Honey Vinegar Syrup Fasting Insulin Level

Effect of honey vinegar syrup on blood sugar and lipid profile in healthy subjects

Int J Prev Med. 2014 Dec;5(12):1608-15.

BACKGROUND:

The impact of honey or vinegar on several metabolic abnormalities has been studied separately, a mixture of these two ingredients known as honey vinegar syrup (HVS) has not been investigated previously so far. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of HVS consumption (Iranian's traditional syrup) on glycemic parameters and lipid profiles in healthy individuals.

METHODS:

We conducted a 4-week, randomized, controlled, parallel study consisting of two groups of nonobese healthy volunteers. All subjects were asked to stay on their normal diet. Intervention group (n = 36) received a cup of HVS daily in the evening snack for 4-week (250 cc syrup contains 21.66 g honey vinegar). Assessments of fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were conducted at the baseline and after 4-week of study.

RESULTS:

We observed no significant effect of HVS on FBS, HOMA-IR, LDL-C and TG. A significant effect of HVS was found on increasing fasting insulin and HOMA-IR and reduction in TC level only in intervention group (Δ =3.39 P = 0.01, Δ =1.65 P = 0.03, Δ = -9.43 P = 0.005, respectively). Changes of FBS, TG and LDL-C were 1.83 mg/dl, -1.53 mg/dl and - 3.99 mg/dl respectively in the intervention group. These changes were not significant. An unfavorable and significant reduction in HDL-C level was also observed between two groups (Δ = -4.82 P < 0.001 in the intervention group).

CONCLUSIONS:

Honey vinegar syrup increased fasting insulin level and decreased TC level in the intervention group. HVS had an unfavorable effect on HDL-C level. Further prospective investigations are warranted to confirm these findings.

Bee Venom Face Mask

Redbrick, 2/25/2015

Our next treatment is causing a buzz on the beauty scene. We all know that Botox all too often leads to being tight-lipped, looking permanently shocked and being puffy faced as chemicals circulate the face in order to reduce the lines and wrinkles gained through life. Now there is a new trend emerging- bee venom, guaranteeing the same effects as botox without pain. Alternatively, why not try a lip-plumping bee venom lip gloss, guaranteed to leave you pouty! Some spas and beauty clinics use bees to actually sting you but now you can enjoy the ‘benefits’ of botox from your own home and from a jar- no not a honey jar! The venom is extracted from bees and mixed into a rich, creamy base. I think I’ll leave my beauty regime venom free for now - it all sounds too Wicked Witch like for my liking.

Flow Hive Honey on Tap Directly From Your Beehive

What are Flow Frames?

“Flow™” is the name of our new invention that allows honey to be harvested directly from the hive without opening the hive and with little disturbance to the bees.  The Flow frames are the beehive frames that make this possible.

What is a Flow Hive?

A Flow Hive is our term for a standard beehive using a brood box with one or more Flow Supers for honey storage and extraction.  A honeybee hive is usually made up of two boxes; the brood box where the queen bee lays eggs, and the ‘super’ with honeycomb for the storage of honey.  A ‘Flow Super’ is a beehive box using Flow Frames that the bees store honey in.

How do the Flow Frames work?

The Flow frame consists of already partly formed honeycomb cells.  The bees complete the comb with their wax, fill the cells with honey and cap the cells as usual.  When you turn the tool, a bit like a tap, the cells split vertically inside the comb forming channels, allowing the honey to flow down to a sealed trough at the base of the frame and out of the hive, while the bees are practically undisturbed on the comb surface.

When the honey has finished draining, you turn the tap again in the upper slot which resets the comb into the original position and allows the bees to chew the wax capping away, and fill it with honey again.

New Zealand's Manuka Health to Launch Bioactive Supplement

Voxy, 2/24/2015

Manuka Health, one of New Zealand’s most successful and fastest growing honey brands, is preparing to unveil MGO Manuka Honey with CycloPower, an advanced natural bioactive supplement, at Expo West in California, the world’s largest trade show for the natural, organic and health products industry.

