Development and validation of an analytical methodology based on solvent extraction and gas chromatography for determining pesticides in royal jelly and propolis

We propose a new analytical methodology to determine seven pesticides (atrazine, chlorpyrifos, chlorfenvinphos, α-endosulfan, bromopropylate, coumaphos, and τ-fluvalinate) in royal jelly and propolis products using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Sample treatment, with minor modifications for propolis, consisted of a solvent extraction with a hexane and isopropanol mixture, and a further clean-up step. Meanwhile, chromatographic analysis (<25 min) was performed in a DB-5MS column under programmed temperature conditions. In all cases we validated the method in terms of selectivity, limits of detection (0.1-2.8 μg kg-1) and quantification (0.3-9.2 μg kg-1), linearity, matrix effect (<±20 %), trueness (recoveries between 93 % and 118 %), and precision (relative standard deviation < 11 %). All royal jelly liquid dietary supplements were positive for chlorfenvinphos and, in the case of one of them, for α-endosulfan; chlorfenvinphos was determined in some fresh royal jelly samples, and no pesticide residues were detected in the propolis samples analysed.

Applications of honeybee-derived products in bone tissue engineering

Nowadays, there is an increasing prevalence of bone diseases and defects caused by trauma, cancers, infections, and degenerative and inflammatory conditions. The restoration of bone tissue lost due to trauma, fractures, or surgical removal resulting from locally invasive pathologies requires bone regeneration. As an alternative to conventional treatments, sustainable materials based on natural products, such as honeybee-derived products (honey, propolis, royal jelly, bee pollen, beeswax, and bee venom), could be considered. Honeybee-derived products, particularly honey, have long been recognized for their healing properties. There are a mixture of phytochemicals that offer bone protection through their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. This review aims to summarize the current evidence regarding the effects of honeybee-derived products on bone regeneration. In conclusion, honey, propolis, royal jelly, beeswax, and bee venom can potentially serve as natural products for promoting bone health.

Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of fatty acids from royal jelly and its effect on the structural and antioxidant property

Fatty acids are the key active components in royal jelly (RJ) with various biological activities. In this study, a novel ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method was established to extract fatty acids from RJ and their structural and antioxidant property were further evaluated. The optimum extraction conditions were as follows: liquid-to-solid ratio of 10:1, ultrasonic power of 450 W and ultrasonic duration of 20 min, resulting in a better extraction yield of 16.48 % and 10-hydroxy-2(E)-decenoic acid (10-HDA) content of 4.12 %. Furthermore, compared with the solvent extraction method, the antioxidant activity of extract by ultrasound was enhanced significantly by at least 448 %. GC-MS showed that ultrasound didn't change the chemical composition of fatty acids, while it significantly increased the content of fatty acids. SEM image illustrated that extracts by UAE showed a rougher, looser microstructure compared to the solvent method. Overall, UAE is a promising method to obtain fatty acids in RJ with high efficiency.

Effect of royal jelly on acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in rats

Royal Jelly (RJ) is a natural product made by nurse bees known for its multiple therapeutic properties. The research aims to discover the ability of RJ to improve the hematological alterations and neurotoxicity caused by acrylamide (AA). The study rats were separated equally into four groups (6 in each group), the control group, the AA (38.27 mg/kg bw) group, the RJ (150 mg/kg bw) + AA group, and the RJ (300 mg/kg bw) + AA group. Blood and brain samples were collected after 10 days to evaluate haematological and biochemical parameters and to examine histopathological and immunohistochemistry. The administration of AA increased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), decreases levels of haematological parameters, superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine), and cleaved caspase-3, as well as increase the damage to the brain tissues. Meanwhile, RJ improved levels of haematological parameters, oxidative stress parameters (MDA, SOD, and GSH), BDNF, neurotransmitters, cleaved caspase-3, and brain tissue damage induced by AA. The study demonstrated the protective impact of RJ against the haematological alterations and neurotoxicity caused by AA.

Identification of effective anti-HCV and anti-HIV royal jelly constituents and their acute toxicity evaluation in Albino rats

Few studies on royal jelly's (RJ) antiviral activities and toxicity have been conducted. Here, we investigated the antioxidant properties of RJ that was fractionated into soluble fraction (SF), non-soluble fraction (NSF), water-soluble protein fraction (crude protein fraction, CPF), PF30, PF40, PF50, and PF60. The PFs were identified by SDS-PAGE, and phenolic constituents of SF were detected by HPLC. The qualitative anti-HCV, immunomodulatory, and predicted impact of the studied fractions on ERK2/MAPK14 (activated by HCV) were investigated. The influences of RJ fractions on HIV CD4, reverse-transcriptase, and integrase were examined. The acute toxicity of RJ, SF, NSF, and CPF-PF50 (all CPF except PF50) was tested. Results showed that RJ had potent antioxidant efficiency, and its SF contains functional phenolic compounds. PF30, PF40, and PF50 only showed anti-HCV potency, and PF50 had an immunomodulatory effect against HCV and predicted inhibitory influence on ERK2/MAPK14. RJ-PFs, particularly PF60, showed the most effective anti-HIV ingredients. A single ip injection of RJ fractions at different concentrations revealed that SF was the safest one. Whereas NSF was the most toxic at 700-5000 mg/kg b.w., its toxicity was reversed spontaneously after seven days. Thus, this study provides valuable information about the antiviral activities and toxicity of RJ constituents.

Effects of different floral periods and environmental factors on royal jelly identification by stable isotopes and machine learning analyses during non-migratory beekeeping

It is crucial to monitor the authenticity of royal jelly (RJ) because the qualities of RJs produced by different floral periods vary substantially. In the context of non-migratory beekeeping, this study aims to identify rape RJ (RRJ), chaste RJ (CRJ), and sesame RJ (SRJ) based on δ13C, δ15N, δ2H, and δ18O combined with machine learning and to evaluate environmental effect factors. The results showed that δ13C (-27.62‰ ± 0.24‰), δ15N (2.88‰ ± 0.85‰), and δ18O (28.02‰ ± 1.30‰) of RRJ were significantly different from other RJs. The δ13C, δ2H, and δ18O in CRJ and SRJ were strongly correlated with temperature and precipitation, suggesting that these isotopes are influenced by environmental elements such as sunlight and rainfall. In addition, the artificial neural network (ANN) model was superior to the random forest (RF) model in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. This study revealed that combining stable isotopes with ANN models and the unique correlation between stable isotopes and environmental factors could provide promising ideas for monitoring the authenticity of RJ.

Protective effects of royal jelly and Echinacea against moxifloxacin-induced renal and hepatic injury in rats

Antibiotic use, especially fluoroquinolones, has been linked to extensive renal and hepatic injury thus inflicts a considerable health problem. Fifty rats were allocated into five groups (n = 10). Group 1 represented the normal-control group. Group 2 received moxifloxacin only (MOX; 8 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for seven days and represented the MOX-control group. Groups 3, 4, and 5 received MOX for seven days accompanied by royal jelly (RJ; 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.), Echinacea (ECH; 40 mg/kg/day, p.o.), and a combination of both at the aforementioned doses respectively for 30 days. All groups were investigated for renal and hepatic function tests. Renal tissue content of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) along with renal and hepatic tissue contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assessed for all groups. Histopathological examination was performed followed by immunohistochemical staining for caspase-3 in renal and hepatic tissues. MOX administration resulted in significant renal and hepatic damage. RJ and ECH significantly improved the serum parameters of renal and hepatic functions along with increasing GSH and decreasing MDA in renal and hepatic tissues. Renal contents of KIM-1 were also reduced. Moreover, RJ, ECH, and their combination amended MOX-induced histopathological changes and significantly reduced caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining in both renal and hepatic tissues. The current study is the first to elucidate the effect of RJ, ECH, and their combination against MOX-induced renal and hepatic injury in rats. The study suggests that these protective effects are mainly via the reduction of oxidative stress induced by MOX administration.

