Manuka Honey Helps Fight Cancer

Gulf News, 2/23/2013

Al Ain: A new study issued by a number of researchers at the University of the UAE - College of Medicine and Science has indicated that honey has positive imprints in the treatment of cancer.

The study offered strong scientific evidence that the Manuka honey extracted from bees feeding on the New Zealand Manuka tree actively delays the growth of different cancers, such as breast cancer, skin cancer, and colon cancer. The study also shows that the Manuka honey lessens the poisonous side effects of chemotherapy...

Ukrainian Apitherapy Conference 21-22 March 2013 in Kiev

IV Vseukrayyinska Scientific Conference on Apitherapy 21-22 March 2013 in Kiev at the NSC "Institute of beekeeping them. PIProkopovicha" the IV Vseukrayyinska scientific conference with international participation of apitherapy on the topic: "Apitherapy in treating musculoskeletal system"

The conference is in preparation Ukrainian beekeepers and melissotherapists to an outstanding event - held in Ukraine in 2013  43-th International Congress of beekeeping Apimondia.

The conference will be plenary and sessional   meetings with leading experts in the field of apitherapy from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus will be held master classes. Also organized tour in a certified laboratory quality honey company «Sunbee Ukraine »and bee clinic doctor Paschenko OO

Anyone can visit the National Museum of beekeeping Ukraine, rated Apimondia recognized as the best in the world.

Agenda - committee and reports

Agenda - workshops

Organizational issues

We wish you the beginning of spring meet  us, in the circle of friends and associates.

For questions about registration and organization contact, please call (044) 526-30-25 and email address apiconference2013@ukr.net

Tualang Honey Beats Other Malaysian Varieties in Antioxidant Properties

Physicochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Malaysian Honeys Produced by Apis cerana, Apis dorsata and Apis mellifera

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013, 23 February 2013

Background

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of Malaysian monofloral honey samples---acacia, pineapple and borneo honey---and compare them with tualang honey. Acacia and pineapple honey are produced by Apis mellifera bees while borneo and tualang honey are produced by Apis cerana and Apis dorsata bees, respectively.

Methods

The physical parameters of honey, such as pH, moisture content, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), color intensity, total sugar and apparent sucrose content, were measured. Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) was measured using high performance liquid chromatography, and a number of biochemical and antioxidant tests were performed to determine the antioxidant properties of the honey samples.

Results

Acacia honey was the most acidic (pH 3.53), whereas pineapple honey had the lowest moisture content (14.86%), indicating that both types of honey can resist microbial spoilage more effectively when compared to tualang honey (pH 3.80 and 17.53% moisture content). Acacia honey contained the highest EC (0.76 mS/cm), whereas borneo honey had the highest (377 ppm) TDS. The mean HMF content in Malaysian honey was 35.98 mg/kg. Tualang honey, which is amber color, had the highest color intensity (544.33 mAU). Acacia honey is the sweetest, and contained the highest concentration of total sugar, reducing sugar and apparent sucrose. Tualang honey had the highest concentration of phenolic compounds (352.73 +/- 0.81 mg galic acid/kg), flavonoids (65.65 +/- 0.74 mg catechin/kg), DPPH (59.89%), FRAP values (576.91 +/- 0.64 muM Fe (II)/100 g) and protein content (4.83 +/- 0.02 g/kg) as well as the lowest AEAC values (244.10 +/- 5.24 mg/kg), indicating its strong antioxidant properties. Proline, an important amino acid that is present in honey was also measured in the present study and it was found at the highest concentration in pineapple honey. Several strong correlations were found among the biochemical and antioxidant parameters of all the Malaysian honeys.

Conclusion

Although Malaysian honeys are of good quality, tualang honey contains the strongest antioxidant properties by far.

Dietary Propolis Improves Insulin Sensitivity

Improvement of Insulin Resistance, Blood Pressure and Interstitial pH in Early Developmental Stage of Insulin Resistance in OLETF Rats by Intake of Propolis Extracts

Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 2013 Feb 14

Propolis, a resinous mixture collected from plants by the Apis mellifera bee, contains high level nutrient factors including vitamins, polyphenols, and amino acids that would be expected to improve insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance would secondarily cause elevation of blood pressure and increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of propolis extracts on blood glucose levels and blood pressures in an early developmental stage of insulin resistance in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats. OLETF rats (10 weeks old) were divided into 3 different groups: normal diet, 0.1% propolis diet, and 0.5% propolis diet. After 8 weeks, blood glucose levels, blood pressures, plasma metabolic factors and hormones, and interstitial fluid pH were measured. Casual blood glucose levels were decreased associated with a reduction of plasma insulin levels in both proplois diet groups compared with normal diet group. Propolis decreased systolic blood pressure with no significant changes in plasma aldosterone levels. We also found that interstitial fluid pH in ascites, liver, and skeletal muscle was higher in rats fed propolis diet than rats fed normal diet.

