Propolis the Cure for Colds and Flu (Turkish)

T24
Ankara Arıcılar Birliği Başkanı, Fer Bal’ın sahibi Selçuk Solmaz,  İskender’in yaralı askerleri için kullandığı ‘Propolis’in yeniden keşfedildiğini ve mucizeler sunmaya başladığını söyledi. Propolis’in  grip, nezle gibi hastalıklarda çok etkili olduğunu anlatan Solmaz’a göre, “Herkesin çantasında mutlaka bir Propolis olmalı”.  Bağışıklık sistemini de güçlendiren Propolis, arıların dünyasıyla ilgili.  Arıların, bal yaparken kovanlarını dış etkenlere karşı korumak için ürettikleri bir madde. Yani, herhangi bir çatlak ya da sızıntıya, yağmura ve soğuğa karşı kovanını Propolis üreterek koruyor.  Bunu yaparken de, bitki reçinesi, sakızları ve tomurcuklarından yararlanıyor.

Australia Researching Therapeutically Active Honey

Manuka honey may be liquid gold

The Land, 29 Oct, 2014

AUSTRALIAN beekeepers could be set for a boom, earning up to $30 per kilogram for honey, if new research confirms honey produced from various species of Australian manuka trees have antibacterial properties.

Honey is increasingly being used for the treatment of wounds and skin infections due to its potent antibacterial and healing properties, including major infections like Golden Staph, E-coli and superbugs which are now becoming untreatable with modern antibiotics.

Currently, the majority of medical grade honey is sourced from New Zealand, where two species of Leptospermum (the manuka tree) are earning the industry an estimated $75 million a year. This is likely increase to $1 billion over the next 10 years.

Australia has 83 different species of manuka, leaving the door ajar for our beekeepers to seriously grow their profit margins if this project can systematically identify which species make the most therapeutically active honey and where they are located in Australia.

The research is being led by the ithree institute at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). It is funded by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC), Capilano Honey Ltd and Comvita Ltd under the Honey Bee & Pollination R&D Program, which is jointly funded by RIRDC and Horticultural Australia Limited (HAL)…

Beehives Have Medical Specialists That Prescribe Antibiotic Honey to Sick Workers

Sick honeybees may be nursed by doctors

BBC, 10/25/2014

They are among the most industrious creatures on the planet, but honeybees still struggle when they’re ill. Once a disease takes hold inside a hive, the bees can become sluggish and disorientated, and many may die.

Now it seems honeybees may have a way of helping to keep their workforce healthy - by employing bees that feed "medicinal honey" to other members of the hive.

A group of worker bees called "nurse bees", if they are infected with a parasite, selectively eat honey that has a high antibiotic activity, according to Silvio Erler of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg in Halle, Germany and his colleagues. 

These bees are also responsible for feeding honey to the larvae and distributing it to other members of the colony. So it's possible they are the hive's doctors, prescribing different types of honey to other bees depending on their infection. If that is true, it could be a big part of how bees fight disease.

In Erler's study, nurse bees infected with a gut parasite called Nosema ceranae were given a choice of honeys. Three were made from the nectar of plants - black locust, sunflower and linden trees - while a fourth was honeydew honey made from the secretions of scale insects or aphids. Each of the honeys was known to have antibiotic activity.

Bees with greater levels of infection tended to eat more of the sunflower honey, which had the strongest antimicrobial activity. It reduced the level of infection in the bees that ate it by 7%, compared to the honey from the linden trees.

"Honeys are full of micronutrients, alkaloids and secondary plant compounds that are good for both bees and humans alike," says Mike Simone-Finstrom of North Carolina State University in Raleigh. One study suggested they can increase the activity of honeybees' immunity genes, boosting their ability to fight disease.
A separate study from September by Erler's group suggests that different honeys are effective against different diseases. While sunflower honey is good at preventing the growth of bacteria that cause American foulbrood in bees, it is less effective against bacteria associated with European foulbrood. However, linden honey was more effective against these bacteria…

Study a First Test of Australian Honey's Medicinal Potential

Medical Xpress, 10/27/2014

Manuka honey from New Zealand is already established as a valuable antibacterial agent, particularly for treating slow-healing wounds. Now scientists will test the potential of honey derived from related trees in Australia to meet the increasing worldwide demand for medical honey.

"Antibiotic resistance is an urgent world health problem," said project leader Professor Liz Harry from UTS's ithree institute. "In the face of the declining power of antibiotics, honey is increasingly being used as a gel or dressing to treat chronic (slow-healing) wounds.