Activation of Nrf-2 Transcription Factor and Caspase Pathway with Royal Jelly Reduces Fluoride Induced Testicular Damage and Infertility in Rats

This study was carried out to investigate the protective properties of royal jelly on the testicular tissue of rats with testicular damage by giving fluoride. Sperm motility, epididymal sperm density and abnormal sperm ratios were examined and visualized with a light microscope. Expression levels of Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Nrf-2, NF-κB, COX-2, TNF-α and IL1-α proteins in testis tissue were determined by western blot technique. As a result of the study, MDA level, expression level of Bcl-2, NFҡB, COX-2, TNF-α and IL1-α proteins, abnormal sperm rates were found higher in Fluoride-50 and Fluoride100 groups compared to other groups. In addition GSH, Catalase enzyme levels, expression levels of Caspase-3 and Nrf-2 proteins were found to be higher in Fluoride + Royal Jelly groups compared to Fluoride-50 and Fluoride-100 groups. In addition, lower degeneration of testicular tissue was found in the histological evaluation in the Fluoride + Royal Jelly groups compared to the other groups. When the data are evaluated royal jelly provides effective protection against testicular damage. From this point of view, we hope that similar results will be obtained when royal jelly is tested on humans.

Royal jelly: a predictive, preventive and personalised strategy for novel treatment options in non-communicable diseases

Royal jelly (RJ) is a bee product produced by young adult worker bees, composed of water, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, rich in bioactive components with therapeutic properties, such as free fatty acids, mainly 10-hydroxy-trans-2-decenoic acid (10-H2DA) and 10-hydroxydecanoic acid (10-HDA), and major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), as well as flavonoids, most flavones and flavonols, hormones, vitamins and minerals. In vitro, non-clinical and clinical studies have confirmed its vital role as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. This narrative review discusses the possible effects of royal jelly on preventing common complications of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as inflammation, oxidative stress and intestinal dysbiosis, from the viewpoint of predictive, preventive and personalised medicine (PPPM/3PM). It is concluded that RJ, predictively, can be used as a non-pharmacological therapy to prevent and mitigate complications related to NCDs, and the treatment must be personalised.

Integrated microbiomic and metabolomic analyses reveal the mechanisms by which bee pollen and royal jelly lipid extracts ameliorate colitis in mice

Bee pollen (BP) and royal jelly (RJ) have shown therapeutic effects against colitis, but the functional components contained therein remain elusive. Here, we used an integrated microbiomic-metabolomic strategy to clarify the mechanism by which bee pollen lipid extracts (BPL) and royal jelly lipid extracts (RJL) ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Lipidomic results showed that levels of ceramide (Cer), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), phosphatidylcholine (PC), and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were significantly higher in BPL than in RJL. The anti-inflammatory efficacy of BPL surpassed that of RJL, although both BPL and RJL could attenuate DSS-induced colitis through several mechanisms: reducing the disease activity index (DAI); decreasing histopathological damage; inhibiting the expression of genes encoding proinflammatory cytokines; improving intestinal microbial community structure, and modulating host metabolism. These findings demonstrated that BPL and RJL have great potential as functional ingredients for the production of dietary supplements to prevent early colitis.

Digestion dynamics of acetamiprid during royal jelly formation and exposure risk assessment to honeybee larva based on processing factor

Previous studies to the exposure effects of acetamiprid on honeybees were based on the analysis of bee pollen and honey sacs from field trials or of beebread and honey in the hive, which overestimate or underestimate the risk of exposure to pesticide residues. It was believed that the processing factor (PF) is an important variable to determine the final pesticide residue during royal jelly formation and the actual risk to honeybee larva. Hence, a QuEChERS method to determine acetamiprid contents in honeybee samples was established in this study. Then, the PFs for acetamiprid in beebread fermentation, honey brewing, and royal jelly formation were determined to be 0.85, 0.76, and 0.16, respectively. The PF for royal jelly formation was 0.04 when acetamiprid was detected in beebread alone, and it was 0.12 when acetamiprid was only detected in honey. Finally, the predicted exposure concentration of acetamiprid in royal jelly was calculated to be 2.05 µg/kg using the PF without significant difference with the 90th percentile value (3.64 µg/kg) in the actual sample. However, the value was 16.62 µg/kg without considering the PF. This study establishes a methodology for the correct evaluation of the risk to bee larva of acetamiprid residues in bee pollen and honey sac contents and the residual levels in royal jelly.

Ingestion of heat-killed pathogens confers transgenerational immunity to the pathogens via the vitellogenin-hypopharyngeal gland axis in honeybees

Honeybee diseases are a serious threat to beekeeping and pollination. Transgenerational immune priming (TGIP) has been attracting increasing attention as a promising strategy to protect honeybee colonies from infections. This study investigated whether feeding honeybees (Apis mellifera) with a heat-killed pathogen cocktail can provide them with transgenerational immunity to these pathogens. We found that vitellogenin (Vg) and defensin-1 were highly upregulated in nurse bees upon feeding them with a cocktail of heat-killed Ascosphaera apis and Paenibacillus larvae (A + P cocktail). Pathogen-pattern-recognition receptor genes in the Toll signaling pathway were upregulated in nurse bees upon ingestion of the A + P cocktail. In the nurse bees of the hives supplied with the A + P cocktail, Vg was upregulated in the fat body, and the defensin-1 expression and Vg uptake in the hypopharyngeal glands were induced. Consequently, the major proteins in royal jelly were upregulated. In addition, defensin-1 was upregulated in the queen larvae and young worker larvae in these hives. In correlation, the young worker larvae showed high pathogen resistance to P. larvae infection. Thus, our findings imply that introduction of a heat-killed pathogen cocktail into hives is an efficient strategy for conferring honeybees with social immunity through TGIP.

MicroRNA profiling of royal jelly extracellular vesicles and their potential role in cell viability and reversing cell apoptosis

MiRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules that play important regulatory roles in diverse biological processes. Royal jelly, a milky-white substance produced by nurse honeybees (Apis mellifera), is the primary food of queen bees and plays a crucial role in their development. However, little is known about the microRNA (miRNAs) content of royal jelly and their potential functions. In this study, we isolated extracellular vesicles from the royal jelly of 36 samples through sequential centrifugation and targeted nanofiltration and performed high-throughput sequencing to identify and quantify the miRNA content of honeybee royal jelly extracellular vesicles (RJEVs). We found a total of 29 known mature miRNAs and 17 novel miRNAs. Through bioinformatic analysis, we identified several potential target genes of the miRNAs present in royal jelly, including those involved in developmental processes and cell differentiation. To investigate the potential roles of RJEVs in cell viability, RJEVs were supplemented to apoptotic porcine kidney fibroblasts induced by ethanol 6% exposure for 30 min. TUNEL assay showed a significant reduction in the apoptosis percentage after RJEV supplementation when compared with the non-supplemented control group. Moreover, the wound healing assay performed on the apoptotic cells showed a rapid healing capacity of RJEV-supplemented cells compared to the control group. We observed a significant reduction in the expression of the miRNA target genes such as FAM131B, ZEB1, COL5A1, TRIB2, YBX3, MAP2, CTNNA1, and ADAMTS9 suggesting that RJEVs may regulate the target gene expression associated with cellular motility and cell viability. Moreover, RJEVs reduced the expression of apoptotic genes (CASP3, TP53, BAX, and BAK), while significantly increasing the expression of anti-apoptotic genes (BCL2 and BCL-XL). Our findings provide the first comprehensive analysis of the miRNA content of RJEVs and suggest a potential role for these vesicles in the regulation of gene expression and cell survival as well as augmenting cell resurrection or anastasis.