In what is a pioneering move for the Manuka Honey industry, Manuka Health is the first to have combined all natural CycloPower technology with the proven health benefits of genuine New Zealand Manuka Honey. When combined with active ingredients (such as the methylglyoxal molecules found in Manuka Honey), the naturally fibrous cyclodextrin molecules in CycloPower substantially elevate the beneficial activity of Manuka Honey, making it tens of times more potent against certain bacteria then the Manuka Honey of the same strength. MGO Manuka Honey with CycloPower is more stable, soluble and bioavailable for more efficient delivery over a longer period of time.

"CycloPower is a breakthrough natural bioactive booster for more highly effective supplementation," explains Dr Mike Durbin, Manuka Health’s General Manager of Wellness. "It is to natural healthcare what turbo is to cars - a way to get more performance without increasing the dose."...

Methylglyoxal Fibers as Antibacterial Wound Dressing

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

J Biomater Appl March 2015   vol. 29  no. 8  1193-1200

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.

Phenolic/H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress Mechanism for Honey Antibacterial Action

Unraveling a mechanism of honey antibacterial action: Polyphenol/H2O2-induced oxidative effect on bacterial cell growth and on DNA degradation

Food Chem. 2012 Jul 15;133(2):329-36

Several compounds with antibacterial activities were identified in honey however, a mechanism by which they lead to bacterial growth inhibition and bacterial death remains still unknown. We recently found that honeys possess DNA degrading activity mediated by honey hydrogen peroxide and an unknown honey component(s).

Here we provide evidence that active honeys (MIC90 of 6.25-12.5% v/v) possessed significantly higher levels of phenolics (p < 0.02) of higher radical scavenging activities (p < 0.005) than honeys of average activity. Removal of H2O2 by catalase eliminated bacteriostatic activities caused by both phenolics and H2O2 suggesting that the growth inhibition resulted from the coupling chemistry between these compounds. Both phenolics and H2O2 were involved in DNA degradation by honeys. Treatment of plasmid DNA with H2O2 alone did not affect the DNA integrity but H2O2 removal from honey by catalase prevented DNA degradation. Polyphenols extracted from honeys degraded plasmid DNA in the presence of H2O2 and Cu(II) in the Fenton-type reaction. The extent of DNA degradation was inversely related to the polyphenol concentration in this system as well as in honeys. At low content, honey polyphenols exerted pro-oxidant activity damaging to DNA.

In conclusion, honey phenolics with pro-oxidant activities were necessary intermediates that conferred oxidative action of H2O2. Phenolic/H2O2-induced oxidative stress constituted the mechanism of honey bacteriostatic and DNA damaging activities.

Royal Jelly May Help Delay Aging and Onset of Age-Related Disease

10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic Acid, the Major Lipid Component of Royal Jelly, Extends the Lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans through Dietary Restriction and Target of Rapamycin Signaling

Journal of Aging Research
Volume 2015 (2015), Article ID 425261, 7 pages

Royal jelly (RJ) produced by honeybees has been reported to possess diverse health-beneficial properties and has been implicated to have a function in longevity across diverse species as well as honeybees. 10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), the major lipid component of RJ produced by honeybees, was previously shown to increase the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. The objective of this study is to elucidate signaling pathways that are involved in the lifespan extension by 10-HDA. 10-HDA further extended the lifespan of the daf-2 mutants, which exhibit long lifespan through reducing insulin-like signaling (ILS), indicating that 10-HDA extended lifespan independently of ILS. On the other hand, 10-HDA did not extend the lifespan of the eat-2 mutants, which show long lifespan through dietary restriction caused by a food-intake defect. This finding indicates that 10-HDA extends lifespan through dietary restriction signaling. We further found that 10-HDA did not extend the lifespan of the long-lived mutants in daf-15, which encodes Raptor, a target of rapamycin (TOR) components, indicating that 10-HDA shared some longevity control mechanisms with TOR signaling. Additionally, 10-HDA was found to confer tolerance against thermal and oxidative stress. 10-HDA increases longevity not through ILS but through dietary restriction and TOR signaling in C. elegans...

Conclusions

The present study indicates that 10-HDA extends lifespan of C. elegans not via ILS but via dietary restriction and the TOR signaling. It may be possible that 10-HDA contained in RJ which is widely taken by human as a health food could be used as nutraceutical intervention aimed at mTOR inhibition to delay aging and the onset of age-related diseases.