"Honey has several properties that make it ideal as a treatment for chronic wounds: it has potent antibacterial activity and bacteria don't appear to become resistant to it. This makes sense since honey has evolved for millions of years to resist spoiling – it is the only food that can't be spoiled.

"Manuka honey is a known potent antibacterial honey that is commonly used in these products, but there are legitimate concerns that the demand for manuka honey may outweigh its supply.

"This is the first comprehensive, Australia-wide survey of manuka (Leptospermum) honey to identify all possible sources and provide as much medicinal honey as possible. New Zealand has two types of Leptospermum tree, Australia has more than 80."…

Honey Has More Impact on Slow Growing Bacteria Than Antibiotics

Evaluation of bactericidal activity of Hannon honey on slowly growing bacteria in the chemostat

Drug Healthc Patient Saf. 2014 Oct 15;6:139-44

There is renewed interest in the therapeutic use of honey, including use in the treatment of infected wounds and burn patients. In this study, we have assessed the antibacterial activity of Libyan floral Hannon honey on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, both known to infect wounds.

The effects of four concentrations (5%-30%) of honey were compared with that of four antibiotics (ampicillin, tetracycline, polymyxin, and ciprofloxacin) on the growth of these bacteria at early log, mid log, and late log phases. It has been shown that E. coli and S. aureus are to some degree susceptible during mid log phase compared with late log phase, demonstrated by their complete resistance to antibiotics. Chemostat culture was used to investigate the effect of honey on E. coli grown at a steady state with specific growth rates between 0.1 to 0.5 hour(-1).
The rate of killing was distinctively clear during the two stages of growth monitored: there was a relatively moderate reduction at the slow growth phase (0.1 to 0.3 hour(-1)), while a dramatic reduction was obtained at the fast growth phase (0.3 to 0.5 hour(-1)), reaching a complete reduction at 0.5 hour(-1). These results complement data using the cup-cut technique.

The antibacterial effect of honey was concentration and time dependent, the bactericidal effect was indeed observed at low concentrations, it demonstrates that the honey has more impact on slow growing bacteria than antibiotics have. We suggest that more reduction could be achieved at higher concentrations of honey. These results may have important clinical implications, such as for the management of wound and burn patients.

Review: Bioactivity and Chemical Synthesis of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester and Its Derivatives

Molecules 2014, 19(10), 16458-16476

Published: 13 October 2014

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), as one of the main active ingredients of the natural product propolis, shows the unique biological activities such as anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, and so on. These have attracted the attention of many researchers to explore the compound with potent biological activities. This review aims to summarize its bioactivities, synthetic methods and derivatives, which will be helpful for further study and development of CAPE and its derivatives.

Honey Might Have Positive Effect on Children with Leukemia

Clinical Trial: The Effects of Honey on Febrile Neutropeniain Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a common and serious side effect of chemotherapy. Current management of FN is expensive and may induce side effects. Honey is a natural substance produced by honeybees. It possesses antioxidant, antimicrobial and anticancer effects. In addition, honey is not expensive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 12-week honey consumption on children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) particularly with regards of FN episodes. This randomized crossover clinical trial included 40 patients of both sexes, aged 2.5 to 10 years. They were randomized into two equal groups [intervention to control (I/C) and control to intervention (C/I)]. The dietary intervention was 12-week honey consumption in a dose of 2.5g//kg body weight per dose twice weekly. The intervention resulted in a significant decrease of FN episodes and duration of hospital admission. Furthermore, the intervention improved the levels of hemoglobin and did not lead to any serious side effect. As a possible effect of honey withdrawal in the I/C group, the Hb%, the absolute neutrophil count and the platelet count decreased. This small clinical trial suggests that honey consumption might have positive effects on FN and hematologic parameters of children with ALL.

Propolis May Help Treat Amyloidosis

Inhibitory Activities of Propolis and Its Promising Component, Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester, against Amyloidogenesis of Human Transthyretin

J Med Chem. 2014 Oct 20

Transthyretin (TTR) is a homotetrameric serum protein associated with amyloidoses such as familial amyloid polyneuropathy and senile systemic amyloidosis. The amyloid fibril formation of TTR can be inhibited through stabilization of the TTR tetramer by the binding of small molecules. In this study, we examined the inhibitory potency of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and its derivatives. Thioflavin T assay showed that CAPE suppressed the amyloid fibril formation of TTR. Comparative analysis of the inhibitory potencies revealed that phenethyl ferulate was the most potent among the CAPE derivatives. The binding of phenethyl ferulate and the selected compounds to TTR were confirmed by the 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonic acid displacement and X-ray crystallography. It was also demonstrated that Bio 30, which is a CAPE-rich commercially available New Zealand propolis, inhibited TTR

Honey Component Methylglyoxal May Help Treat HIV-1

Anti-HIV-1 Activity of Eight Monofloral Iranian Honey Types

PLoS One. 2014 Oct 21;9(10):e108195

Monofloral Iranian honeys from eight floral sources were analyzed to determine their anti-HIV-1 activities as well as their effects on lymphocyte proliferation. The Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) used in this study were prepared from five healthy volunteers who were seronegative for HIV, HCV, HBV and TB.