Royal jelly mediates fibrotic signaling, collagen cross-linking and cell proliferation in cardiac fibroblasts

Royal jelly (RJ) is a multifunctional bee product with a unique composition and wide-ranging biological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities. Still, little is known about the possible myocardial protective properties of RJ. Considering that sonication could enhance RJ bioactivity, this study aimed to assess the effects of non-sonicated (NS) and sonicated (S) RJ on fibrotic signaling, cell proliferation, and collagen production in cardiac fibroblasts. S-RJ was produced by ultrasonication at 20 kHz. Ventricular fibroblasts isolated from neonatal rats were cultured and treated with different concentrations of NS-RJ or S-RJ (0, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 µg/well). S-RJ significantly depressed the expression levels of transglutaminase 2 (TG2) mRNA across all the concentrations tested and was inversely associated with the expression of this profibrotic marker. S-RJ and NS-RJ displayed distinct dose-dependent effects on mRNA expression of several other profibrotic, proliferation, and apoptotic markers. Unlike NS-RJ, S-RJ elicited strong negative dose-dependent relationships with the expression of profibrotic markers (TG2, COL1A1, COL3A1, FN1, CTGF, MMP-2, α-SMA, TGF-β1, CX43, periostin), as well as proliferation (CCND1) and apoptotic (BAX, BAX/BCL-2) markers, indicating that RJ dose-response effects were significantly modified by sonification. NS-RJ and S-RJ increased the content of soluble collagen, while decreasing collagen cross-linking. Collectively, these findings show that S-RJ has a greater range of action than NS-RJ for downregulating the expression of biomarkers associated with cardiac fibrosis. Reduced biomarker expression and collagen cross-linkages upon cardiac fibroblast treatment with specific concentrations of S-RJ or NS-RJ suggests putative roles and mechanisms by which RJ may confer some protection against cardiac fibrosis.

Pollen and bee bread expressed highest anti-inflammatory activities among bee products in chronic inflammation: an experimental study with cotton pellet granuloma in rats

Little is known about the effectiveness of bee products on chronic inflammation. In this experimental study, it was aimed to investigate and compare the anti-inflammatory activities of honey, propolis, royal jelly, pollen and bee bread, for the first time in the literature. In the study, 48 Sprague Dawley female albino rats weighing 200 ± 20 g were used and bee products were administered by oral gavage method. Healthy, control, honey, propolis, pollen, royal jelly and bee bread groups were randomized. Chronic inflammation was created by cotton pellet method. For the treatments, 1 g/kg of honey, 300 mg/kg/day of pollen, 100 mg/kg/day of propolis, 500 mg/kg/day of bee bread and 100 mg/kg/day of royal jelly were given for seven days. One week later, cotton pellets were removed, and the pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels of the blood samples were measured and compared statistically. It was found that honey, propolis, pollen, bee bread and royal jelly had statistically significant anti-inflammatory activities and significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (p < 0.001). Among the anti-inflammatory cytokines, pollen, bee bread and propolis were found to increase the levels of IL-4, IL-10 and IL-1RA the most. Among the pro-inflammatory cytokines, pollen, bee bread and propolis were the ones that decreased IL-6 and TNF-α levels the most; Pollen, bee bread and honey were found to decrease IL-1β the most (p < 0.001). It was found that all bee products have significant anti-inflammatory activities. The highest anti-inflammatory activity was found with pollen administration, followed by bee bread and propolis.

Neuroprotective effects of Royal Jelly (RJ) against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures in rats by targeting inflammation and oxidative stress

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition in which inflammation and oxidative stress play a key role in the pathogenesis. Recently, several studies have suggested that Royal Jelly (RJ) has antioxidant effects. Nevertheless, there is no evidence of its effectiveness against epilepsy. Here, we evaluated its neuroprotective effects at different doses (100 and 200 mg/kg) against pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures. Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, PTZ, RJ100 + PTZ, RJ200 + PTZ and RJ100. In order to establish epilepsy model, 45 mg/kg of PTZ was injected intraperitoneally for 10 consecutive days. Seizure parameters were graded based on Racine's 7-point classification. Elevated-plus maze, Y maze and shuttle box tests were carried out to assess anxiety-like behavior, short-term memory, and passive avoidance memory, respectively. We used ELISA technique to measure the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress factors. Also, neuronal loss in the hippocampal CA3 region was determined using Nissl staining. Our findings showed that PTZ-treated rats had more seizure intensity, anxiety-like behavior, memory dysfunction, higher levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and oxidative markers. RJ could allay seizure severity and duration. It also improved memory function as well as anxiety level. In terms of biochemical assessment, RJ gave rise to a significant decrease in the level of IL-1β, TNF-α and MDA and it restored the activities of GPX and SOD enzymes. Hence, our study shows that RJ contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects which contribute to less neuronal damage in the PTZ-induced epilepsy model.

Anticonvulsant Effects of Royal Jelly in Kainic Acid-Induced Animal Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Through Antioxidant Activity

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of partial and drug-resistant epilepsy, characterized by recurrent seizures originating from temporal lobe structures like the hippocampus. Hippocampal sclerosis and oxidative stress are two important factors in the pathogenesis of TLE that exacerbate epileptic seizures in this form of epilepsy. Recently, royal jelly (RJ) shown to have neuroprotective and antioxidant activities in several neurodegenerative models. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the pretreatment effect of RJ on epileptic seizures, hippocampal neuronal loss, and oxidative stress in the rat model of kainic acid (KA)-induced TLE. To this aim, 40 male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were divided into 4 groups, including control, vehicle, KA, and RJ + KA. Rats received RJ (150 mg/kg/day) for 14 days before induction of TLE with KA. Epileptic behaviors were evaluated according to Racine's scale. Oxidative stress markers including, malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as well as neuronal loss in the CA1 region of the hippocampus (using Nissl staining) were evaluated in all groups. Our findings showed that RJ pretreatment significantly reduced the seizure score and increased the latency to the first seizure. RJ also reduced MDA and TOS while increasing TAC. In addition, RJ reversed neuronal damage in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas. In conclusion, our results suggest that RJ has anticonvulsant and neuroprotective effects in KA induced TLE via its antioxidative properties.

Identification of royal jelly as a potential new drug to protect the ovarian reserve and uterus against cyclophosphamide in rats

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of royal jelly (RJ), a powerful natural antioxidant, on cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian damage.

METHODS

Thirty-two Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups. Oral treatment was administered to all rats for 16 days after a single intraperitoneal injection. The control group received intraperitoneal and oral saline; the RJ group received intraperitoneal saline and 100 mg/kg/day oral RJ; the cyclophosphamide group received intraperitoneal 100 mg/kg cyclophosphamide and oral saline; and the treatment group received intraperitoneal 100 mg/kg cyclophosphamide and 100 mg/kg/day oral RJ. The groups were compared in terms of ovarian reserve tests and histopathological changes in the ovary and uterus.

RESULTS

All follicle counts were higher in the treatment group than in the cyclophosphamide group. The increase in the number of preantral follicles (p=0.001) and the decrease in the number of atretic follicles (p=0.004) were statistically significant. RJ treatment significantly improved follicular degeneration and cortical fibrosis in the ovary and epithelial and gland degeneration in the uterus due to cyclophosphamide toxicity.

CONCLUSION

According to these results, RJ reduces cyclophosphamide-related ovarian and endometrial damage in rats. For this reason, it should be further investigated to determine its effects on reproductive function.

Royal jelly improves learning and memory deficits in an amyloid β-induced model of Alzheimer's disease in male rats: Involvement of oxidative stress

Alzheimer's disease (AD) as the commonest type of dementia is associated with the cognitive function failure. Oxidative stress performs an essential role in the progression of AD. Royal jelly (RJ) is a natural product of bees with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present research aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of RJ on learning and memory in a rat model of Aβ-induced AD. Forty male adult Wistar rats were equally distributed into five groups: control, sham-operated, Aβ (receiving intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of amyloid beta (Aβ1-40)), Aβ + RJ 50 mg/kg, and Aβ + RJ 100 mg/kg. RJ was administered daily post-surgery by oral gavage for four weeks. Behavioral learning and memory were examined using the novel object recognition (NOR) and passive avoidance learning (PAL) tests. Also, oxidative stress markers, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), were assessed in the hippocampus. Aβ reduced step-through latency (STLr) and increased time spent in the dark compartment (TDC) in the PAL task and also decreased discrimination index in the NOR test. Administration of RJ ameliorated the Aβ-related memory impairment in both NOR and PAL tasks. Aβ decreased TAC and increased MDA and TOS levels in the hippocampus, whereas RJ administration reversed these Aβ-induced alterations. Our results indicated that RJ has the potential to ameliorate learning and memory impairment in the Aβ model of AD via attenuating oxidative stress.

