Overview of Methods to Determine Phenols, Antioxidants in Honey

Methodological Aspects About Determination of Phenolic Compounds and In Vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant Capacity in the Honey: A Review
Current Analytical Chemistry, Volume 5, Number 4, October 2009 , pp. 293-302(10)

The antioxidant activity of honey varies greatly depending on the honey's floral source. There is little knowledge about the profiles of antioxidant substances in honey from different floral sources. The variation in these profiles might be responsible for the widely varying ability of honey to protect against oxidative reactions.

Honey is rich in polyphenol compounds, which act as natural antioxidants, and are becoming increasingly popular because of their potential role in contributing to human health. These compounds can also be used as indicators in studies about the floral and geographical origin of the honey.

Therefore, we overviewed the current analytical methods for measuring polyphenols and antioxidant capacity in honey. The analytical procedure to determine individual phenolic compounds involves their extraction from the sample, analytical separation and quantification.

The analytical separation techniques widely employed are gas chromatography, high-pressure liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis. The techniques to evaluate the antioxidant capacity are based on colorimetric assays such as DPPH, FRAP, TEAC (ABTS) and microplate fluorescence reader like ORAC assay.

Outbreak of Deadly Bee Mite 'Inevitable' in Australia

Ben Cubby, The Age (Australia), 11/29/09

There is a very good reason why the honey produced by Australia's bees is considered to be among the world's cleanest and most delicious.

The country is one of the last in the world to resist the insidious encroachment of the Varroa mite, a pinhead-sized insect that has devastated bee populations around the world in the past 30 years.

Australia's sea border and some original quarantine methods have kept the deadly mite at arm's length.

The nation's apiarists manage their hives without the armoury of chemical sprays that keep bees in Europe, North America and most other places alive. Honey in Australia is still the product of bees doing what they do, with a minimum of human interference.

But the latest report from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, reflecting mainstream opinion on the topic, says an outbreak of Varroa mites here is ''almost inevitable''…

Beneficial Effects of Honey Dressings in Wound Management

Nurs Stand, 2009 Oct 21-27;24(7):66-8, 70, 72 passim.

Honey was commonly used to treat wounds until the introduction of antibiotics. However, increasing numbers of antibiotic-resistant bacteria mean that alternative treatment options, such as honey, are receiving renewed interest. This article provides an overview of the use of honey in wound management and reviews the evidence to support its effectiveness.

Study: Diabetics May Use Honey as Sugar Substitute

The Glycemic and Peak Incremental Indices of Honey, Sucrose and Glucose in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: Effects on C-Peptide Level - A Pilot Study
Acta Diabetol. 2009 Nov 26
Abdulrhman M, El-Hefnawy M, Hussein R, El-Goud AA.
Department of Pediatrics, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, mamdouh565@hotmail.com.

Our study was a case-control cross-sectional study that was conducted on 20 children and adolescents suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus and ten healthy non-diabetic children and adolescents serving as controls. The mean age of patients was 10.95 years. Oral sugar tolerance tests using glucose, sucrose and honey and measurement of fasting and postprandial serum C-peptide levels were done for all subjects in three separate sittings. The glycemic index (GI) and the peak incremental index (PII) were then calculated for each subject.

Honey, compared to sucrose, had lower GI and PII in both patients and control groups. In the patients group, the increase in the level of C-peptide after using honey was not significant when compared with using either glucose or sucrose. However, in the control group, honey produced a significant higher C-peptide level, when compared with either glucose or sucrose.

In conclusion, honey, because of its lower GI and PII when compared with sucrose, may be used as a sugar substitute in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

UK Legal Case Deals with Use of Honey as Alternative Medicine

Healer Who Refused Traditional Medicine Died After Treating Infection with Honey
A former nurse who turned to the world of alternative medicine was accused at the High Court of being responsible for the death of her ''soulmate'' partner.
Telegraph (UK), 11/27/09

A judge heard both Cherie Cameron and Russell Jenkins - a healing therapist - believed in regularly checking with their ''inner being'' on how to live their lives.

