.57 mg/mL, IC50HeLa = 16.9 ± 1.54 mg/mL and IC50HT−29 = 23.7 ± 1.33 mg/mL) towards breast (MCF7), cervix (HeLa) and colon (HT-29) cancer cells. Active components other than sugars contributed to cell growth activity.

Biofunctionalized Chrysin-conjugated gold nanoparticles neutralize Leishmania parasites with high efficacy

Current treatments for leishmaniasis involve various drugs, including miltefosine and amphotericin B, which are associated with several side effects and high costs. Long-term use of these drugs may lead to the development of resistance, thereby reducing their efficiency. Chrysin (CHY) is a well-known, non-toxic flavonoid with antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective properties. Recently we have shown that CHY targets the MAP kinase 3 enzyme of Leishmania and neutralizes the parasite rapidly. However, CHY is associated with low bioavailability, poor absorption, and rapid excretion issues, limiting its usage. In this study, we developed and tested a novel CHY-gold nanoformulation with improved efficacy against the parasites. The reducing power of CHY was utilized to reduce and conjugate with gold nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles, which are already known for their anti-leishmanial properties, along with conjugated CHY, exhibited a decreased parasite burden in mammalian macrophages. Our findings showed that this biofunctionalized nanoformulation could be used as a potential therapeutic tool against leishmaniasis.

Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Chrysin and Naringenin in a Drug-Induced Bone Loss Model in Rats

Oxidative stress (OS) mediators, together with the inflammatory processes, are considered as threatening factors for bone health. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of flavonoids naringenin and chrysin on OS, inflammation, and bone degradation in retinoic acid (13cRA)-induced secondary osteoporosis (OP) in rats. We analysed changes in body and uterine weight, biochemical bone parameters (bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), markers of bone turnover), bone geometry parameters, bone histology, OS parameters, biochemical and haematological parameters, and levels of inflammatory cytokines. Osteoporotic rats had reduced bone Ca and P levels, BMD, BMC, and expression of markers of bone turnover, and increased values of serum enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Malondialdehyde (MDA) production in liver, kidney, and ovary was increased, while the glutathione (GSH) content and activities of antioxidant enzymes were reduced and accompanied with the enhanced release of inflammatory mediators TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and RANTES chemokine (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) in serum. Treatment with chrysin or naringenin improved bone quality, reduced bone resorption, and bone mineral deposition, although with a lower efficacy compared with alendronate. However, flavonoids exhibited more pronounced antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and phytoestrogenic activities, indicating their great potential in attenuating bone loss and prevention of OP.

Bee Bread as a Promising Source of Bioactive Molecules and Functional Properties: An Up-to-Date Review

Bee bread is a natural product obtained from the fermentation of bee pollen mixed with bee saliva and flower nectar inside the honeycomb cells of a hive. Bee bread is considered a functional product, having several nutritional virtues and various bioactive molecules with curative or preventive effects. This paper aims to review current knowledge regarding the chemical composition and medicinal properties of bee bread, evaluated in vitro and in vivo, and to highlight the benefits of the diet supplementation of bee bread for human health. Bee bread extracts (distilled water, ethanol, methanol, diethyl ether, and ethyl acetate) have been proven to have antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and antitumoral activities, and they can also inhibit α-amylase and angiotensin I-converting enzyme in vitro. More than 300 compounds have been identified in bee bread from different countries around the world, such as free amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, minerals, organic acids, polyphenols, and vitamins. In vivo studies have revealed the efficiency of bee bread in relieving several pathological cases, such as hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

Molecular Mechanistic Pathways Targeted by Natural Antioxidants in the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the progressive loss of renal function and the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Despite optimal therapy, many patients progress to ESRD and require dialysis or transplantation. The pathogenesis of CKD involves inflammation, kidney fibrosis, and blunted renal cellular antioxidant capacity. In this review, we have focused on in vitro and in vivo experimental and clinical studies undertaken to investigate the mechanistic pathways by which these compounds exert their effects against the progression of CKD, particularly diabetic nephropathy and kidney fibrosis. The accumulated and collected data from preclinical and clinical studies revealed that these plants/bioactive compounds could activate autophagy, increase mitochondrial bioenergetics and prevent mitochondrial dysfunction, act as modulators of signaling pathways involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and renal fibrosis. The main pathways targeted by these compounds include the canonical nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), canonical transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), autophagy, and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)/nuclear factor erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE). This review presented an updated overview of the potential benefits of these antioxidants and new strategies to treat or reduce CKD progression, although the limitations related to the traditional formulation, lack of standardization, side effects, and safety.