The effects of royal jelly supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammatory mediators, mental health, cognitive function, quality of life, and clinical outcomes of patients with ischemic stroke: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Stroke is a debilitating disease that affects over 15 million people worldwide each year, resulting in the death of one-third of those people and severe disability in two-thirds of survivors. Previous studies reported various health benefits of Royal jelly in the context of its anti-inflammatory properties. We will aim to investigate the effects of royal jelly supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammatory mediators, mental health, cognitive function, quality of life, and clinical outcomes of patients with ischemic stroke.

METHODS

The present study will be a triple-blind randomized placebo trial. Patients who meet our eligibility criteria will be assigned to the intervention or the control groups to receive allocated intervention for 12 weeks. Individuals of the intervention group will consume 1000 mg of Royal jelly dragee daily after breakfast. Subjects of the control group will receive a placebo dragee identical to the Royal jelly dragee. The severity of the stroke, cognitive function, mental health, quality of life, clinical outcomes, and biochemical measures will be assessed at baseline and post-intervention.

DISCUSSION

The current study is designed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of royal jelly supplementation in a randomized, parallel, two-arms, single-center, triple-blind, placebo-controlled manner. This study will provide evidence as a phase III clinical trial.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

IRCT20180818040827N4, registered on 16 October 2021. https://www.irct.ir/trial/59275.

Royal jelly protects brain tissue against fluoride-induced damage by activating Bcl-2/NF-κB/caspase-3/caspase-6/Bax and Erk signaling pathways in rats

This study is aimed at determining whether royal jelly (RJ) which has a powerful antioxidant property prevents fluoride-induced brain tissue damage and exploring whether Bcl-2/NF-κB/ and caspase-3/caspase-6/Bax/Erk pathways play a critical role in the neuroprotective effect of RJ. Wistar albino rats were chosen for the study, and they were randomly distributed into six groups: (i) control; (ii) royal jelly; (iii) fluoride-50; (iv) fluoride-100; (v) fluoride-50 + royal jelly; (vi) fluoride-100 + royal jelly. We established fluoride-induced brain tissue damage with 8-week-old male Wistar albino rats by administration of fluoride exposure (either 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg bw) through drinking water for 8 weeks. Then, the study duration is for 56 days where the rats were treated with or without RJ (100 mg/kg bw) through oral gavage. The effects of RJ on glutathione (GSH), catalase activity (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were determined via spectrophotometer. Western blot analysis was performed to investigate the effects of royal jelly on the protein expression levels of Bax, caspase-3, caspase-6, Bcl-2, NF-κB, COX-2, and Erk. It was also studied the effects of RJ on histopathological alterations in fluoride-induced damage to the rat brain. As a result, the Bcl-2, NF-κB, and COX-2 protein expression levels were increased in the fluoride-treated (50 and 100 mg/kg) groups but they were decreased significantly by RJ treatment in the brain tissue. Additionally, the protein expression of caspase-3, caspase-6, Bax, and Erk were decreased in fluoride-treated groups and they were significantly increased by RJ treatment compared to the un-treated rats. Our results suggested that RJ prevented fluoride-induced brain tissue damage through anti-antioxidant activities.

Additive beneficial effects of aerobic training and royal jelly on hippocampal inflammation and function in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis rats

BACKGROUND

Although the beneficial role of training and the use of some antioxidants in physiological and psychological disorders in autoimmune diseases has been reported, the simultaneous effect of aerobic training (AT) and royal jelly (RJ) with different doses is not well understood. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of AT and RJ on inflammatory factors in the hippocampus, as well as depression and anxiety in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats with EAE were assigned to seven groups: (1) EAE without any other intervention (EAE); (2) sham, receiving normal saline (Sh); (3) 50 mg/kg RJ (RJ50); (4) 100 mg/kg RJ (RJ100); (5) AT; (6) AT + RJ50; and (7) AT + RJ100. In addition, a healthy control group was assessed.

RESULTS

EAE significantly increased interleukin 17 (IL-17), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) gene expression and immobilization time as well as anxiety and depression indices, and significantly decreased interleukin 10 (IL-10), compared to the control group. AT decreased significantly IL-17, TGF-β gene expression and immobilization time as well as anxiety and depression indices, while it significantly increased IL-10, compared to the EAE group. RJ50 and RJ100 decreased significantly IL-17, IL-23 gene expression, anxiety and depression indices, and significantly increased IL-10 compared to the EAE group. AT + RJ50 and AT + RJ100 significantly decreased IL-17, IL-23, and TGF-β and as well as anxiety and depression indices while significantly increasing IL-10 compared to the EAE group. The effects of AT + RJ100 on significant decreasing IL-17, IL-23, anxiety and depression and increasing TGF-β, IL-10 were more favorable than RJ50.

CONCLUSION

AT and RJ improved inflammatory and regulatory factors of autoimmunity and reduced anxiety and depression. The RJ combined with AT induced additive effects while using RJ100 was more favorable than RJ50.

The Potential Effect of Royal Jelly on Biomarkers Related to COVID-19 Infection and Severe Progression

Royal jelly is a yellowish to white gel-like substance that is known as a "superfood" and consumed by queen bees. There are certain compounds in royal jelly considered to have health-promoting properties, including 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid and major royal jelly proteins. Royal jelly has beneficial effects on some disorders such as cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. Antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antitumor, and immunomodulatory properties have been ascribed to this substance. This chapter describes the effects of royal jelly on COVID-19 disease.

Investigation of the effects of the royal jelly on genomic demethylation and tumor suppressor genes in human cancer cells

Royal jelly is a gelatinous nutrient secretion produced by the mandibular glands of young worker honey bees and has a critical role in honey bee life. In the honey bee colonies, queen and worker honey bees have very different morphologies and behaviors due to their diet in the larval period, despite having the same genome. In comparison, queen bees formed from larvae that feed royal jelly exclusively, and worker bees formed from larvae that feed on much less royal jelly. DNA methylation has been shown to play a critical role in the development of queen and worker honeybees. Alterations in DNA methylation, one of the epigenetic mechanisms defined as hereditable nucleotide modifications that occur in gene expression without changes in the DNA sequence, are closely related to many diseases, especially cancer. Hypermethylation of CpG islands located in the promoter regions of genes causes gene silencing and tumor suppressor genes epigenetically have silenced in cancer. The inactivation of tumor suppressor genes disrupts nearly all cellular pathways in cancer. In contrast to genetic alterations, gene silencing by epigenetic modifications may potentially be reversed and used in cancer treatment. Royal jelly, which causes epigenetic changes in bee colonies, has the potential to cause a change in cancer cells. In our study, royal jelly's effects on DNA methyltransferase enzyme and gene methylation of RASSF1A tumor suppressor were investigated in human cancer cell lines (HeLa, HT29, and A549), and modifications in the gene expression profile of royal jelly were determined by next generation sequencing.

A small H(2)O-soluble ingredient of royal jelly lower cholesterol levels in liver cells by suppressing squalene epoxidase

Excessive cholesterol in the liver is harmful for our health and may cause many diseases, such as fatty liver disease. Many studies in human and animal models have reported that royal jelly (RJ) can be used to treat atherosclerosis. However, the real mechanisms behind this action is unclear. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of RJ on gene expression of squalene epoxidase (SE) a major enzyme involved in cholesterol biosynthesis in HepG2 cells. We found that the expression of SE was decreased in response to RJ treatment. We also found that the origin of the RJ affected its strength. To find out the active fraction of RJ in cholesterol suppression, we separated RJ into two parts based on the molecular weights using ultrafiltration membrane. We found that the fraction <10kDa from RJ had comparable effect on SE expression, especially its water-soluble part. Taken together, we think RJ suppresses cholesterol by decreasing SE gene expression in liver. The active fraction of RJ in this action is <10kDa in water-soluble form.