They were living and working together at Mr Jenkins's home in Lorne Road, Southsea, Hampshire.

He ran the Quiet Mind Centre, which offered complementary medicine.

But the ''inner guidance'' Russell received was against seeking conventional medical help when a minor injury became infected with gangrene, the judge was told. He died, aged 52, in April 2007. Instead he used honey and magnesium sulphate.

At London's High Court his parents, Donald and Eileen Jenkins, accused Ms Cameron of failing in the duty of care she owed to their son.

Their lawyers argued she was an experienced theatre nurse who ought to have known that death was inevitable if a patient with gangrene did not receive antibiotics…

Honey and Honey-Product Allergies

Allergies au miel et aux produits de la ruche
Revue Française d'Allergologie, Volume 49, Supplement 1, October 2009, Pages S16-S22

Abstract: Honey products include a large number of allergens from the bodies of bees and the products they gather (pollens, nectar, propolis) and produce (honey, royal jelly). Although the IgE of serum from patients allergic to bees are capable of fixing a large number of honey proteins, the prevalence of honey allergy is low in those allergic to hymenoptera and in beekeepers. However, allergy to pollens, particularly of the Compositae family (artemisia, chamomilla, dandelion) are a risk factor for allergy to honey and royal jelly. Avoidance of these products is the only defense. However, honey and pollens, and to a lesser degree royal jelly, are often masked in food products, dietetic products, and high-energy products. One must also be careful of the unlabeled compositions from herbalists. Surveillance of incidents involving an allergy to honey, royal jelly, and propolis is indispensable.

Résumé: Les produits de la ruche comportent un grand nombre d’allergènes provenant du corps des abeilles et des produits qu’elles récoltent (pollens, nectar, propolis) et fabriquent (miel, gelée royale). Si les IgE du sérum des allergiques aux abeilles sont capables de fixer un grand nombre de protéines du miel, la prévalence de l’allergie au miel est faible chez les allergiques aux hyménoptères ou chez les apiculteurs. En revanche, l’allergie aux pollens en particulier de Composées (armoise, camomille, pissenlit) constitue un facteur de risque d’allergie au miel et à la gelée royale. L’éviction des produits en cause est la seule parade. Toutefois, le miel et les pollens, à un degré moindre la gelée royale, sont souvent masqués dans les produits alimentaires, diététiques et énergétiques. Il faut aussi se méfier des compositions d’herboristerie non étiquetées. Une surveillance des accidents allergiques au miel, à la gelée royale et à la propolis est indispensable.

Propolis Kills Cancer Cells

In vitro Cytotoxic Effect of Brazilian Green Propolis on Human Laryngeal Epidermoid Carcinoma (HEp-2) Cells

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 6, Number 4 Pp. 483-487

Propolis is a sticky dark-colored material showing a very complex chemical composition that honeybees collect from plants. It has been used in folk medicine since ancient times, due to several biological properties, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activities, among others. Its antitumor action in vivo and in vitro has also been reported, using propolis extracts or its isolated compounds.

The goal of this work was to evaluate propolis's cytotoxic action in vitro on human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma (Hep-2) cells.

These cells were incubated with different concentrations of this bee product for different time periods, and morphology and the number of viable HEp-2 cells analyzed. Data showed that propolis exhibited a cytotoxic effect in vitro against HEp-2 cells, in a dose- and time-dependent way. Propolis solvent had no effects on morphology and number of viable cells, proving that the cytotoxic effects were exclusively due to propolis components.

Since humans have been using propolis for a long time, further assays will provide a better comprehension of propolis's antitumor action.

New Antioxidants Found in Honey

New Antioxidant Compounds Have Been Identified in Foods Such as Olive Oil, Honey and Nuts Using Two Analytical Techniques
Medical News Today, 11/20/2009

Scientists at the University of Granada have identified and characterized for the first time different antioxidant compounds from foods such as olive oil, honey, walnuts and a medicinal herb called Teucrium polium. They have used two new techniques, capillary electrophoresis and high resolution liquid chromatography, that have enabled them to identify and quantify a great part of the phenolic compounds contained in these foods.