These data suggests that dietary propolis improves insulin sensitivity and blood pressures in the early stage of the process in development of insulin resistance, which may be mediated by suppression of metabolic acidosis.

Traditional Portuguese Honey-Based Product has Antimicrobial, Antiviral and Antioxidant Properties

Antimicrobial, Antiviral and Antioxidant Activities of "água-mel" from Portugal

Food Chem Toxicol, 2013 Feb 16. pii: S0278-6915(13)00115-4

"Água-mel" is a honey-based product produced in Portugal for ancient times. Several attributes have been reported to "água-mel" particularly in the alleviation of simple symptoms of upper respiratory tract.

Samples of "água-mel" from diverse beekeepers from different regions of Portugal were studied in what concerns antimicrobial, antioxidant and antiviral properties. The amounts of phenol and brown pigment were also evaluated and correlated with the antioxidant activities. A great variability on the levels of these compounds was found among samples which were responsible for the variability detected also on the antioxidant activities, independent on the method used.

Generally, antioxidant activity correlated better with brown pigments' amount than with phenols' content. The antimicrobial activity found for "água-mel" samples confirm the virtues reported by popular findings. In addition, this work also reveals the antiviral properties of "água-mel" evidenced by a decrease on the infectivity of the Qβ bacteriophage.

Apimondia International Apicultural Congress Seeks Apitherapy Abstract Submissions

With a great pleasure we would like to invite you to take part in Scientific Program of the XXXXIII Apimondia International ApiculturalCongress – the biggest event in beekeeping history that is going to be held in Kyiv, Ukraine during the 29th of September – 4th of October, 2013.

The theme of the XXXXIII Apimondia Congress Scientific Program is: Beyond the Hive: Beekeeping and Global Challenges

Scientific Program Commissions

• Apitherapy

• Beekeeping Economy

• Bee Biology

• Bee Health

• Pollination and Bee Flora

• Beekeeping Technology and Quality

• Beekeeping for Rural Development

More detailed information you can find here.

The procedure of abstract submission is available online on our website.

Abstract submissions deadline: 31st  of February, 2013 (the deadline could be prolonged)

Enclosed you will find more detailed information.

Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

Nadia Lushchak, Scientific Conference Manager                                

                                  Tel.: +38 044 355 04 39

                                  e-mail: abstracts@apimondia2013.org.ua, nadia@apimondia2013.org.ua

Bee Pollen, Propolis Boost Growth

Growth Performance, Carcass Quality, Biochemical and Haematological Traits and Immune Response of Growing Rabbits as Affected by Different Growth Promoters

Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Early View 

The aim of the article was to study the effect of different growth promoters on growth performance, carcass quality, biochemical and haematological traits and immune response of growing rabbits.

A total number of 105 male growing NZW rabbits during 35–91 days of age were randomly distributed among 7 groups fed the same basal diet and submitted to different dietary treatments: the first group was unsupplemented and used as control; the other groups were supplemented respectively with bee pollen and/or propolis at 200 mg/kg BW of each and inulin and/or mannanoligosaccharides (MOS) at 35 mg/kg BW of each. Body weight gain, daily feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), biochemical and haematological blood parameters, carcass characteristics, histological studies of ileum and spleen and economical efficiency were measured.

Bee pollen administered alone or with propolis significantly (p < 0.01) the body weight gain and improved FCR in respect of the control group. Inulin with MOS significantly improved just FCR than the control group. Bee pollen with propolis and MOS supplemented-groups resulted in significantly higher (7.96 and 8.41% respectively) white blood cells compared to the control group.

Plasma total cholesterol was significantly higher for the MOS group in respect of the control, bee pollen, inulin and inulin with MOS supplemented-groups. Propolis resulted in significantly higher dressed carcass percentage than the control group and higher carcass index than only bee pollen with propolis supplemented-group.

Bee pollen, in particular if in combination with propolis, could be used as a supplement in the growing rabbits during days 35–91 of age with positive effects on growth rate and feed conversion ratio.