Bee Venom Acupuncture Helps Treat Parkinson's Disease

Effectiveness of Acupuncture and Bee Venom Acupuncture in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease

Parkinsonism Relat Disord, 2012 May 24

This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of both acupuncture and bee venom acupuncture as adjuvant therapies for idiopathic Parkinson's disease.

We recruited 43 adults with idiopathic Parkinson's disease who had been on a stable dose of antiparkinsonian medication for at least 1 month. They were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: acupuncture, bee venom acupuncture, or control. All participants were assessed using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, the Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Berg Balance Scale, and the time and number of steps required to walk 30 m. Treatment groups underwent stimulation of 10 acupuncture points using acupuncture or bee venom acupuncture twice a week for 8 weeks. The initial assessment was repeated at the completion of treatment. The control group did not receive any treatment.

Participants in the bee venom acupuncture group showed significant improvement on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (total score, as well as parts II and III individually), the Berg Balance Scale, and the 30 m walking time.

When compared to the control group, the bee venom acupuncture group experienced significantly greater improvement on the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. In the acupuncture group, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (part III and total scores) and the Beck Depression Inventory showed significant improvement. The control group showed no significant changes in any outcome after 8 weeks.

Malaysian Gelam Honey May Help Treat Wide Range of Inflammatory Diseases

Gelam Honey Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Endotoxemia in Rats Through the Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 and the Inhibition of Cytokines, Nitric Oxide, and High-Mobility Group Protein 1 

Fitoterapia, 2012 May 22

Malaysian Gelam honey has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, a high antioxidant capacity, and free radical-scavenging activity. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates immune cells to sequentially release early pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and induces the synthesis of several related enzymes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the intravenous injection of honey in rats with LPS-induced endotoxemia.

The results showed that after 4h of treatment, honey reduced cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukins 1β, and 10) and NO levels and increased heme oxygenase-1 levels. After 24h, a decrease in cytokines and NO and an increase in HO-1 were seen in all groups, whereas a reduction in HMGB1 occurred only in the honey-treated groups.

These results support the further examination of honey as a natural compound for the treatment of a wide range of inflammatory diseases.

China to Boost Checks on Propolis Safety

China to Increase Supervision Over Health Food Producers

Xinhua, 5/24/2012

BEIJING -- China will launch a campaign to check health food producers over food safety concerns, the State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) said Wednesday on its website.

The SFDA said in the statement that the campaign, which will run from the end of May to the end of September, will check whether health foods meet the country's food safety criteria, especially those criteria on some heavy metals.

The statement said the major targets of the campaign include health foods meant to help consumers lose weight, lower their blood sugar levels, ease fatigue and improve sleep, among others, as these products are prone to include illegal chemical additives.

Health foods made from spirulina, bee propolis, pearl powder and fish oil, those sold in capsule form and products with exaggerated and fraudulent advertisements are also among the major targets...

Propolis Component May Help Treat Allergic Diseases

Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Attenuates IgE-Induced Immediate Allergic Reaction

Inflammopharmacology, 2012 May 19

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is the active component of honey bee propolis extracts. The results of the current study demonstrate that CAPE attenuated immunoglobulin (Ig)E-mediated allergic response in mast cells.

Oral administration of CAPE inhibited IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. CAPE effectively reduced both histamine and serotonin (5-HT)-induced vascular permeability in rats. CAPE also reduced histamine and leukotrienes (LTs) release from isolated rat peritoneal mast cells. Moreover, CAPE suppressed contraction induced by histamine (3 × 10(-8)-3 × 10(-5) M), 5-HT (3 × 10(-9)-10(-6) M) and adenosine (3 × 10(-8)-10(-5) M) in guinea pig tracheal zigzag.

These findings provide evidence that CAPE may serve as an effective therapeutic agent for allergic diseases.

Honey May Help Protect Organs During Inflammatory Diseases

Gelam Honey Has a Protective Effect against Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-Induced Organ Failure

Int. J. Mol. Sci, 2012, 13(5), 6370-6381

Gelam honey exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities and is thought to have potent effects in reducing infections and healing wounds.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intravenously-injected Gelam honey in protecting organs from lethal doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Six groups of rabbits (N = 6) were used in this study. Two groups acted as controls and received only saline and no LPS injections. For the test groups, 1 mL honey (500 mg/kg in saline) was intravenously injected into two groups (treated), while saline (1 mL) was injected into the other two groups (untreated); after 1 h, all four test groups were intravenously-injected with LPS (0.5 mg/kg). Eight hours after the LPS injection, blood and organs were collected from three groups (one from each treatment stream) and blood parameters were measured and biochemical tests, histopathology, and myeloperoxidase assessment were performed. For survival rate tests, rabbits from the remaining three groups were monitored over a 2-week period.

Treatment with honey showed protective effects on organs through the improvement of organ blood parameters, reduced infiltration of neutrophils, and decreased myeloperoxidase activity.

Honey-treated rabbits also showed reduced mortality after LPS injection compared with untreated rabbits.

Honey may have a therapeutic effect in protecting organs during inflammatory diseases.