Indian Apis Dorsata Bee Venom May Help Treat Arthritis Pain and Inflammation

Evaluation of anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, and anti-arthritic activities of Indian Apis dorsata bee venom in experimental animals: biochemical, histological, and radiological assessment

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2015 Feb 18:1-14

Traditionally venoms are used from thousands of years to treat pain, inflammation, and arthritis. In Ayurveda "Suchika Voron" and "Shodhona" were practiced against pain. In the present study, venom composition of the Indian honeybee Apis florea (AF), Apis dorsata (AD), and Apis cerana indica (AC) were analyzed using electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).

This venom analysis was used to shed light upon the correlation in structure and the venom composition among the three species in Indian fields. Among the three species, Indian Apis dorsata bee venom (ADBV) is evaluated for an anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive activity, and antiarthritic activity in different animal models.

The effect of ADBV is revealed for its anti-arthritic activity in the FCA- and CIA-induced arthritis model in male Wistar rats. The immunosuppressant action of ADBV was studied by hemagglutination antibody titer.

It has been found that ADBV possesses anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities. In FCA- and CIA-induced arthritis, ADBV able to decrease rheumatoid factor, pain perception parameters, C-reactive protein, erythrocytes sedimentation rate, urinary hydroxyproline, serum transaminase level, and serum nitric oxide level when compared with diseased control arthritic rats. IL-6, TNF-α level was found to be decrease by ADBV treatment in collagen induced arthritis model.

Thus this study confirmed the scientific validation behind utilization of venom in Indian Apis dorsata bees in arthritis and inflammatory diseases which has been not reported till date.

How Queen Bees Suppress the Rest

(Feb. 18, 2015) - Researchers have identified the compounds present in queen manibular pheromone (QMP) that suppress ovary activation in ordinary worker bees. Their results, published in the Journal of Insect Physiology, could be used to help beekeepers control hive fertility. QMP is a group of (at least) five active compounds produced by queen honey bees.

Although the pheromone is known to aid queen control of the colony and colony cohesion, the effects of individual QMP components have never been tested to determine their effects on the reproductive physiology of Apis cerana workers. Prof. Tan Ken of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of Chinese Academy of Sciences and his colleagues conducted a study to provide groups of queenless A. cerana workers with individual QMP components in their food and determine which of the components are capable of suppressing ovary activation.

The researchers fed one queen equivalent of each of the major components of A. cerana QMP to groups of worker bees twice a day until the workers were ten days old. Half of the cages were also provided with ten percent royal jelly in the food…

Bee Venom Therapy's Popularity Growing in India

State Apitherapy attracts huge crowd at national festival

Tseminyu, February 18 (MExN): A five-member team from Nagaland participated in the National Tribal Festival organised by the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India at Central Park, Connaught Place and Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, New Delhi from February 13 to 18.

The team from Healing Home of Teregonyu Village of Tseminyu Sub-division under Kohima District, who were facilitated and supported by the Nagaland Beekeeping and Honey Mission (NBHM), participated in the festival for ‘demonstration and treatment of various ailments and sicknesses of people through Apitherapy by use of bee venom.’

The Nagaland Apitherapy Stall attracted the attention of the Capital crowd; thousands of people were tested or treated and many experienced instant healing through the therapy by Lily Tep and her team, a press release stated. The participants from across the country highly demanded for Bee Venom Apitherapy Centre to be established in the Capital Delhi, said the press release...

Bee Pollen Can Be Used as Additive for Farm-Raised Fish

Modulation of genotoxicity and endocrine disruptive effects of malathion by dietary honeybee pollen and propolis in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

J Advanc Res. 2014 Nov;5(6):671-84

The present study aimed at verifying the usefulness of dietary 2.5% bee-pollen (BP) or propolis (PROP) to overcome the genotoxic and endocrine disruptive effects of malathion polluted water in Oreochromis niloticus (O. niloticus). The acute toxicity test was conducted in O. niloticus in various concentrations (0-8 ppm); mortality rate was assessed daily for 96 h. The 96 h-LC50 was 5 ppm and therefore 1/5 of the median lethal concentration (1 ppm) was used for chronic toxicity assessment. In experiment (1), fish (n = 8/group) were kept on a diet (BP/PROP or without additive (control)) and exposed daily to malathion in water at concentration of 5 ppm for 96 h "acute toxicity experiment". Protective efficiency against the malathion was verified through chromosomal aberrations (CA), micronucleus (MN) and DNA-fragmentation assessment. Survival rate in control, BP and PROP groups was 37.5%, 50.0% and 100.0%, respectively.