The anti-HIV-1 activity of eight different honeys was performed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and high pure viral nucleic acid kit. The results demonstrated that monofloral honeys from Petro selinum sativum, Nigella sativa, Citrus sinensis, Zataria multiflora, Citrus aurantium and Zizyphus mauritiana flowers had potent anti-HIV-1 activity with half maximal effective concentration (EC50) values of 37.5, 88, 70, 88, 105 and 5 µg/ml respectively. However, monofloral Iranian honeys from Astragalus gummifer and Chamaemelum nobile flowers had weak anti-HIV-1 activity. The frequency and intensity of CD4 expression on PBMCs increased in the presence of all honey types. CD19 marker were also increased after the treatment with monofloral honeys from Z.multiflora and N. sativa.

The anti-HIV-1 agent in monofloral honeys from P.sativum, N. sativa, Z. multiflora and Z. mauritiana flowers was detected by spectroscopic analysis as methylglyoxal. Time of drug addition studies demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of methylglyoxal is higher on the late stage of HIV-1 infection.
The result demonstrated that methylglyoxal isolated from monofloral honey types is a good candidate for preclinical evaluation of anti-HIV-1 therapies.

Manuka Trees Vary in Ability to Create Bioactive Honey

Waikato Scientists Uncovering the Secrets of Manuka Trees

Voxy, Tuesday, 21 October, 2014

The results of a University of Waikato study surveying the flowers of mānuka trees around the North Island has been published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

The research conducted by the University of Waikato honey chemistry team was led by Associate Professor Merilyn Manley-Harris.

"Mānuka honey contains bioactivity that originates from a chemical called dihydroxyacetone (DHA) in the nectar of the mānuka flower. However not all mānuka trees produce the same amounts of DHA and therefore mānuka trees are not necessarily equal in their ability to create bioactive honey," says Assoc Prof Manley-Harris.

The Waikato honey team spent the past few years surveying the flowers of mānuka trees around the North Island and testing their nectar for DHA.

Throughout the study the team classified the nectars as high, medium or low based upon the quantity of DHA in the nectar. Variations from low, to moderate or high were observed between years for the same trees in some locations and differences between regions in the North Island were also observed. "Perhaps most significantly trees within a 100 metre radius in one location showed variation from low to high."…

Polish Herbhoneys Show Antibacterial Activity

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Polish herbhoneys

Food Chem. 2015 Mar 15;171:84-8

The present study focuses on samples of Polish herbhoneys (HHs), their chemical composition and antimicrobial activity. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was used to analyse eight samples of herbal honeys and three samples of nectar honeys. Their antimicrobial activities were tested on selected Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus schleiferi) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria, as well as on pathogenic fungi Candida albicans.

Ether extracts of HHs showed significant differences in composition but the principal groups found in the extracts were phenolics and aliphatic hydroxy acids typical of royal jelly and unsaturated dicarboxylic acids.

In spite of the differences in chemical composition, antimicrobial activity of the extracts of HHs against all the tested microorganisms except E. coli was observed.

Manuka Honey Component Shows Antibacterial Activity in Wound Dressing

Investigation into the potential use of poly(vinyl alcohol)/methylglyoxal fibres as antibacterial wound dressing components

J Biomater Appl. 2014 Oct 16

As problems of antibiotic resistance increase, a continuing need for effective bioactive wound dressings is anticipated for the treatment of infected chronic wounds. Naturally derived antibacterial agents, such as Manuka honey, consist of a mixture of compounds, more than one of which can influence antimicrobial potency. The non-peroxide bacteriostatic properties of Manuka honey have been previously linked to the presence of methylglyoxal.