Possible therapeutic effect of royal jelly on endometriotic lesion size, pain sensitivity, and neurotrophic factors in a rat model of endometriosis

Endometriosis is the abnormal growth of endometrial tissue. The goals of the study are: (1) Is any correlation between endometriosis pain and neurotrophins in the serum, dorsal root ganglion (DRG), and peritoneal fluid (PF) in rat models of experimental endometriosis?, (2) Possible therapeutic effects of royal jelly (RJ) on pain scores, size of endometriotic lesion, and neurotrophic factors. Forty-eight Sprague Dawley female rats weighing 205.023 ± 21.54 g were maintained in a standard condition. The rats were randomly divided into one of the six groups: Control (no intervention), Sham-1 (remove of uterine horn), RJ (administration of 200 mg/kg/day RJ for 21 days), Endometriosis (induction of endometriosis), Treatment (induction of endometriosis+administration of 200 mg/kg/day RJ for 21 days), and Sham-2 (induction of endometriosis+administration of water). Formalin test performed for pain evaluation. The levels of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), substance P, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The mean pain scores in all three phases of the formalin test were significantly increased by endometriosis induction (p < 0.05). The concentrations of BDNF, NGF, and CGRP in DRG of the endometriosis group were significantly higher than these factors in the Control, Sham-1, and RJ groups (p < 0.05). RJ could significantly (p < 0.001) decrease the mean lesion size and the mean pain score in the late phase (p < 0.05). The present results determine that endometriosis pain may be related to nervous system neurotrophic factors. Treatment with RJ could decrease the size of endometriosis lesions as well as pain scores. The findings may shed light on other complementary and alternative remedies for endometriosis.

Detoxification of Bee Venom Increases Its Anti-inflammatory Activity and Decreases Its Cytotoxicity and Allergenic Activity

Bee venom is a medicinal product that is widely used in traditional therapies owing to its excellent anti-inflammatory activity. However, the use of bee venom has shown adverse effects. Therefore, there is a need for research that can remove the cytotoxicity of bee venom and enhance its efficacy. In this study, we hydrolyzed melittin, the main component of bee venom, and removed the other components to eliminate the toxicity of bee venom. To compare the efficacy of bee venom and detoxified bee venom, we examined their antioxidant effects using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. In addition, cytotoxicity was confirmed in MCF 10A and RAW 264.7 cells, using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt (MTS) assay. Detoxified bee venom showed a strong antioxidant activity and decreased a cytotoxicity in MCF 10A and RAW 264.7 cells. The anti-inflammatory activity of detoxified bee venom and bee venom were assessed by comparison of the expression of inflammatory cytokine mRNA and phosphorylation of IκBα in RAW 264.7 cells. Degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells was analyzed through β-hexosaminidase release assay to confirm the allergenic activity of bee venom and detoxified bee venom. Treatment of the detoxified bee venom inhibited inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression, IκBα phosphorylation, and β-hexosaminidase release. Taken together, the results indicated that compared to bee venom, detoxified bee venom exhibited decreased cytotoxicity and allergenicity and increased anti-inflammatory activity. In conclusion, detoxification of bee venom efficiently decreases the adverse effects, making it suitable for medicinal applications.