Fish in BP and PROP groups showed a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the frequency of CA (57.14% and 40.66%), MN (53.13% and 40.63%) and DNA-fragmentation (53.08% and 30.00%). In experiment (2), fish (10 males and 5 females/group) were kept on a diet with/without BP for 21 days before malathion-exposure in water at concentration of 0 ppm (control) or 1 ppm (Exposed) for further 10 days "chronic toxicity experiment". BP significantly (P < 0.05) reduced CA (86.33%), MN (82.22%) and DNA-fragmentation (93.11%), prolonged the sperm motility when exposed to 0.01 ppm of pollutant in vitro and increased the estradiol level in females comparing to control.

In conclusion, BP can be used as a feed additive for fish prone to be raised in integrated fish farms or cage culture due to its potency to chemo-protect against genotoxicity and sperm-teratogenicity persuaded by malathion-exposure.

Honey Boosts Antibiotic Susceptibility

Antibiotic-specific differences in the response of Staphylococcus aureus to treatment with antimicrobials combined with manuka honey

Front Microbiol. 2015 Jan 27;5:779

Skin infections caused by antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus aureus are a significant health problem worldwide; often associated with high treatment cost and mortality rate. Complex natural products like New Zealand (NZ) manuka honey have been revisited and studied extensively as an alternative to antibiotics due to their potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and the inability to isolate honey-resistant S. aureus. Previous studies showing synergistic effects between manuka-type honeys and antibiotics have been demonstrated against the growth of one methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain.

We have previously demonstrated strong synergistic activity between NZ manuka-type honey and rifampicin against growth and biofilm formation of multiple S. arueus strains. Here, we have expanded our investigation using multiple S. aureus strains and four different antibiotics commonly used to treat S. aureus-related skin infections: rifampicin, oxacillin, gentamicin, and clindamycin. Using checkerboard microdilution and agar diffusion assays with S. aureus strains including clinical isolates and MRSA we demonstrate that manuka-type honey combined with these four antibiotics frequently produces a synergistic effect. In some cases when synergism was not observed, there was a significant enhancement in antibiotic susceptibility. Some strains that were highly resistant to an antibiotic when present alone become sensitive to clinically achievable concentrations when combined with honey. However, not all of the S. aureus strains tested responded in the same way to these combinational treatments.

Our findings support the use of NZ manuka-type honeys in clinical treatment against S. aureus-related infections and extend their potential use as an antibiotic adjuvant in combinational therapy. Our data also suggest that manuka-type honeys may not work as antibiotic adjuvants for all strains of S. aureus, and this may help determine the mechanistic processes behind honey synergy.

Manuka Honey May Help Treat Cystic Fibrosis Infections

A demonstration of the susceptibility of clinical isolates obtained from cystic fibrosis patients to manuka honey

Arch Microbiol. 2015 Feb 14

Pseudomonas and Burkholderia pose a significant health threat to people with chronic respiratory conditions; the resistance inherent in these bacteria indicates that new antimicrobial strategies are required. Susceptibility of 56 strains of P. aeruginosa and 55 strains of Burkholderia to manuka honey, tobramycin and colistin using microbroth dilution and E strip was determined. MICs of antibiotics with honey were determined to search for synergistic combinations against two representative strains of each genus. All strains exhibited susceptibility to honey ≤10 % (w/v); mean susceptibility of Burkholderia (4.6 % w/v) was lower than P. aeruginosa (7.3 % w/v). Synergistic or additive combinations were found with all four strains tested. Combinations of manuka honey with antibiotics can be used to lower the MIC need to successfully inhibit both P. aeruginosa and B. cepacia. The use of honey as a combination agent may be possible for the management of P. aeruginosa and B. cepacia.

Wellington Global to launch BeeBio skincare range on Singapore Airlines

The Moodie Report, 2/12/15

Singapore Airlines has partnered with Australian company Wellington Global to launch the BeeBio skincare range in travel retail. The airline will carry the products from March 2015.