The incorporation of methylglyoxal as a functional antibacterial additive during fibre production was explored as a potential route for manufacturing wound dressing components. Synthetic methylglyoxal and poly(vinyl alcohol) were fabricated into webs of sub-micron fibres by means of electrostatic spinning of an aqueous spinning solution. Composite fabrics were also produced by direct deposition of the poly(vinyl alcohol)-methylglyoxal fibres onto a preformed spunbonded nonwoven substrate. Attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies confirmed the presence of methylglyoxal within the resulting fibre structure.

The antibacterial activity of the fibres was studied using strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Strong antibacterial activity, as well as diffusion of methylglyoxal from the fibres was observed at a concentration of 1.55 mg/cm2.

Bees Prefer Fresh Pollen Stored for Less Than Three Days

Hive-stored pollen of honey bees: Many lines of evidence are consistent with pollen preservation, not nutrient conversion

Mol Ecol. 2014 Oct 15

Honey bee hives are filled with stored pollen, honey, tree resins, and wax, all antimicrobial to differing degrees. Stored pollen is the nutritionally rich currency used for colony growth, and consists of 40-50% simple sugars.

Many studies speculate that prior to consumption by bees, stored pollen undergoes long-term nutrient conversion, becoming more nutritious "bee bread" as microbes pre-digest the pollen. We quantified both structural and functional aspects associated with this hypothesis using behavioral assays, bacterial plate counts, microscopy, and 454 amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene from both newly-collected and hive-stored pollen.

We found that bees preferentially consume fresh pollen stored for less than three days. Newly-collected pollen contained few bacteria, values which decreased significantly as pollen was stored >96 hours. The estimated microbe to pollen grain surface area ratio was 1:1,000,000 indicating a negligible effect of microbial metabolism on hive-stored pollen. Consistent with these findings, hive-stored pollen grains did not appear compromised according to microscopy. Based on year round 454 amplicon sequencing, bacterial communities of newly-collected and hive-stored pollen did not differ, indicating the lack of an emergent microbial community co-evolved to digest stored pollen.

In accord with previous culturing and 16S cloning, acid resistant and osmotolerant bacteria like Lactobacillus kunkeei were found in greatest abundance in stored pollen, consistent with the harsh character of this microenvironment.

We conclude that stored pollen is not evolved for microbially mediated nutrient conversion, but is a preservative environment due primarily to added honey, nectar, bee secretions and properties of pollen itself.

UK Medical Group Recommends Honey and Lemon Over Cough Medicines

Cough medicines 'a waste of money'

Telegraph, 10/15/2014

The Royal College of GPs says people are better off using home remedies containing lemon and honey to treat a short-term cough

Cough medicines are a waste of money and people are better off drinking home remedies with lemon or honey, a leading body of doctors has claimed.

The Royal College of General Practitioners backed NHS advice which states that there is "little evidence" to suggest some cough medicines have any effect.

Dr Tim Ballard, vice chairman of the RCGP, said: "The medical evidence behind cough medicines is weak and there is no evidence to say that they will reduce the duration of illnesses – as such, GPs are unlikely to prescribe them."

He added that while some patients do find such medicines beneficial, patients who have had a cough for less than three weeks should seek advice from their local pharmacist. 

Cough medicines, which usually cost between £3 and £5 for a small bottle, are part of an over-the-counter health care industry worth £3 billion a year.

But the NHS Choices website advises: "There's little evidence to suggest cough medicines actually work, although some ingredients may help treat symptoms associated with a cough, such as a blocked nose or fever."

The webpage adds that the "simplest and cheapest" treatment for a "short-term cough" may be a homemade remedy containing lemon and honey…

Methylglyoxal is Associated with Bacteriostatic Activity of High Fructose Agave Syrups

Food Chem. 2014 Dec 15;165:444-50

Three α-ketoaldehydes, potentially present in high fructose agave syrups (HFASs) as intermediates of the Maillard reaction, were determined. A previously reported HPLC-FLD procedure based on pre-column derivatisation with 4-methoxy-o-phenylenediamine was adopted, yielding the method quantification limits 0.11 mg/kg, 0.10mg/kg, 0.09 mg/kg for glyoxal, methylglyoxal (MGo) and diacetyl, respectively. The obtained results revealed high concentrations of methylglyoxal in HFASs (average 102 ± 91 mg/kg, range 15.6-315 mg/kg) as compared to commercial Mexican bee honeys or corn syrups. Hydrogen peroxide was generated in all HFASs upon dilution, yet to less extent than in bee honeys. HFASs presented bacteriostatic activity against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli; catalase addition had minimum effect on the assay results in syrups with elevated MGo. Principal component analysis revealed direct association between growth inhibition and MGo. It is concluded that elevated concentration of MGo in HFASs is at least in part responsible for their non-peroxide bacteriostatic activity.