Influence of Honey bee Nutritive Jelly Type and Dilution on its Bactericidal Effect on Melissococcus plutonius, the Etiological Agent of European Foulbrood

To defend themselves against pathogenic microorganisms, honey bees resort to social immunity mechanisms, such as the secretion of antibiotic compounds in the jelly they feed to their larvae. Whereas the bactericidal activity of jelly fed to queen larvae is well studied, little is known about the bioactivity of compositionally different jelly fed to worker larvae. However, the numerous worker larvae are likely to drive the spread of the microorganism and influence its virulence and pathogenesis. Diluted jelly or extracts are mostly used for jelly bioactivity tests, which may bias the evaluation of the pathogen's resistance and virulence. Here, we compared the bactericidal effect of pure and diluted jellies destined for queen and worker larvae on Melissococcus plutonius, the etiological agent of the European foulbrood (EFB) disease of honey bees, and on a secondary invader bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis. We tested three strains of M. plutonius with varying virulence to investigate the association between resistance to antibacterial compounds and virulence. The resistance of the bacteria varied but was not strictly correlated with their virulence and was lower in pure than in diluted jelly. Resistance differed according to whether the jelly was destined for queen or worker larvae, with some strains being more resistant to queen jelly and others to worker jelly. Our results provide a biologically realistic assessment of host defenses via nutritive jelly and contribute to a better understanding of the ecology of M. plutonius and of secondary invaders bacteria in the honey bee colony environment, thus shedding light on the selective forces affecting their virulence and on their role in EFB pathogenesis.

Involvement of T-bet and GATA3 transcription factors in Mesenchymal stem cells and royal jelly combination treatment in brain stroke

INTRODUCTION

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) therapy is a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome the brain stroke side effects. However, it may be associated with long-term complications, including induction of inflammation. This project was designed to examine the effects of MSC administration and its combination with royal jelly (RJ) on the differentiation of T helper subsets.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this project, the mice were divided to the six groups, including control (healthy without stroke), stroke (mice model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)), treated with mouse MSC (mMSC), royal jelly (RJ), combination of mMSC and RJ (mMSC + RJ) and MSC conditioned medium (SUP). Thereafter, sticky test, brain mRNA levels of T-bet (transcription factor for Th1 subset), GATA3 (transcription factor for Th2 subset), and ROR-γ (transcription factor for Th17 subset) and percentage of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities were explored in the groups.

RESULTS

Administration of mMSC and mMSC + RJ improved the sticky test times and decreased the MPO activities. Using mMSCs and RJ was associated with increased expression of T-bet and GATA3 transcription factors. Transplantation of mMSCs in combination with RJ reduced expression of T-bet in the infarcted tissue.

CONCLUSION

Using mMSC may be associated with Th1-related inflammation in the long term. RJ co-administration significantly reduced the risks, hence, to decrease the plausible side effects of MSCs, it can be proposed to use RJ in combination with MSC to reduce stroke complications.

Royal jelly reduce DNA damage induced by alkylating agent in mice

Royal jelly (RJ) is a creamy white-yellow liquid that is secreted by the mandibular and hypopharyngeal glands of bees to nourish the larvae. RJ has gained increasing interest in recent years owing to its antioxidant potential. However, little is known about adequate RJ dosing and its effects on genetic material. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo effects of RJ on genotoxicity and mutagenicity induced by the alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS). In this study, 3-month-old Swiss albino male mice (N = 66) were divided into 11 groups for experimentation. Experiments were performed by administering lyophilized RJ (150 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, and 1000 mg/kg) or water via gavage as pre- and posttreatment processes with the alkylating agent MMS. After treatment, blood samples were collected from the mice via an incision at the end of the tail to conduct comet assays at times of 24 h and 48 h posttreatment. The mice were then euthanized to remove the bone marrow for a micronucleus test. Overall, regardless of dose, RJ did not exhibit genotoxic, mutagenic activity and the administration of high doses, mainly in the form of posttreatment, presented antigenotoxic and antimutagenic actions. Further, a dose-response correlation was observed in the RJ posttreatment groups. These results demonstrate that RJ administration was effective in reversing the damage caused by the alkylating agent MMS.

Protective effect of royal jelly on fluoride-induced nephrotoxicity in rats via the some protein biomarkers signaling pathways: A new approach for kidney damage

Introduction: Protective effect of royal jelly (RJ) on fluoride-induced nephrotoxicity was investigated in this study.Methods: 42 healthy male Wistar rats (n = 42, 8 weeks of age) were divided equally into 6 groups with 7 rats in each; (1) Group-1: Controls fed with standard diet; (2) Group-2: RJ [100 mg/kg] bw (body weight), by oral gavage; (3) Group-3: Fluoride [50 mg/kg] bw, in drinking water; (4) Group-4: Fluoride [100 mg/kg] bw, in drinking water; (5) Group-5: RJ [100 mg/kg] bw, by oral gavage + Fluoride [50 mg/kg] bw, in drinking water; (6) Group-6: RJ [100 mg/kg] bw, by oral gavage + Fluoride [100 mg/kg] bw, in drinking water. After 8 weeks, all rats were decapitated and their kidney tissues were removed for further analysis. The protein expression levels of caspase-3, caspase-6, caspase-9, Bcl-2, Bax, VEGF, GSK-3, BDNF, COX-2 and TNF-α proteins in kidney tissue were analysed by western blotting techniqueResults: RJ increased Bcl-2, COX-2, GSK-3, TNF-α and VEGF protein levels and a decreased caspase-3, caspase -6, caspase-9, Bax and BDNF protein levels in fluoride-treated rats.Conclusion: RJ application may have a promising therapeutical potential in the treatment of many diseases in the future by reducing kidney damage.

Feeding probiotics and organic acids to honeybees enhances acinal surface area of their hypopharyngeal glands

Modern bee keeping demands more scientific and environment compatible methodologies to improve honeybee's health and efficiency. The current study was designed to explore the hidden potential of probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus) and organic acids (lactic acid and acetic acid) on bee's growth especially hypopharyngeal gland (HPG). Large sized HPG has the ability to produce more royal jelly than smaller ones. For the purpose, the experimentation was carried out in 7 different treatment groups in which probiotics and organic acids were provided in different proportions. Significant increase in acinal surface area of bees in all the experimental groups was observed. Control bees which were fed with pollens and sugar syrup only for two weeks depicted the mean ± SE value of 0.011 ± 0.001 for acinal surface area. Similarly, worker bees of the experimental group 3 [pollens +50% (w/v) sucrose in 1.96% acetic acid], group 4 [pollens + L. rhamnosus in 50% (w/v) sucrose in distilled water], group 5 [pollens + L. rhamnosus in 50% (w/v) sucrose in 2.99% lactic acid], group 6 [pollens + L. rhamnosus in 50% (w/v) sucrose in 2.91% acetic acid] and group 7 [pollens + L. rhamnosus in 50% (w/v) sucrose in 1.96% acetic acid] showed mean ± SE values of 0.019 ± 0.001, 0.017 ± 0.001, 0.013 ± 0.001, 0.016 ± 0.001 and 0.014 ± 0.001 mm², respectively. The use of acidifying agents and probiotics resulted in enhanced growth of HPG of Apis mellifera workers. Our findings of the present study will be helpful to obtain higher royal jelly yields.

Changes in chemical composition and antioxidant activity of royal jelly produced at different floral periods during migratory beekeeping

Over 90% of global royal jelly (RJ), a functional food with various health benefits, is produced in China mainly by migratory beekeeping of a high RJ-producing honeybee (RJB) strain. To explore quality changes of RJ produced by migratory RJBs at different floral periods, we performed metabolomics and proteomics analysis and assessed RJ antioxidant activity. Overall, the RJ metabolic and proteomic profiles were observed to vary with floral periods. Minor sugars (raffinose, erlose, and sucrose) and major RJ protein 5 (MRJP5) were identified among the discriminating components mainly contributing to the altered profiles. Water, crude protein, and the trans-10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) content fulfill the requirements of the International Organization for Standardization regardless of floral periods. Notably, the 10-HDA content increased 11.05%-19.65% during tea blooming. Moreover, changes in antioxidants resulted in significant difference in RJ antioxidant activity. The integrated omics data provide a detailed view of chemical composition for RJ quality evaluation.