As reported, the company, owner of jewellery brand Pica LéLa, recently added the organic Manuka Honey and Bee Venom skincare brand to its travel retail portfolio.

New Zealand-owned and made, BeeBio features medical-grade 16+ active Manuka Honey and bee venom as core ingredients, helping to stimulate new skill cell growth and the production of natural collagen and elastin...

Honey Helps Reduce Dental Plaque

Comparative evaluation of honey, chlorhexidine gluconate (0.2%) and combination of xylitol and chlorhexidine mouthwash (0.2%) on the clinical level of dental plaque: A 30 days randomized control trial

Perspect Clin Res. 2015 Jan-Mar;6(1):53-7

AIM:

To compare the effect of honey, chlorhexidine mouthwash and combination of xylitol chewing gum and chlorhexidine mouthwash on the dental plaque level.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Ninety healthy dental students, both male and female, aged between 21 to 25 years participated in the study. The subjects were randomly divided into three groups, i.e. the honey group, the chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash group and the combination of xylitol chewing gum and chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash group. The data was collected at the baseline, 15(th) day and 30(th) day; the plaque was disclosed using disclosing solution and their scores were recorded at six sites per tooth using the Quigley and Hein plaque index modified by Turesky-Gilmore-Glickman. Statistical analysis was carried out later to compare the effect of all the three groups. P ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

RESULTS:

Our result showed that all the three groups were effective in reducing the plaque but post-hoc LSD (Least Significant Difference) showed that honey group and chlorhexidine + xylitol group were more effective than chlorhexidine group alone. The results demonstrated a significant reduction of plaque indices in honey group and chlorhexidine + xylitol group over a period of 15 and 30 days as compared to chlorhexidine.

Honey Speeds Up the Healing of Split-Open Wounds

Honey and wound dehiscence: A study of surgical wounds in the mandibular bed

Niger J Clin Pract. 2015 Mar-Apr;18(2):251-5

BACKGROUND:

There is a paucity of literature on the use of honey in wound healing after oral and maxillofacial surgical procedures.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the efficacy of the healing properties of Obudu honey in patients who developed wound dehiscence after segmental mandibular resections.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

This was a prospective study of 72 patients who had benign lesions of the mandible, and were treated by segmental mandibular resection, with the surgical wounds developing dehiscence. The subjects were randomized into two treatment groups of A (control, n = 36) and B (experimental, n = 36). Unlike the control, the wounds in the experimental group were dressed in honey after debridement.

RESULTS:

The ages of the patients ranged from 21 to 73 years with a mean age of 46.3 ± 2.1 years while the male: female ratio was 3:1. There was no significant demographic difference about age ( P = 0.44) and gender ( P = 0.38) between the two groups. The smaller the initial circumference of the surgical wound, the shorter the duration of healing and this was significant ( P = 0.001) in either of the treatment groups. Numerically, more healing was completed in the first 5 weeks in subjects in the experimental group ( n = 19, 52.8%) than the control ( n = 13, 36.1%). However, the duration of healing between the subjects in the control and experimental groups at the end of 9 weeks showed no significant difference ( P = 0.23).

CONCLUSION:

Honey speeds up the healing of dehiscence wounds of resected mandible when used as dressing more than the control.

Call for Papers - German Apitherapy Congress, Passau, 27-29 March, 2015

Dear Bee and Apitherapy Friends,

We are receiving daily new proposals for oral and poster presentations to our XIII-th. German Apitherapy Congress with international participation, IBB Hotel, Passau, March 27-29 (31), this year.

As we are still in the preparatory phase, and the program is not yet final, you still can send us your papers, to be presented: a) orally; b) as posters, in our electronic Congress Proceedings.

We remind all our friends that the registration to our Apitherapy Congresses is free of charge for all our speakers/authors.

We highly appreciate, respect and honor the knowledge and friendship our congress participants are offering to all of us.

Please visit : http://www.apitherapie.de/en/dab-ev/api-kongress-2015-in-passau.html  and then think how you can participate to our international event.

Feel free to send us any questions you might have!

Also, please kindly forward this message to all your best friends and contacts, including in your own websites and in Facebook.

THANKS in advance!