Functional foods such as olive oil, honey, walnuts and a medicinal herb called Teucrium polium are able to provide different health benefits, so their study and characterization is of great interest. Among the compounds that give such functional characteristics to these foods are phenolic compounds that have generated great interest due to their antioxidant capacity, which endows them with a chemopreventive effect in humans and causes them to have a great influence on the stability of oxidation present in food. Therefore, according to UGR researchers, the "identification and quantification [of these compounds] is a good means for the characterization of foods that contain them."…

Honey Products Promoted in India

Honey Popularization Drive Held
Times of India, 11/23/2009

CHANDIGARH: Khadi and Village Industries Corporation (KVIC) organised a honey popularisation drive at Sukhna Lake on Sunday. Hundreds of locals and tourists tasted honey and enquired about various products made of it. People were told about the different ways it could be used in daily diet.

The KVIC has been celebrating this week as Honey Week. A number of talent competitions were being held at various city schools, colleges and women clubs. Winners of these contests would be awarded on Monday during the concluding function of Honey Week at Shivalik school, Sector 41, said NS Tomar, state director, KVIC, Chandigarh and Punjab region. The event is being supported by Honey Hut Cafe, Sector 22, Kashmir Apiary Doraha and Regional Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (RCED), here. The KVIC is a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament and associated with ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises, government of India. Its objective is to create sustainable eco-friendly employment opportunities in rural India. Bee-keeping is one of its major programmes which is being implemented at national level.

Propolis May Help Treat Ear Infection in Dogs

Antimicrobial Activity of Propolis Extract Against Staphylococcus coagulase Positive and Malassezia pachydermatis of Canine Otitis
Veterinary Microbiology, Article in Press

The aims of this study were to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of propolis extract by determining the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) for coagulase-positive Staphylococcus isolates (Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus intermedius) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) for Malassezia pachydermatis isolates.

The microorganisms were assayed using broth microdilution techniques. The MBC(90) was 21mgmL(-1), and the MFC(90) was 5.3mgmL(-1).

The propolis extract was found to exhibit antimicrobial activity against both pathogens.

Australia to Export Propolis to Korea

Million Dollar Deal Signed in Young
Young Witness, 11/23/2009

MR Jing Bang Zou, proprietor of Jim’s Honey in Young, has signed an agreement in the boardroom of Lambing Flat Enterprises with representatives of Korean company, Kim Jeong Moon Aloe Co. Ltd. on Friday morning.

The deal will see Mr Zou export Propolis (a honey extract) to Korea, in a deal that he said will be worth about one million dollars a year.

“I would expect to be exporting one tonne of Propolis every month,” said Mr Zou.

“The Koreans want our product because it is so pure, ours is the best in the world…

Honeydew Honey Conference to be Held in Greece April 7-10

International Symposium on Authenticity and Quality of Bee Products and the 2nd World Symposium on Honeydew Honey

Apimondia International Honey Commission

April 7-10th , 2010
Mediterranean Agronomic Institute
Chania, Crete, Greece

Dear honey scientists, dear beekeepers:

The Apimondia International Honey Commission is glad to invite you to the Symposium on the Authenticity and Quality of Bee Products. This Symposium will also host the 2nd World Symposium on honeydew honey which will be the continuation of the 1st Symposium, held in Tzarevo, Bulgaria in Agust 2008…

The Symposium is going to take place in the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute, Chania, Crete (MAIC) on April 7 -9th of 2010.

The goal of the Symposium is to reintegrate our knowledge on honeydew honeys, to enrich our understanding on insect producing honeydews and to justify the quality and authenticity of bee products. Communications are welcome in all aspects of honeydew honeys, on insect producing honeydews and on current work on the authenticity and quality of bee products. Papers are welcome on:

Botanical and geographical denominations
Properties and composition
Honeydew sources and harvest
Insect producing honeydews
Nutritional aspects
Prognosis of secretions
Bee manipulations for better production, etc.