Regulation of a New Type of Selenium-Rich Royal Jelly on Gut Microbiota Profile in Mice

Royal jelly (RJ) and selenium (Se)-rich foods have well-known health benefits which are attributable to a broad range of pharmacologic effects including antioxidant, bacteriostatic, anticancer, and immunoregulatory activities. However, there was no study to combine Se with RJ. Here, Se-rich RJ (SRJ) was produced by feeding sodium selenite to honeybees (Apis mellifera). To further clarify the function of SRJ, mice were then fed RJ or SRJ for 30 days, and their antioxidant capacity and gut microbiota profile were analyzed. The results showed that SRJ treatment could more effectively increase glutathione peroxidase levels in the liver and kidney, as well as total antioxidant activity in the liver and superoxide dismutase level in the kidney. Additionally, the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes and relative abundance of the Lachnospiraceae and Prevotellaceae families were increased, whereas the abundance of Helicobacterceae was decreased in mice treated with SRJ. At the genus level, SRJ increased the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group, Prevotellaceae UCG 001, Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group, and Oscillibacter and decreased that of Alistipes. And the functional prediction of gut microbiota indicated SRJ treatment could enhance the amino acid metabolism. Correlation analysis indicated that SRJ could optimize the functional network of gut microbiota and the interactions between the gut microbiota and the host. These results suggested the SRJ had potential therapeutic applications in the improvement of overall health or treatment of diseases related to oxidative stress or dysbiosis.

The inducing of caspase and Bcl-2 pathway with royal jelly decreases the muscle tissue damage exposed with fluoride in rats

In this study, 42 Wistar albino male rats (n = 42, 8 weeks old) were used. Rats were divided into 6 groups and 7 rats included each group. Groups: (i) Control group: Standard diet; (ii) RJ (royal jelly) group: Standard diet + royal jelly; (iii) F50 group: Standard diet + 50 mg/kg fluoride; (iv): F100 group: Standard diet + 100 mg/kg fluoride; (v) F50+RJ group: Standard diet + 50 mg/kg fluoride + royal jelly; (vi): F100+RJ group: Standard diet + 100 mg/kg fluoride + royal jelly. After 8 weeks, the rats were decapitated, and their muscle tissues were removed. Expression levels of Caspase-3, Caspase-6, Bax, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1 alpha (IL1-α) and Bcl-2 proteins in muscle tissue were determined by western blotting method. Histopathological analyses were also performed on the muscle tissue. Malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) analyses were determined by a spectrophotometer. According to the obtained results, Bcl-2, TNF-α and IL1-α protein expression was increased in damage groups compared to the control and royal jelly groups, while Caspase-3, Caspase-6 and Bax protein expression levels decreased in damage groups. MDA level increased in damage groups compared to the control and royal jelly groups, while CAT and GSH levels increased with royal jelly application in royal jelly-given group in comparison to the flouride-exposed group. According to histopathological analysis results, edema and inflammatory cell formations were found in the injury groups, a tendency to decrease in these injuries was observed in the treatment groups. Based on these results, we can say that royal jelly has protective effects on muscle tissue against fluoride damage.

Effect of royal jelly to deal with stress oxidative in preconception women: A literature review

INTRODUCTION

Oxidative stress that occurs in preconception women can disrupt the reproductive system to cause infertility. The antioxidants contained in royal jelly can overcome oxidative stress due to low antioxidants in the body. The purpose of this study is to examine studies of the content of royal jelly, antioxidant activity, and the effectiveness of royal jelly in dealing with oxidative stress in preconception women.

METHOD

This research method is an electronic database search using keywords according to questions in research from the online library PubMed, content science, and Science Direct.

RESULT

a study review conducted in 6 research journals stated that the use of royal jelly as a supplement containing 10-hydroxy-2-decanoic (10-HDA) increases glutathione levels, as well as lipid peroxidation inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

The effectiveness of royal jelly to overcome oxidative stress in preconception women can be assessed from the content of royal jelly and antioxidant activity that can increase the glutathione levels and inhibit increased lipid peroxidation, which is a sign of oxidative stress.

Effect of oral intake of royal jelly on endothelium function in hemodialysis patients: study protocol for multicenter, double-blind, randomized control trial

Background

Hemodialysis (HD) is a common renal replacement therapy for patients with renal failure. Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases are known to shorten survival periods and worsen the quality of life of HD patients. Atherosclerosis is a major cause of vascular diseases, and various factors such as abnormality of lipid metabolism and increased macrophage activity, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction are associated with its pathogenesis and progression. Further, endothelial stem cells (ESCs) have been reported to play important roles in endothelial functions. Royal jelly (RJ) affects atherosclerosis- and endothelial function-related factors. The main aim of this trial is to investigate whether oral intake of RJ can maintain endothelial function in HD patients. In addition, the effects of RJ intake on atherosclerosis, ESC count, inflammation, and oxidative stress will be analyzed.

Methods

This will be a multicenter, prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. We will enroll 270 participants at Nagasaki Jin Hospital, Shinzato Clinic Urakami, and Maeda Clinic, Japan. The participants will be randomized into RJ and placebo groups. The trial will be conducted according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, and all participants will be required to provide written informed consent. The RJ group will be treated with 3600 mg/day of RJ for 24 months, and the placebo group will be treated with starch for 24 months. The primary endpoint will be the change in flow-mediated dilation (FMD), a parameter of endothelium function, from the time before treatment initiation to 24 months after treatment initiation. The secondary and other endpoints will be changes in FMD; ESC count; serum levels of vascular endothelial cell growth factor, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, and malondialdehyde; the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and stenosis of blood access; and safety.

Discussion

This trial will clarify whether oral intake of RJ can maintain endothelial function and suppress the progression of atherosclerosis in HD patients. In addition, it will clarify the effects of RJ on ESCs, oxidative stress, and angiogenic activity in blood samples.

Trial registration

The Japan Registry of Clinical Trials jRCTs071200031.  Registered on 7 December 2020.

Antifungal Effects of Iranian Propolis Extract and Royal jelly Against Candida albicans In-Vitro

BACKGROUND

Candida albicans is the most important opportunistic fungal that can establish infection in susceptible individuals. Iranian Propolis and Royal jelly are bee products that are traditionally used against fungal infections. This study was aimed to evaluate the antifungal effects of Iranian Propolis extract and Royal jelly against C. albicans in vitro.

METHODS

Antifungal activities of the extracts were performed according to microbroth dilution method in 96-well microdilution plates. The amount of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) based on counting the number of fungal colonies (CFU) were evaluated for each of Royal jelly and Iranian Propolis extracts against C. albicans compared with the control group.

RESULTS

In this study, the MIC, MIC₅₀, and MFC of Royal jelly on C. albicans were, respectively, 80, 103 ± 25, and 160 ± 34 mg/mL and for the Iranian Propolis alcoholic extract were, respectively, 0.030 ± 0.015, 0.0618 ± 0.027, and 0.0833 ± 0.0599 mg/mL.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that both Royal jelly and Iranian Propolis alcoholic extract are effective against C. albicans, but the former species has higher antifungal activity. If the clinical trials confirm the results of this study, Iranian propolis, as a new antifungal agent by replacing chemical drugs, can be used to develop antifungal medicinal herbs.

A Randomized, Double-Blind Comparison Study of Royal Jelly to Augment Vascular Endothelial Function in Healthy Volunteers

Aims: Royal jelly, a creamy substance secreted by honeybees, has been reported to have beneficial effects against dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome. However, the effects of royal jelly on atherogenesis remain unknown. Hence, we prospectively evaluated whether royal jelly augments vascular endothelial function, which can reflect early atherogenesis, in healthy volunteers.

Methods: This was a single-center, double-blind, 1:1 randomized placebo-controlled study conducted from October 2018 to December 2019. A total of 100 healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to receive either royal jelly 690 mg or placebo daily for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was augmentation in vascular endothelial function as assessed using the change in the reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry index (RH-PAT) index, and the secondary endpoints were the changes in liver function and lipid profiles between baseline and 4 weeks after enrollment.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 35.0±9.3 years in the placebo group and 36.1±9.1 years in the royal jelly groups; 45% and 50% of the placebo and the royal jelly groups, respectively, were male. The percentage relative change in the RH-PAT index was significantly higher in the royal jelly group than in the placebo group (21.4%±53.1% vs. 0.05%±40.9%,P=0.037). The percentage relative changes in alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase were significantly lower in the royal jelly group than in the placebo group (alanine aminotransferase: −6.06%±22.2% vs. 11.6%±46.5%,P=0.02; γ-glutamyl transpeptidase: −3.45%±17.8% vs. 4.62%±19.4%,P=0.045). Lipid profiles were not significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusions: Royal jelly might have antiatherogenic property by improving vascular endothelial function. It also augmented liver functions in healthy volunteers.