Yours all,

Dr Stefan Stangaciu

President of the Romanian and German Apitherapy Societies.
Secretary General of the International Federation of Apitherapy

E-mail: drstangaciu@gmail.com + drstangaciu@apitherapy.com
www.Apitherapy.com + www.Apitherapie.de + www.apiterapie.ro
Skype ID: dr.stefan.stangaciu
http://www.facebook.com/drstangaciu
Mobile phone: (+)40-744-40.91.26

Apitherapist to Speak at Meeting of New York City Beekeepers Association

Monday, February 23, 2015
7- 8:30 p.m.
Seafarers & International House
123 E 15th St New York, NY, 10003 United States
 
Our February meeting features apitherapy expert Dr. Patrick Fratellone. Apitherapy, or the use of bee venom, is widely used in other countries for a multitude of diseases. The discussion will include who is an appropiate referral for therapy as well as the conditions that apitherapy is used for. Dr. Fratellone will focus on different disease states which have shown beneficial results.

Dr. Fratellone is an internist/cardiologist as well a registered herbalist with the American Herbal Guild (AHG). He completed a Fellowship of Integrative Medicine under the direction of Andrew Weil, MD at the University of Arizona. He is also a board member of the American Apitherapy Society (AAS).

Propolis - The Natural Antibiotic for MRSA, Candida, and More

ProHealth, 2/6/2015

Bacterial infections have become extremely difficult to treat because of the over-prescription of antibiotics. This has led to resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, H. pylori, and other dangerous bacteria. Finding an answer to synthetic antibiotics is a must. One of the best answers is propolis. This bioflavonoid-rich nutrient provides strong defense against bacteria, viruses, and many other health challenges. The properties of this natural wonder have been wellstudied around the world for many health concern and conditions:

• Stops harmful, resistant bacteria, including MRSA and Candida
• Fights viral infection
• Reduces inflammation
• Fights tumor formation
• Stops free radical damage...

Thai Honeys May Help Treat Skin Diseases

Activities of different types of Thai honey on pathogenic bacteria causing skin diseases, tyrosinase enzyme and generating free radicals

Biol Res. 2015 Jan 16;48(1):4

BACKGROUND:

Honey is a natural product obtained from the nectar that is collected from flowers by bees. It has several properties, including those of being food and supplementary diet, and it can be used in cosmetic products. Honey imparts pharmaceutical properties since it has antibacterial and antioxidant activities. The antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Thai honey were investigated in this study.

RESULTS:

The honey from longan flower (source No. 1) gave the highest activity on MRSA when compared to the other types of honey, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 12.5% (v/v) and minimum bactericidal concentration of 25% (v/v).

CONCLUSIONS:

Honey demonstrates tremendous potential as a useful source that provides anti-free radicals, anti-tyrosinase and anti-bacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria causing skin diseases.

Bee Product-Based Beauty Products

Bee beautiful: Our favourite beauty buys courtesy of honey bees

Closer, 4 February 2015

From Beeswax to Manuka Honey - here are our favourite beauty products brought to us by busy bees.

Honey Before Bedtime Shown to Diminish Cough in Children

Honey for Treatment of Cough in Children 

Canadian Family Physician, December 2014   vol. 60  no. 12  1107-1110

Question 

Cough is a very common presentation among sick children in my clinic. There is almost no day without a child being examined for upper respiratory tract infection and cough. While I understand that no medications are recommended for relief of cough—prescribed or over the counter—is it true that honey might help relieve cough symptoms in children?

Answer 

Most prescribed and over-the-counter preparations for cough in children are not effective and might carry the risk of adverse events. A single dose of honey before bedtime was shown in recent studies to diminish cough and the discomfort experienced by children and their parents. Recent evidence also supports administering a few daily doses, but this practice will need further study to assess its effectiveness and safety.

Apitherapy Tourism in Slovenia

A Fusion of Apiculture & Sustainable Travel

Some people call it Natural. Others call it Green. We call it Api (from the Latin apis which means bee). ApiRoutes provides an opportunity to experience the mystical world of bees. Not only to learn about the medicinal properties of the different bee products, but to get as close to bees as you want.