Role of Bee Venom and Melittin on Restraining Angiogenesis and Metastasis in γ-Irradiated Solid Ehrlich Carcinoma-Bearing Mice

Pathological angiogenesis and apoptosis evasion are common hallmarks of cancer. The present work was an endeavor to evaluate the influence of bee venom (BV) or its major constituent melittin (MEL) as antiapoptotic and angiogenic regulator modifier on the tumor growth and the cell sensitivity to ionizing radiation targeting the improvement of cancer therapeutic protocols. BV (0.56 mg/kg/day) and MEL (500 µg/kg body weight/day) were injected intraperitoneally to mice bearing 1 cm³ solid tumor of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) for 21 consecutive days. Mice were whole-body exposed to 1 Gray (Gy) of γ-radiation (2 fractionated doses). Treatment with BV or MEL markedly suppresses the proliferation of tumor in EAC mice. The concentrations of m-RNA for angiogenic factors (TNF-α, VEGF) as well as MMPs 2 and 9 activities and NO concentration were significantly decreased, combined with improvements in apoptotic regulators (caspase-3 activity) and normal cells redox tone (catalase and free radicals content) compared with EAC mice. Moreover, the histopathological investigation confirms the improvement exerted by BV or MEL in the EAC mice group or EAC + R group. Exposure to γ-radiation sustained the modulatory effect of BV on tumor when compared with EAC + BV mice. Convincingly, the role of BV or MEL as a natural antiangiogenic in the biological sequelae after radiation exposure is verified. Hence, BV and its major constituent MEL might represent a potential therapeutic strategy for increasing the radiation response of solid tumors.

Experimental Evidence for Therapeutic Potentials of Propolis

Propolis is produced by honeybees from materials collected from plants they visit. It is a resinous material having mixtures of wax and bee enzymes. Propolis is also known as bee glue and used by bees as a building material in their hives, for blocking holes and cracks, repairing the combs and strengthening their thin borders. It has been extensively used since ancient times for different purposes in traditional human healthcare practices. The quality and composition of propolis depend on its geographic location, climatic zone and local flora. The New Zealand and Brazilian green propolis are the two main kinds that have been extensively studied in recent years. Their bioactive components have been found to possess a variety of therapeutic potentials. It was found that Brazilian green propolis improves the cognitive functions of mild cognitive impairments in patients living at high altitude and protects them from neurodegenerative damage through its antioxidant properties. It possesses artepillin C (ARC) as the key component, also known to possess anticancer potential. The New Zealand propolis contains caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) as the main bioactive with multiple therapeutic potentials. Our lab performed in vitro and in vivo assays on the extracts prepared from New Zealand and Brazilian propolis and their active ingredients. We provided experimental evidence that these extracts possess anticancer, antistress and hypoxia-modulating activities. Furthermore, their conjugation with γCD proved to be more effective. In the present review, we portray the experimental evidence showing that propolis has the potential to be a candidate drug for different ailments and improve the quality of life.

Therapeutic Role of Annona muricata Fruit and Bee Venom Against MNU-Induced Breast Cancer in Pregnant Rats and its Complications on the Ovaries

AIM

To evaluate the potential therapeutic role of Annona muricata (graviola) fruit and bee venom (BV) against N-methylnitrosourea (MNU)-induced breast cancer in pregnant female rats and complications in the ovaries.

METHODS

A total of 24 female rats were induced with a single dose of MNU (50 mg/kg body weight). After confirmation of positive tumor marker, female rats were placed with the males for mating. The pregnant rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=6): MNU-induced only (group 1), MNU-induced rats and supplemented with A. muricata 200 mg/kg diet (group 2), MNU-induced and treated with two doses of BV 75 μg/kg (group 3), and MNU-induced and treated with both A. muricata and BV (group 4).

RESULTS

In group 1, the breast tissue of mothers revealed pronounced cellular hyperplasia and histopathological signs. Also, the ovarian tissue of mothers and their offspring displayed deleterious histological changes. In groups 2 and 4, histopathological signs and cellular hyperplasia markedly disappeared in breast tissue. However, the histopathological signs induced by MNU in the ovarian tissue reversed to normal in groups 2-4. Also in groups 2-4, levels of serum MMP1, NFκB, and TNFα significantly decreased, and serum caspase 3 significantly increased either in mother rats or their offspring compared to the MNU-alone group. Levels of serum MDA significantly decreased; however, levels of serum antioxidants (CAT and SOD) significantly increased in all groups 2-4 compared to MNU-alone group.