Royal jelly abrogates flouride-induced oxidative damage in rat heart tissue by activating of the nrf-2/NF-κB and bcl-2/bax pathway

Royal jelly is known to strengthen memory, provide antioxidative, antidiabetic, antitumor, anticancer, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antihypertensive. In this study, 42 rats (n = 42) were used, and these rats were divided into 6 groups of 7 rats each. Groups: (i) Control Group: Group fed with standard diet; (ii) Royal Jelly (RJ) Group: RJ (100 mg/kg bw, gavage); (iii) F50 Group: Fluoride (50 mg/kg bw, drinking water); (iv) F100 Group: F (100 mg/kg bw, drinking water); (v) F50 + RJ Group: F (50 mg/kg bw, drinking water) + RJ (100 mg/kg bw, gavage); (vi) F100 + RJ Group: F (100 mg/kg bw, drinking water) + RJ (100 mg/kg bw, gavage). The rats were decapitated after 8 weeks, and their heart tissues were taken and examined. Lipid peroxidation by MDA (malondialdehyde) analyzes, GSH (glutathione) level and catalase activity were determined by spectrophotometer. Protein expression levels of caspase-3, caspase-6, caspase-9, Bcl-2, Bax, BDNF, Gsk-3, Nrf-2 and NF-κB proteins in heart tissue were determined by western blotting technique and hearth tissue evaluated by histopathologically. As a result, MDA levels, Bcl-2, Gsk-3 and NF-κB protein expression levels were reduced, whereas GSH levels, caspase-3, caspase-9, caspase-6, Bax, BDNF and Nrf-2 protein levels were increased in the F50 + RJ and F100 + RJ groups compared to the F50 and F100 groups. According to the results of this study, it has been concluded that Royal jelly has the potential to be developed in to a drug for treatment of heart diseases in addition to providing protection against heart damage.

Dietary inclusion of royal jelly modulates gene expression and activity of oxidative stress enzymes in zebrafish

Here we investigated the effects of different levels of royal jelly in zebrafish (Danio rerio) diets [0.0% (D1); 0.1% (D2); 0.4% (D3); 1.6% (D4) vs 6.4% (D5)] on the activity and expression profiles of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase. Muscle, liver and kidney tissue samples were obtained from fish fed during 8 weeks. In these tissues, enzyme activity was determined by means of spectrophotometer and gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR. mRNA levels of the enzymes were elevated in almost all diet groups compared to the control (D1). It was determined that enzyme activities were also increased in general by supplementation of royal jelly although some decreases were also observed. However, the significant correlation between gene expression and enzyme activity was not observed in all tissues. It was concluded that main regulation occurs with post-translational modifications although effects at transcriptomic level demonstrated a snap variation.

Synergistic effect of royal jelly in combination with glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide on cryoprotection of Romanov ram sperm

Sperm fertility decreases significantly after freezing. Providing a suitable and useful diluent compound for freezing ram sperm can increase the efficiency of artificial insemination and consequently, the reproductive performance of sheep. Various biological properties such as antibacterial, anti-cancer, immunosuppressive, antioxidant and reproductive properties of royal jelly (RJ) are well known. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible synergistic effect of royal jelly in combination with glycerol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in sperm cryopreservation extender of Romanov ram. The pooled semen samples from 5 Romanov rams were allocated into 3 experiments. The effect of 6% DMSO, 6% glycerol and a combination of 3% DMSO +3% glycerol co-supplemented with 1, 2 and 3% RJ was evaluated in 3 experiments. Samples were frozen by conventional slow freezing method and post-thaw parameters of total motility, progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity, DNA damage, apoptosis, enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated. The results showed that the percentage of motility, progressive motility, TAC, GPx, SOD and all sperm kinematic parameters except LIN in the group containing 2% RJ + 6% DMSO was higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Some parameters such as progressive motility, sperm membrane integrity, TAC, GPx, VAP, VCL, STR and SRT in the group containing 2% RJ + 6% DMSO were more than (p < 0.05) in the sperm group containing 1% RJ + 6% DMSO. MDA values in sperm groups containing 2% RJ + 6% DMSO were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than the sperm containing 1% royal jelly and the control group. In the sperm group containing 2% RJ + 6% glycerol, sperm membrane integrity, TAC, GPx, SOD, progressive motility and all sperm kinematic parameters except VAP were higher and MDA values and sperm abnormalities were lower than the control group (p < 0.05). The sperm group containing 1% RJ and 3% DMSO +3% glycerol had higher motility, progressive motility, membrane integrity, and all sperm kinematic parameters except VSL; and lower sperm abnormalities, DNA damage, apoptosis and MDA than the control group (p < 0.05). As a general conclusion of this study, the addition of 2% RJ + 3% DMSO and 3% glycerol to the freezing extender improved microscopic and biochemical ram sperm parameters after the freeze-thaw process. Hence, moderate concentrations of royal jelly (2%) are sufficient to protect sperm from freezing damage, and high (3%) and low (1%) concentrations do not have a good cryoprotective effect.

Thymoquinone anticancer activity is enhanced when combined with royal jelly in human breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most common cause of the majority of cancer-related deaths in women, among which triple-negative breast cancer is the most aggressive type of breast cancer diagnosed with limited treatment options. Thymoquinone (TQ), the main bioactive constituent of Nigella sativa, has been extensively studied as a potent anticancer molecule against various types of cancers. Honeybee products such as the royal jelly (RJ), the nutritive secretion fed to honeybee queens, exhibit a variety of biological activities besides its anticancer effect. However, the anticancer activity of the combination of TQ and RJ against breast cancer is still unknown.

AIM

To investigate cytotoxicity of RJ in FHs 74 Int cells and the anticancer effects of TQ, RJ, and their combinations in the MDA-MB-231 cell line.

METHODS

Cells were treated with TQ, RJ, and their combinations for 24 h. Using 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, we determined the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of TQ. Trypan blue and 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays were then performed to assess the cell viability in response to different treatment conditions. Cell death and cycle regulation were investigated using propidium iodide deoxyribonucleic acid staining followed by flow cytometry in response to a single dose of TQ, RJ, and their combination. Immunostaining for cleaved caspase 3 and Ki67 expression was used to determine apoptosis induction and changes in cell proliferation.

RESULTS

TQ alone inhibited cell viability in a dose-dependent manner at concentrations below and above the half-maximal inhibitory concentration. RJ exhibited relatively nontoxic effects against MDA-MB-231 cells and FHs 74 Int small intestinal cells at concentrations below 5 µg/mL. High doses of RJ (200 µg/mL) had greater toxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells. Interestingly, the inhibition of cell viability was most pronounced in response to 15 µmol/L TQ and 5 µg/mL RJ. A dose of 15 µmol/L TQ caused a significant increase in the PreG1 population, while a more pronounced effect on cell viability inhibition and PreG1 increase was observed in response to TQ and RJ combinations. TQ was the main inducer of caspase 3-dependent apoptosis when applied alone and in combination with RJ. In contrast, no significant regulation of Ki67 expression was observed, indicating that the decrease in cell viability was due to apoptosis induction rather than to inhibition of cell proliferation.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first to report enhanced anticancer effects of TQ and RJ combination against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, which could confer an advantage for cancer therapy.

Metabolome analysis and chemical profiling of Indonesian royal jellies as the raw material for cosmetic and bio-supplement products

Royal jellies (RJs) possess moisturizing, emulsifying, and stabilizing properties, and several pharmacological activities have also been found to be present, which make them an ideal component for cosmetic and skin care products. However, despite the abundant efficacies, there is a lack of studies that explore the chemical composition of RJ using metabolome analysis. Furthermore, an evaluation of the chemical composition of Indonesian RJs collected from different regions has yet to be carried out. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to identify any differences in the chemical composition of such RJs. Chemical profiling was also carried out to enable more targeted utilization based on the actual compositions. Chemical profiling is also important given the rich Indonesian biodiversity and the high dependence of the RJ compositions on the botanical source. In this research, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used as part of an untargeted metabolomics approach. From the chemical profiling, >30 compounds were identified across four RJ samples. The major constituents of the samples were found to be oligosaccharides, fatty acids, and adenosine monophosphate derivatives. Meanwhile, sucrose and planteose were found to be highest in the samples from Banjarnegara and Kediri, whereas dimethyloctanoic acid was found to be unique to the sample from Banjarnegara. It was also discovered that the RJs from Demak and Tuban contained more organic fatty acids and oligosaccharides than the other samples. Although the sample from Demak demonstrated good potential for use in the cosmetic, skin care, and bio-supplement industries, the higher abundance of fatty acids and oligosaccharides in the sample from Tuban indicated that it is perhaps the most suitable RJ for use in this field.