Bee Venom May Help Treat Acne

Inhibitory effects of bee venom on Propionibacterium acnes-induced inflammatory skin disease in an animal model

Int J Mol Med, 2014 Nov;34(5):1341-8

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is a major contributing factor to the inflammatory component of acne. The many prescription medications for acne allow for a large number of potential combination treatments. However, several antibiotics, apart from their antibacterial effects, exert side‑effects, such as the suppression of host inflammatory responses. Purified bee venom (BV) is a natural toxin produced by honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). BV has been widely used as a traditional medicine for various diseases.

In the present study, to investigate the therapeutic effects of BV against P. acnes-induced inflammatory skin disease, P. acnes was intradermally injected into the ears of mice. After the injection, BV was applied to the skin surface of the right ear. Histological observation revealed that P. acnes induced a considerable increase in the number of infiltrated inflammatory cells. However, treatment with BV markedly reduced these reactions compared with the P. acnes-injected mice not treated with BV. Moreover, the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-1β were significantly reduced in the BV-treated mice compared with the untreated P. acnes-injected mice. In addition, treatment with BV significantly inhibited Toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and CD14 expression in P. acnes-injected tissue. The binding activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and activator protein (AP)-1 was markedly suppressed following treatment with BV. The results from our study, using an animal model, indicate that BV exerts an inhibitory effect on inflammatory skin diseases.

In conclusion, our data indicate that BV has potential for use as an anti-acne agent and may be useful in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries.

Quran: "From their bellies come a drink of various colors, wherein is healing for mankind"

Honey: the Antibiotic of Future

On Islam, 10/14/2014

Through the ages bees have played a significant role in Muslim cultures. In fact, the value of bees was so great that before an important battle Abu Bakr As-Sidiq told his general, Yazid Ibn Abi Sufian, "Do not burn bees and do not scatter them."

Surah 16, An-Nahl aka "The Bee", in the Qur'an also speaks of the importance of bees in Islam. In Surah 16, verse 69 states: "from their bellies come a drink of various colors, wherein is healing for mankind."

Many people interpret this "drink" to mean honey, however, bees also produce another healing drink in their bodies - Bee Venom (BV).

Bee Venom is a complex mixture used by the bees to protect their hives against predators. Bee Venom Therapy (BVT), also known as apitherapy, is a popular healing method that uses this venom.

BVT consists of using bee stings to treat symptoms of certain diseases. BVT can be performed by a doctor, a therapist, a beekeeper or a patient who is taught how to properly use the bees (Rothfeld)…

Clinical Trial to Assess Effectiveness of Honey to Treat Dry, Sore, Red Eyes

By Sandra Hutchinson, Medical Xpress, 10/13/2014

Honey's antibacterial benefits are widely recognised but now a QUT team of optometry researchers is conducting clinical trials of the therapeutic effect of the sweet nectar as a remedy for dry, red and sore eyes, which are an irritating and chronic problem for one in three Australian adults.

Clinical Optometrist and dry eye researcher Dr Julie Albietz, from the QUT Health Clinics and the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, has studied the benefits of antibacterial medical honeys on the eye's surface tissues for more than a decade and will lead two trials comparing traditional eye lid hygiene and lubricant eye products with honey-based therapies for the management of dry eye symptoms and signs…

Manuka Honey is a Potential Root Canal Disinfectant

Comparison of the Antibacterial Efficacy of Manuka Honey Against E.faecalis and E.coli - An In vitro Study

J Clin Diagn Res. 2014 Aug;8(8):ZC29-31

AIM:

To compare the antibacterial efficacy of Manuka honey against E.faecalis and E.coli.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Escherichia coli (ATCC-25922) and Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC-29212) were separately inoculated in the nutrient broth and incubated at 37(o)C for 24-48 hrs. Bacterial samples were kept in contact with each disinfectant solution for varying intervals of time. Once the test time had elapsed 10μL of the bacterial dilutions were plated on Mueller-Hinton agar and incubated for 24-48 hrs at 37°C to estimate the density. Study of the disinfection process with respect to time and Modeling was done.

RESULTS:

The mean value of the antimicrobial activity of Manuka honey against E.coli and E.faecalis are 1.55 and 0.36 respectively and are relatively higher. It shows that there is a significant difference among the various root canal disinfectant groups against E. coli and E. feacalis. (p < 0.001)

CONCLUSION: Manuka honey is shown to be a potential root canal disinfectant against gram positive and gram negative bacterial pathogens.