CONCLUSION

A. muricata has a more powerful therapeutic role than BV against MNU-induced breast cancer in rats; however, both have a powerful ameliorative role against ovarian histopathological alterations induced by MNU. Such ameliorative effects of A. muricata and BV are mainly attributed to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative constituents.

Effects of propolis and its bioactive components on breast cancer cell pathways and the molecular mechanisms involved

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is a female malignancy that is a significant cause of mortality worldwide. Currently, investigations on natural ingredients as new candidates for chemopreventive agents and breast cancer chemotherapies are increasing. Propolis is a natural resinous material produced by honeybees that exhibit anticancer potential. Several studies have mentioned the major bioactive compounds of propolis, but their mechanism of action is not clearly understood.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this review is to collect and summarize the evidence related to the effectiveness of propolis and its bioactive contents as candidates for breast cancer therapy and analyze the molecular mechanisms involved in their therapeutic pathways.

METHODS

We reviewed 94 articles from journals and databases, extracted the results, and produced summaries and conclusions.

RESULTS

Propolis and its bioactive ingredients show cytotoxic, anti-proliferative, pro-autophagic, anti-metastatic, and antioxidant activities, as well as synergistic effects with chemotherapy or radiotherapy in breast cancer. Its therapeutic activity involves various target molecules, including NF-κβ, Fas receptors, p53, TLR4, ANXA7, and voltage-gated Na+ channel (VGSC).

CONCLUSION

The bioactive components of propolis and the target molecules involved need to be explored further to develop new breast cancer therapies and overcome the problem of chemoradiation resistance.

Formulation of Ocular In Situ Gels with Lithuanian Royal Jelly and Their Biopharmaceutical Evaluation In Vitro

Royal jelly is a natural substance produced by worker bees that possesses a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and protective. Although fresh royal jelly is kept at low temperatures, to increase its stability, it needs to be incorporated into pharmaceutical formulations, such as in situ gels. The aim of this study was to formulate in situ ocular gels containing Lithuanian royal jelly for topical corneal use in order to increase the retention time of the formulation on the ocular surface and bioavailability. Gels were evaluated for physicochemical characteristics (pH, rheological properties, refractive index) and in vitro drug release measuring the amount of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA). An ocular irritation test and cell viability tests were performed using the SIRC (Statens Seruminstitut Rabbit Cornea) cell culture line. Results indicated that all the in situ gels were within an acceptable pH and refractive index range close to corneal properties. Rheology studies have shown that the gelation temperature varies between 25 and 32 °C, depending on the amount of poloxamers. The release studies have shown that the release of 10-HDA from in situ gels is more sustained than royal jelly suspension. All gel formulations were non-irritant according to the short-time exposure test (STE) using the SIRC cell culture line, and long-term cell viability studies indicated that the formulations used in small concentrations did not induce cell death. Prepared in situ gels containing royal jelly have potential for ocular drug delivery, and they may improve the bioavailability, stability of royal jelly, and formation of non-irritant ocular formulations.

Co-administration of 5FU and propolis on AOM/DSS induced colorectal cancer in BALB-c mice

AIMS

Currently, the main problems with chemotherapy are its side effects, toxicity, and drug resistance. Propolis has biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. This study aims to examine the combined effects of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and propolis on colorectal cancer (CRC) in mouse models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical composition of ethanolic extract of propolis was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In this study, 49 male Balb/c mice (16-20 g) were divided in seven groups as a control group and experimental groups (treated and untreated CRC model [azoxymethane + dextran sodium sulfate]). This study was conducted in 8 weeks. To examine the anti-cancer effects of propolis, the number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) was counted and the pathological lesions in the distal colonic epithelial tissue were diagnosed. In this study, the expression of beta-catenin (β-catenin), induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) proteins, which play a major role in the incidence and progression of cancer, were determined.