Royal Jelly Proteins Inhibit Macrophage Proliferation: Interactions with Native- and Oxidized-Low Density Lipoprotein

Macrophage proliferation is known to correlate with macrophage accumulation in atherosclerotic plaque, and therefore its inhibition and secondary reduction of plaque inflammation may have therapeutic beneficial effects on atherosclerosis. Recently, we reported that a peptide corresponding to positions 41-51 of royalisin (which consists of 51 amino acid residues), a potent antibacterial protein contained in royal jelly (RJ), can specifically bind to oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL), a major components of atherosclerotic lesions. Here, we investigated the interaction of RJ proteins including royalisin with LDL and Ox-LDL. Measurement of LDL oxidation by the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and conjugated dienes, and by electrophoretic mobility on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that RJ proteins including royalisin and the degradation products of major RJ protein (MRJP) 1 and MRJP3 can induce oxidation of LDL and Ox-LDL. Surface plasmon resonance experiments showed that these RJ proteins can exhibit much higher binding affinity to LDL than Ox-LDL (the equilibrium dissociation constant, K_D = 8.35 and 49.65 μg proteins/mL for LDL and Ox-LDL, respectively). Experiments using cultured mouse J774A.1 macrophage cells proved that these RJ proteins can inhibit macrophage proliferation markedly and concentration-dependently, regardless of the absence or presence of LDL and Ox-LDL, but hardly affect lipid accumulation in macrophages. These results suggest that RJ proteins including royalisin and degradation products of MRJP1/MRJP3 may have therapeutic beneficial effects on atherosclerosis owing to the reduction of plaque inflammation. Further studies of these RJ proteins may lead to the discovery of novel anti-atherosclerotic drugs.

The effect of royal jelly and silver nanoparticles on liver and kidney inflammation

OBJECTIVE

Royal jelly (RJ) is a honey bee product for which, anti-inflammatory properties were shown in vitro. Nanoparticles, including nano-silver (NS), are plausible inflammation inducers that act by activation of immune cells and consequent production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This project aimed to explore immunomodulatory effects of royal jelly and nano-silver on the kidney and liver.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this project, 40 male rats were grouped as follows: 10 rats as controls, 10 rats treated with RJ; 10 rats treated with both NS and RJ and 10 rats treated with NS. Liver and kidney interleukin (IL)-1β, -2, -6, and -33 levels were determined using commercial ELISA kits.

RESULTS

RJ reduced kidney IL-6 levels in comparison to control and NS--RJ groups. RJ and NS reduced kidney and liver IL-1β levels. Kidney IL-33 levels were decreased in the RJ and nano-silver groups in comparison to the NS--RJ group.

CONCLUSION

Based on this study, it may be concluded that RJ together with NS can play anti-inflammatory roles and may affect the function of immune cells.

Antibacterial activity of royal jelly-mediated green synthesized silver nanoparticles

The application of green synthesis in nanotechnology is growing day by day. It's a safe and eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods. The current research aimed to study raw royal jelly's potential in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their antibacterial activity. Royal jelly served as a reducing and oxidizing agent in the green synthesis technology of colloidal silver nanoparticles. The UV-Vis maximum absorption at ~ 430 nm and fluorescence emission peaks at ~ 487 nm confirmed the presence of Ag NPs. Morphology and structural properties of Ag NPs and the effect of ultrasound studies revealed: (i) the formation of polydispersed and spherical particles with different sizes; (ii) size reduction and homogeneity increase by ultrasound treatment. Antibacterial activity of different concentrations of green synthesized Ag NPs has been assessed on Gram-negative S. typhimurium and Gram-positive S. aureus, revealing higher sensitivity on Gram-negative bacteria.

Adaptogenic potential of royal jelly in reproductive system of heat stress-exposed male rats

Testicular heat stress (HS) can lead to testicular tissue destruction and spermatogenesis disturbances. Royal Jelly (RJ) has been introduced as a potent antioxidant. We investigated the effects of RJ on testicular tissue, oxidative stress and sperm apoptosis in HS-exposed rats. Compared to HS-exposed groups, RJ co-treatment could improve testosterone reduction and histopathological damages. The RJ co-administration decreased MDA level in testicular tissue, while TAC and CAT levels were remarkably increased compared to HS-exposed groups. Moreover, significant higher expression level of Bcl-2 and lower expression levels of P53 and Caspase-3 were seen following RJ co-administration compared to HS-exposed groups. Our data suggest that RJ can effectively ameliorate experimental HS-induced testiculopathies in rats through testicular antioxidant defense system restoration and germ cells apoptosis regulation.

Colony-level pesticide exposure affects honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) royal jelly production and nutritional composition

Honey bees provision glandular secretions in the form of royal jelly as larval nourishment to developing queens. Exposure to chemicals and nutritional conditions can influence queen development and thus impact colony fitness. Previous research reports that royal jelly remains pesticide-free during colony-level exposure and that chemical residues are buffered by the nurse bees. However, the impacts of pesticides can also manifest in quality and quantity of royal jelly produced by nurse bees. Here, we tested how colony exposure to a multi-pesticide pollen treatment influences the amount of royal jelly provisioned per queen and the additional impacts on royal jelly nutritional quality. We observed differences in the metabolome, proteome, and phytosterol compositions of royal jelly synthesized by nurse bees from multi-pesticide exposed colonies, including significant reductions of key nutrients such as 24-methylenecholesterol, major royal jelly proteins, and 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid. Additionally, quantity of royal jelly provisioned per queen was lower in colonies exposed to pesticides, but this effect was colony-dependent. Pesticide treatment had a greater impact on royal jelly nutritional composition than the weight of royal jelly provisioned per queen cell. These novel findings highlight the indirect effects of pesticide exposure on queen developmental nutrition and allude to social consequences of nurse bee glandular degeneration.

The Impact of Royal Jelly against Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Hepatocyte Damage in Rats: The Role of Cytoglobin, Nrf-2/HO-1/COX-4, and P38-MAPK/NF-κB-p65/TNF-α Signaling Pathways

OBJECTIVE

The present study was conducted to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism as well as the potential hepatoprotective effects of royal jelly (RJ) against hepatic ischemia/ reperfusion (IR) injury.

METHODS

Rats were assigned into four groups; sham (received vehicle), IR (30 minutes ischemia and 45 minutes reperfusion), sham pretreated with RJ (200 mg/kg P.O.), and IR pretreated with RJ (200 mg/kg P.O.). The experiment lasted for 28 days.

RESULTS

Hepatic IR significantly induced hepatic dysfunctions, as manifested by elevation of serum transaminases, ALP and LDH levels. Moreover, hepatic IR caused a significant up-regulation of P38-MAPK, NF-κB-p65, TNF-α and MDA levels along with marked down-regulation of Nrf-2, HO-1, COX-4, cytoglobin, IκBa, IL-10, GSH, GST and SOD levels. Additionally, marked histopathological changes were observed after hepatic IR injury. On the contrary, pretreatment with RJ significantly improved hepatic functions along with the alleviation of histopathological changes. Moreover, RJ restored oxidant/antioxidant balance as well as hepatic expressions of Nrf- 2, HO-1, COX-4, and cytoglobin. Simultaneously, RJ significantly mitigated the inflammatory response by down-regulation of P38-MAPK, NF-κB-p65, TNF-α expression.

CONCLUSION

The present results revealed that RJ has successfully protected the liver against hepatic IR injury through modulation of cytoglobin, Nrf-2/HO-1/COX-4, and P38-MAPK/NF-κB-p65/TNF- α signaling pathways.