Honey Can Be Used as Treatment for Dry Socket

Honey a sweet approach to alveolar osteitis: A study

Natl J Maxillofac Surg, 2014 Jan;5(1):31-4

BACKGROUND:

Honey is one of the oldest known medicines. Its use has been rediscovered in later times by the medical profession, especially for dressing wounds. It has been reported from various clinical studies on the usages of honey as a dressing for infected wounds that the wound become sterile in 3-6 days, others have al so reported that the honey is effective in cleaning up infected wound.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The 54 patients of dry socket were selected from the from the outpatient department of oral and maxillofacial surgery. A diagnosis of dry socket was made clinically. This study was under taken to evaluate the effect of honey dressing in management of dry socket.

RESULTS:

In this study there was significant reduction if inflammation, hyperemia, edema and exudation after honey dressing that results in soothing effect and reduction in pain and discomfort. There was al so significant reduction in CRP level post operative days .There was side effect of honey was observed in our study, so it can be used as alternative for the management of dry socket.

DISCUSSION:

It has al so been reported that the honey dressing halt advancing necrosis. It has al so been found to act as barrier preventing wounds from becoming infected, preventing cross infection, and allowing burn wound to heal rapidly.

CONCLUSIONS:

There are no side effects of honey. Excess use of euginol, can lead to necrosis of bone. The honey can be used as medicament for the management of dry socket.

Honey Helps Reduce Post-Tonsillectomy Pain

Efficacy of honey in reduction of post tonsillectomy pain, randomized clinical trial

International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology

Volume 78, Issue 11, November 2014, Pages 1886–1889

Objectives

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common operations performed in pediatric population. One of the most prevalent tonsillectomy complications is early or delayed post-operative hemorrhage. Other important morbidity is post-operative pain. Historically, honey has been used for wound control, reducing the inflammation, and healing acceleration. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of honey on reducing pain after tonsillectomy in children 5–15 years old.

Methods

After tonsillectomy, 80 patients were randomly divided in two equal groups. Patients in the first group were treated with antibiotic and acetaminophen, while those in the second group were treated with antibiotic, acetaminophen and honey. Data was gathered via a questionnaire and observation of tonsillar bed healing. Data was analyzed by SPSS17 software and related tests.

Results

Pain comparison between two groups showed that the average time required for pain relief in patients who received honey was less than the control. The pain intensity was higher during the first 9 days post-operatively in control group. Results also showed that acetaminophen consumption in patients who received honey is lower. In the case group, the average time to resume regular diet and the frequency of awakening at night is significantly less than the control group.

Conclusion

Honey administration after tonsillectomy has valuable effect in pain relief and it can be used as an adjunctive regimen after surgery for better pain control.

Bee Products Honey, Propolis, Pollen May Help Treat Depression

Total monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition by chestnut honey, pollen and propolis

Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and Medicinal Chemistry, October 2014, Vol. 29, No. 5 , Pages 690-694

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors are generally used in the treatment of depressive disorders and some neurodegenerative illnesses, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

The aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the MAO [MAO (E.C.1.4.3.4)] inhibiting effect of various apitherapeutic products, such as chestnut honey, pollen and propolis. Extracts’ MAO inhibition was measured using peroxidase-linked spectrophotometric assay in enzyme isolated from rat liver microsomes, and the values are expressed as the inhibition concentration (IC50) causing 50% inhibition of MAO. The antioxidant activity of the bee products was also determined in terms of total phenolic content (TPC) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power in aquatic extracts.

All samples exhibited substantial inhibition of MAO, propolis having the highest. Inhibition was related to samples’ TPCs and antioxidant capacities. These results show that bee products possess a sedative effect and may be effective in protecting humans against depression and similar diseases.

Propolis May Help Counter Toxic Effect of Cancer Treatment

Ameliorative effect of propolis against cyclophosphamide-induced toxicity in mice

Pharm Biol, 2014 Oct 7:1-7. [Epub ahead of print]

Context: Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a common anticancer agent used for the treatment of several malignancies. However, upon treatment, it induces severe toxicity due to its oxidative stress capability. Propolis, a natural product collected by honey bees, has shown several biological activities, such as free radical scavenging and antioxidant agent.

Objective: This study elucidates the protective effects of propolis against CTX-induced changes in mice. Materials and methods: Forty-eight male Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups; group 1 was intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with 200 µL of phosphate buffer saline (PBS), group 2 was injected with 100 mg/kg/d propolis, group 3 was injected with a single dose of CTX (200 mg/kg), and group 4 was injected with a single dose of CTX (200 mg/kg) followed by propolis (100 mg/kg) for 7 consecutive days. After 12 d, mice were bled and then sacrificed to analyze the hematological, biochemical, and histological parameters.