KEY FINDINGS

GC-MS analysis of propolis showed the presence of hydrocarbons, alcohols, ketones, terpenes, phenols, and flavonoids. Administering propolis in combination with 5FU reduced the number of ACFs and pathological lesions in comparison with cancer control groups (p < 0.0001) and 5FU-alone treatment (p < 0.05). The propolis combined with 5FU reduced the expression of Cox-2, iNOS, and β-catenin proteins.

SIGNIFICANCE

The results showed that propolis increased the efficiency of 5FU and could be taken into account as the adjunct therapy for colorectal cancer.

Preparation of Ethanol Extract of Propolis Loaded Niosome Formulation and Evaluation of Effects on Different Cancer Cell Lines

Propolis is a candidate for cancer treatment with its activity against different tumor cells and, has a wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities due to the diversity of its components. In this study, antitumorigenic activities of ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) and ethanol extract of propolis loaded niosome (PLN) were compared using 2D and 3D cell culture. Niosome formulations were prepared by thin film hydration technique. Cell viability of EEP and PLN was analyzed on MCF7, A549, MDA-MB-231, SK-MEL, SK-BR-3, DU145 and L-929 cell lines using MTT assay. L929, MCF7 and A549 cells were cultured using the 3D petri dish technique and their spherical forms were obtained after 142 h. After 24 h, PLN and EEP application, cell viability analysis was performed on 3D cultures with WST assay. As a result, niosome formulations containing EEP showed higher activity than ethanol extract of propolis in cancer cells. While a slow decrease was observed in cell viability in EEP treated cancer cells, it was observed that the percentage viability rates decreased in a shorter time in PLN treated cancer cells. Also, PLN can be used as an anticancer activity drug such as Doxorubicin, but this is not the case for EEP.

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.

Antioxidant Activity in Bee Products: A Review

Bee products have been used since ancient times both for their nutritional value and for a broad spectrum of therapeutic purposes. They are deemed to be a potential source of natural antioxidants that can counteract the effects of oxidative stress underlying the pathogenesis of many diseases. In view of the growing interest in using bioactive substances from natural sources to promote health and reduce the risk of developing certain illnesses, this review aims to update the current state of knowledge on the antioxidant capacity of bee products such as honey, pollen, propolis, beeswax, royal jelly and bee venom, and on the analytical methods used. The complex, variable composition of these products and the multitude of analytical methods used to study their antioxidant activities are responsible for the wide range of results reported by a plethora of available studies. This suggests the need to establish standardized methods to more efficiently evaluate the intrinsic antioxidant characteristics of these products and make the data obtained more comparable.

Bee wax and honey-a primer for OMFS

Beeswax is the natural secretion from the wax gland of the genus Apis mellifera and Apis cerana whereas honey is a by-product of flower nectar and the upper aero-digestive tract of the honey bee. The introduction of beeswax and honey to clinical use dates back to the fourteenth century but subsequently it was restricted to the cosmetic and food industry. With the emerging trend of using natural resources as cure for many diseases, beeswax and honey have regained its popularity in medical field. The presented manuscript describes the production, composition, and attempts to highlight the uses of beeswax, honey, and advances especially in oral and maxillofacial surgery.

Cuban Brown Propolis Interferes in the Crosstalk between Colorectal Cancer Cells and M2 Macrophages

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), primarily the M2 phenotype, are involved in the progression and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Cuban brown propolis (Cp) and its main component Nemorosone (Nem) displays an antiproliferative effect on different cancer cells, including CRC cell lines. However, whether Cp and Nem could exploit its effect on CRC cells by targeting their relationship with TAMs remains to be elucidated. In this study, we differentiated the human monocytic THP-1 cells to M2 macrophages and confirmed this transition by immunofluorescence (IF) staining, qRT-PCR and zymography. An MTT assay was performed to determine the effect of Cp and Nem on the viability of CRC HT-29 cells co-cultured with M2 macrophages. Furthermore, the migration and invasion abilities of HT-29 cells were determined by Transwell assays and the expression levels of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were analyzed by IF staining. We demonstrated that Cp and Nem reduced the viability of M2 macrophages and, accordingly, the activity of the MMP-9 metalloprotein. Moreover, we demonstrated that M2 macrophages produce soluble factors that positively regulate HT-29 cell growth, migration and invasion. These M2-mediated effects were counteracted by Cp and Nem treatments, which also played a role in regulating the expression of the EMT markers E-cadherin and vimentin. Taken together, our results indicate that Nem contained in Cp interferes in the crosstalk between CRC cells and TAMs, by targeting M2 macrophages.