All communications will be in English.

Propolis Eliminates Bacteria in Root Canals

Effectiveness of Propolis and Calcium Hydroxide as a Short-Term Intracanal Medicament Against Enterococcus faecalis: A Laboratory Study
Australian Endodontic Journal, Volume 35, Number 2, August 2009 , pp. 52-58(7)

The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of propolis-based intracanal medicament against Enterococcus faecalis using infected dentine models, and to compare its antimicrobial efficacy with that of the non-setting calcium hydroxide paste when used as a short-term medication for 1 and 2 days…

Results showed that propolis was significantly more effective than non-setting calcium hydroxide against E. faecalis after short-term application, which made comparison from this prospect unlevelled. The most effective microbiological sampling technique was abrading the lumen with headstrom file.

Propolis is very effective as intracanal medicament in rapidly eliminating E. faecalis ex vivo.

Russian Conference on Apiculture and Apitherapy, May 17-20, 2010

“Apiculture in the 21st Century” - Apiculture, Apitherapy and the Quality of Life

May 17-20, 2010, Moscow, Russia
International Industrial Academy

Unique products of apiculture, containing all the essential nutrients, are widely used for the prophylaxis and treatment of many diseases. Established in 1992 at the initiative of the Research Institute for Apiculture and Ryazan State Medical University, the Apitherapists’ Society promotes the development of this field of science in Russia by uniting creative potentials of medicine and apiculture. Fourteen All-Russian theoretical and practical conferences have been held so far, the proceedings published in the “Apitherapy Today” collected articles.

We hope that this International Conference, being at the same time the 15th All-Russian anniversary conference, will contribute to a more effective introduction of the apiculture products as an element of nutrition, thus improving people’s health and the quality of life.

On the Agenda:

• Current state of the world output of beekeeping products;
• Apiculture in Russia and around the world;
• Technologies for breeding and keeping of the bee colonies;
• Selection of the bee lines specialized in the production of certain kinds of products;
• Innovative technologies for the production and processing of beekeeping products;
• Modern methods of quality and safety control of the beekeeping products;
• Standardization in beekeeping;
• Research of the composition, nutritional value and biological activity of the beekeeping products;
• Development of technologies and remedies for apitherapy;
• Effective means of using the products of beekeeping in medical practice;
• Achievements of apitherapy in improving the quality of life.

For more information, contact:

Tel/Fax: +7 (495) 235-4281
959-6669
E-mail: dashevsky@grainfood.ru, igrfop@grainfood.ru

Bee Products May Help Treat Cancer, Eye Damage Caused by Diabetes

Bee Products Prevent VEGF-Induced Angiogenesis in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 17 November 2009

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key regulator of pathogenic angiogenesis in diseases such as cancer and diabetic retinopathy. Bee products [royal jelly (RJ), bee pollen, and Chinese red propolis] from the honeybee, Apis mellifera, have been used as traditional health foods for centuries. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-angiogenic effects of bee products using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Methods: In an in vitro tube formation assay, HUVECs and fibroblast cells were incubated for 14 days with VEGF and various concentrations of bee products [RJ, ethanol extract of bee pollen, ethanol extract of Chinese red propolis and its constituent, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE)]. To clarify the mechanism of in vitro angiogenesis, HUVEC proliferation and migration were induced by VEGF with or without various concentrations of RJ, bee pollen, Chinese red propolis, and CAPE.

Results: RJ, bee pollen, Chinese red propolis, and CAPE significantly suppressed VEGF-induced in vitro tube formation in the descending order: CAPE > Chinese red propolis >> bee pollen > RJ. RJ and Chinese red propolis suppressed both VEGF-induced HUVEC proliferation and migration. In contrast, bee pollen and CAPE suppressed only the proliferation.

Conclusions: Among the bee products, Chinese red propolis and CAPE in particular showed strong suppressive effects against VEGF-induced angiogenesis. These findings indicate that Chinese red propolis and CAPE may have potential as preventive and therapeutic agents against angiogenesis-related human diseases.