Results: The results indicated that CTX-injected mice showed an increase in the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea, and creatinine and a decrease in the total number of white blood cells (WBCs) and platelets. Moreover, dramatically changes in the histological architectures of the liver and kidney were observed. The mice that were injected with CTX/propolis showed an improvement in the levels of ALT, AST, urea, creatinine, WBCs, and platelets. Moreover, the histological picture of the liver and kidney was significantly improved.

Conclusions: In conclusion, propolis might be considered an effective agent in ameliorating the toxicity resulted from CTX treatment.

Māori Land Owners to Help Increase Supply of Manuka Honey

Natural health company Comvita make beeline for Māori land

By Dean Nathan, Maori Television, Tuesday 7 October 2014

A major natural health company has signalled its wish to work in partnership with Māori land owners to increase its supply chain of manuka honey.

Like the bees, the natural health company Comvita are making a beeline for Māori land.

Chief executive of Comvita, Brett Hewlett says, “The role that Māori can play is really critical here.  It's a valuable resource, it's a scarce resource so we can grow the demand for the product almost as much as we like through good marketing and good branding.  But that’s no good if we can’t get the source of supply, and Māori are privileged to have access to some really great land resource.”…

Kate Middleton and Victoria Beckham Use Bee Venom Treatment

Get beautiful radiant skin like Kate Middleton and Victoria Beckham

OK!, 10/6/2014

BEAUTICIAN Deborah Mitchell has given her signature facials to an array of stars from fashion designer Victoria Beckham to royalty such as Kate Middleton.

Deborah personally gave the Duchess of Cambridge a Bee Venom facial at Clarence House a few days before the big wedding and she even treated Camilla Parker Bowles on the morning of the ceremony itself…

Bee Venom Facials in UK

By Nottingham Post, October 05, 2014

WITH its many hair stations, shelves of products and bustling atmosphere, the Hairven salon in Gedling is a slice of city luxury away from the centre.

I was invited down to the salon to try out their popular Bee Sting Facial.

I’m always curious to try out the latest treatments in the industry and with a name involving the world “sting” I was unsure what to expect. But as soon as I was led into one of the salon’s many treatment rooms, my apprehension soon started to fade…

Bee Venom Effective in Managing Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

The affect on delayed onset muscle soreness recovery for ultrasound with bee venom

J Phys Ther Sci. 2014 Sep;26(9):1419-21

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether ultrasound alone or ultrasound with bee venom is effective in treating delayed onset muscle soreness of the biceps brachii muscle, using the visual analogue scale, range of motion test (flexion and extension), and serum creatine kinase level.

[Subjects] Twenty women participated in this study.

[Methods] Repeated eccentric contractions were used to induce delayed onset muscle soreness in the elbow flexor of the subjects. The subjects were randomized to be treated with ultrasound alone or ultrasound with bee venom. We evaluated the effects of treatments in the 2 groups. Individual subjects were assessed using the visual analogue scale, range of motion test, and serum creatine kinase level. The assessment parameters were evaluated 4 times: before exercise and 24, 48, and 72 hours after exercise.

[Results] The visual analogue scale scores were significantly different before and after the experiment in both the group treated with ultrasound and the group treated with ultrasound and bee venom. The difference in elbow flexion and extension before and after the experiment was significantly different in both groups. No significant difference was found in the serum creatine kinase levels before and after the experiment.

[Conclusion] Treatment with ultrasound and bee venom is effective for managing delayed onset muscle soreness.

Honey a Promising Antibacterial Agent in Management of Corneal Ulcers

Complementary treatment of contact lens-induced corneal ulcer using honey: A case report

Cont Lens Anterior Eye, 2014 Sep 29. pii: S1367-0484(14)00110-6

The aim of this study was to report the complementary use of honey for treatment of a contact lens-induced corneal ulcer. A 23-year-old contact lens user presented with a corneal ulcer in her left eye. She had visual acuity reduced to hand movement. There was a history of wearing contact lenses while swimming in a lake seven days before presentation. The cultures from corneal scrapings and contact lenses were positive for Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Pseudomonas spp. The treatment with topical levofloxacin and 25% (w/v) γ-irradiated honeydew honey solution was effective and the patient achieved final best corrected visual acuity of affected eye. In addition to positive clinical outcome, honeydew honey was shown to be highly effective in vitro against ocular isolates, in particular S. maltophilia. The minimal inhibitory concentrations for honeydew honey ranged from 5% to 10%. These results demonstrate that honey is a promising antibacterial agent in management of corneal ulcers. Moreover, honey exhibits anti-biofilm and anti-inflammatory properties, and thus becomes an interesting ophthalmologic agent.