Honey Extracts Exhibit Cytoprotective Properties against UVB-Induced Photodamage in Human Experimental Skin Models

In the present study, we aimed to examine the antioxidant, antiaging and photoprotective properties of Greek honey samples of various botanical and geographical origin. Ethyl-acetate extracts were used and the and the total phenolic/flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity were evaluated. Honey extracts were then studied for their cytoprotective properties against UVB-induced photodamage using human immortalized keratinocytes (HaCaT) and/or reconstituted human skin tissue models. Specifically, the cytotoxicity, oxidative status, DNA damage and gene expression levels of specific matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) were examined. Overall, the treatment of HaCaT cells with honey extracts resulted in lower levels of DNA strand breaks and attenuated the decrease in cell viability following UVB exposure. Additionally, honey extracts significantly decreased the total protein carbonyl content of the irradiated cells, however, they had no significant effect on their total antioxidant status. Finally, the extracts alleviated the UVB-induced up-regulation of MMPs-3, -7 and -9 in a model of reconstituted skin tissue. In conclusion, honey extracts exhibited significant photoprotective and antiaging properties under UVB exposure conditions and thus could be further exploited as promising agents for developing novel and naturally-based, antiaging cosmeceutical products.

Hydrolysates from bee pollen could induced apoptosis in human bronchogenic carcinoma cells (ChaGo-K-1)

In order to examine bee pollen hydrolysates to assess their anticancer and antioxidant properties, hydrolysis of bee pollen was first performed using three different commercially available enzymes: Alcalase^®, Neutrase^®, and Flavourzyme^®. The study used DPPH and ABTS assay to evaluate the antioxidant properties of the hydrolysates obtained from bee pollen. All of the tested hydrolysates demonstrated antioxidant activity, while hydrolysate based on Alcalase^® offered a high value for IC₅₀ and was therefore chosen for further separation into five sub-fractions via ultrafiltration. The greatest antioxidant activity was presented by the MW < 0.65 kDa fraction, which achieved an IC₅₀ value of 0.39 ± 0.01 µg/mL in the DPPH assay and 1.52 ± 0.01 µg/mL for ABTS. Purification of the MW < 0.65 kDa fraction was completed using RP-HPLC, whereupon the three fractions from the original six which had the highest antioxidant activity underwent further examination through ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS. These particular peptides had between 7 and 11 amino acid residues. In the case of the MW < 0.65 kDa fraction, testing was also carried out to determine the viability of lung cancer cell lines, represented by ChaGo-K1 cells. Analysis of the antiproliferative properties allowed in vitro assessment of the ChaGo-K1 cells' viability following treatment using the MW < 0.65 kDa fraction. Flow-cytometry generated date which revealed that it was possible for the MW < 0.65 kDa fraction to induce apoptosis in the ChaGo-K1 cells in comparison to the results with cells which had not been treated.

Pollen Bee Aqueous Extract-Based Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles and Evaluation of Their Anti-Cancer and Anti-Bacterial Activities

Bee pollens are rich source of essential amino acids and are often considered as complete food for human beings. Herein, we exploited the potential reducing abilities of Bee pollens extract for the eco-friendly preparation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-G). The resulting NPs were characterized using a combination of microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The analyses confirm the formation of spherical Ag NPs. AgNPs-G obtained from the aqueous extract of bee pollens was used to study their antibacterial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative microbes using the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration 50 (MIC50) method. The antibacterial properties of AgNPs-G were compared to the properties of chemically synthesized Ag NPs (AgNPs-C) using sodium borohydride as a reducing agent. The green synthesized nanoparticles (AgNPs-G) exhibited a better antibacterial activity against most of the studied strains when compared to the chemically synthesized Ag NPs (AgNPs-C). In addition, the anti-cancer activity of Ag NPs was also studied against human liver and breast carcinoma cell lines by applying MTT-assay. The Ag NPs demonstrated considerable anticancer activity against the studied cell lines and exhibited high IC50 values in both MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines.