Australian Stingless Bees Propolis Shows Strong Anti-Staphylococcal Effects

Phloroglucinols from Anti-Microbial Deposit-Resins of Australian Stingless Bees (Tetragonula carbonaria)

Phytotherapy Research

Early View (Online Version of Record published before inclusion in an issue)

Stingless bees accumulate deposits of plant resins that are mixed with beeswax to produce propolis. Previous studies have reported anti-microbial constituents of stingless bee (Tetragonula carbonaria) propolis from East Australia, but several components remained to be characterized. In the search of natural products yet unreported for Australian propolis, four bee deposit-resins of T. carbonaria bees were analysed by gas and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry with accurate mass measurements. Ethanolic extracts of the deposit-resins were tested in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25983 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 by the agar diffusion method. Phloroglucinols, flavonoids and isoprenoids were identified in samples. The crude extracts showed strong anti-staphylococcal effects but were less active against the Gram-negative bacterium. The diagnostic data enabled the identification of markers that can be used for profiling other Australian propolis sources and to target the isolation of bioactive phloroglucinols in future studies against antibiotic resistant S. aureus strains.

Phosphoproteome Map of Royal Jelly

In-depth Phosphoproteomic Analysis of Royal Jelly Derived from Western and Eastern Honeybee Species

J Proteome Res, 2014 Sep 29

The protein components of royal jelly (RJ) play a pivotal role in the nutrition, immune defense and cast determination of honeybee larvae. RJ also has a wide range of pharmacological and health-promoting functions for humans. Although the importance of post translational modifications (PTMs) in protein function is known, investigation of protein phosphorylation of RJ proteins is still very limited. To this end, two complementary phosphopeptide enrichment materials (Ti4+-IMAC and TiO2) and high sensitivity mass spectrometer were applied to establish a detailed phosphoproteome map and qualitatively and quantitatively compare the phosphoproteomes of RJ produced by Apis mellifera ligustica (Aml) and Apis cerana cerana (Acc). In total, 16 phosphoproteins carrying 67 phosphorylation sites were identified in RJ derived from western bees, and nine proteins phosphorylated on 71 sites were found in RJ produced by eastern honeybees. Of which, eight phosphorylated proteins were shared in both RJ samples and the same motif ([S-x-E]) was extracted, suggesting the function of major RJ proteins as nutrients and immune agents are evolutionary preserved in both honeybee species.

All eight overlapping phosphoproteins showed significantly higher abundance in Acc-RJ than in Aml-RJ, and the phosphorylated Jelleine-II (an antimicrobial peptide: TPFKLSLHL) at site on T1 in Acc-RJ had stronger antimicrobial properties than the one at site on S6 in Aml-RJ even the overall antimicrobial activity of Jelleine-II was found to decrease after phosphorylation. The differences in phosphosites, peptide abundance, and antimicrobial activity of the phosphorylated RJ proteins indicate that the two major honeybee species employ distinct phosphorylation strategies that align with their different biological characteristics shaped by evolution. The phosphorylation of RJ proteins are supposed to be driven by enzymatic activity of FAM20C-like protein kinase through recognizing [S-x-E] motif, which is supported by the evidence that mRNA and protein expression of FAM20C-like protein kinase are both found in the highest level in hypopharyngeal glands of nurse bees.

Our data represent a first comprehensive RJ phosphorylation atlas, recording patterns of phosphorylated RJ protein abundance and antibacterial activity of some RJ proteins in two major managed honeybee species. These data constitute a firm basis for future research to better understand the biological roles of each RJ protein for honeybee biology and human health care

Honeybees are Allies in Fight Against MRSA

Holistic Primary Health, 9/28/2014

Swedish researchers recently discovered 13 unique lactic acid bacteria in fresh honey and in the honey-producing organs of bees that are strongly active against several virulent human pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The investigators, led by Tobias Olofsson, of the Department of Medical Microbiology, Lund University suggest that these unique microbial honeyBeeCombsymbionts found in the bees' honey stomachs and also in the honey itself could be used as an alternative for antibiotics, with “implications not least in developing countries, where fresh honey is easily available, but also in western countries where antibiotic resistance is seriously increasing.”…