Monitoring of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in beehive products and derivatives on the Belgian market

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and related N-oxides (PANOs) are secondary plant metabolites thought to be found in approximately 3% of the flowering plants worldwide and exhibiting hepatotoxic properties to humans. As a consequence, beehive products are prone to be contaminated with those compounds by bees foraging PA-producing plants. Downstream contamination can also occur through food items containing honey. Analytical methods based on UHPLC separation and MS/MS detection were developed with a focus on very low LOQs and validated for the analysis of 16 PAs and 14 PANOs in honey, honey-based candies and snacks, as well as beehive product-based food supplements. A maximum level of 182 ng/g of PAs was detected in a Mediterranean honey, and high levels of heliotrine-type compounds were reported for the first time. An extensive sampling of honeys harvested in Belgium was performed (N = 374), the concentration levels were more limited with a maximum of 60 ng/g, and the contamination pattern was dominated by senecionine-type PAs. The PA levels in honey-based candies and snacks were very low, with respective maxima of 7.61 ng/g and 0.36 ng/g. Seventy-five percent among the pre-dosed food supplements based on beehive products were contaminated, with a maximum of 43 ng/g. The highest level was detected in a bee-collected pollen sample (1672 ng/g). The analytical results were consistent with the previously reported data for beehive products and confirmed that PA/PANO contamination in these food commodities is recurrent.

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.

The membrane effects of melittin on gastric and colorectal cancer

The cytotoxic effects of melittin, a bee-venom peptide, have been widely studied towards cancer cells. Typically, these studies have examined the effect of melittin over extended-time courses (6-24 hours), meaning that immediate cellular interactions have been overlooked. In this work, we demonstrate the rapid effects of melittin on both gastric and colorectal cancer, specifically AGS, COLO205 and HCT-15 cell lines, over a period of 15 minutes. Melittin exhibited a dose dependent effect at 4 hours of treatment, with complete cellular death occurring at the highest dose of 20 μg/mL. Interestingly, when observed at shorter time points, melittin induced cellular changes within seconds; membrane damage was observed as swelling, breakage or blebbing. High-resolution imaging revealed treated cells to be compromised, showing clear change in cellular morphology. After 1 minute of melittin treatment, membrane changes were observed, and intracellular material could be seen expelled from the cells. Overall, these results enhance our understanding of the fast acting anti-cancer effects of melittin.

In Vitro Interactions of Moroccan Propolis Phytochemical's on Human Tumor Cell Lines and Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Propolis is a resin manufactured by bees through the mixture of plant exudates and waxes with secreted substances from their metabolism, resulting in a complex mixture of natural substances of which quality depends on the phytogeographic and climatic conditions around the hive. The present study investigated the contribution of phenolic compounds to the cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities of propolis. The phenolic composition was evaluated by liquid chromatography with diode-array detection coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC/DAD/ESI-MSⁿ) analysis after phenolic extraction. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was checked using human tumor cell lines (MCF7- breast adenocarcinoma, NCI-H460- non-small cell lung carcinoma, HeLa- cervical carcinoma, HepG2- hepatocellular carcinoma, and MM127- malignant melanoma), as well as non-tumor cells (a porcine liver primary culture-PLP2). The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed using the murine macrophage (RAW 264.7) cell line. The results showed a composition rich in phenolic acids, such as caffeic and p-coumaric acid, as well as flavonoids, such as pinocembrin, pinobanksin, and pinobanksin-3-O-butyrate. Samples MP2 from Sefrou and MP3 from Moulay Yaâcoub presented a high concentration in phenolic compounds, while MP1 and MP4 from Boulemane and Immouzzer Mermoucha, respectively, showed similar composition with low bioactivity. The higher concentration of phenolic compound derivatives, which seems to be the most cytotoxic phenolic class, can explain the pronounced antitumor and anti-inflammatory activity observed for sample MP2.