As a visitor on an api tour, beekeepers will invite you to enter an oversizedbee house, where you can listen to the relaxing buzz of the bees, which has been proven to have a positive effect on a person’s state of mind. In Slovenia, a country of unique apiculture with a long beekeeping tradition, the beekeepers place beds within bee houses, thereby transforming it into an apitherapeutic chamber. Apitherapy is the use of hive products such as propolis, royal jelly, beeswax, and pollen. In this chamber, you are invited to inhale the healing warm beehive air.

In the bee house, you can enjoy an organic honey massage or thermotherapy whereupon warm wraps of beeswax are laid on your body, allowing beeswax and propolis to dissolve in your skin, which benefits the musculoskeletal system. Sounds divine! All while enjoying the sweet and soothing fragrance of the hives and listening to their buzz. It is believed that pollen allergies for instance can be cured by regularly inhaling a beehive…

New Zealand Café Features Apitherapy Items on Menu

Cafe Restore

Bay of Plenty Times, 2/2/2015

Inside the amazing Experience Comvita at the home of Comvita's head office in Paengaroa you will find Cafe Restore.

Experience Comvita is the only place in the world where, in absolute safety, you can enter a virtual beehive to learn the fascinating facts about bees and nature's intelligence. Immerse yourself in a unique voyage of discovery, see the world through the eyes of the amazing honeybee and be reminded of nature's wisdom.

Cafe Restore continues the overall theme of Comvita as a place to reconnect and restore. The cafe is light and bright with many quirky bee-themed influences, a highlight being the beehive-inspired wall. The food is influenced by the abundance of quality local ingredients.

The menu puts an emphasis on freshness; you will feel like you are eating wellness. Try one of their delicious smoothies: the Buzzy Bee is a mix of organic milk, bee pollen and Manuka honey, the Cherry Chocolate Delight is made with cherries, banana, Manuka honey, cocoa powder and almond milk…

Bee Venom Shows Anticancer and Antiviral Effects

Honeybee venom possesses anticancer and antiviral effects by differential inhibition of HPV E6 and E7 expression on cervical cancer cell line

Oncol Rep. 2015 Jan 28

Bee venom (BV) therapy is a type of alternative medical treatment used to treat various diseases in oriental medicine. The mechanisms underlying the effects of BV remain poorly understood.

In the present study, we evaluated the antiviral effect of BV on cervical carcinoma cell lines (CaSki, HeLa, C33A and TC-1). BV treatments resulted in a more significant suppression of cell growth in HPV 16-infected cells (CaSki) and a lesser suppression in HPV 18-infected cells (HeLa). However, less suppression was observed in HPV-negative C33A cells. In 10 µg/ml BV-treated CaSki cells, the mRNA expression and protein levels of HPV16 E6 and E7 were significantly decreased by BV, while HPV18 E6 and E7 mRNA expression levels were not significantly altered by 10 µg/ml BV-treated HeLa cells.

The antitumor effects of BV were in accordance with in vitro data, in restricting tumor growth in vivo and were much more effective on the suppression of tumor growth. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression levels of HPV16 E6 and E7 were decreased by BV in TC-1 tumors.

These findings demonstrated the antiviral effects of BV in HPV-infected cervical cancer cells and the anticancer effects of BV in HPV16 E6/E7-expressed TC-1 tumors.

Collectively, BV plays a differential role in suppressing HPV16-infected cells (CaSki cells) and HPV18-infected cells (HeLa cells) by the downregulation of E6/E7 protein of HPV16/18.

Honey Prototypes Show Antimicrobial Activity

The antimicrobial activity of prototype modified honeys that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) hydrogen peroxide

BMC Res Notes. 2015 Jan 28;8(1):20

Background

Antimicrobial resistance continues to be a global issue in healthcare organisations. Honey has long been shown to possess wound healing and antimicrobial properties that are dependent on a number of physical and chemical properties of the honey. We tested the antimicrobial activity of a medicinal honey, Surgihoney® (SH) and two prototype modified honeys made by Apis mellifera (honeybee) against Staphylococcus aureus (NCIMB 9518). We also examined the modified honey prototypes for the ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) by changing the level of production of hydrogen peroxide from the samples.

Methods

Surgihoney® (SH) was compared with two modified honeys, Prototype 1 (PT1) and Prototype 2 (PT2) using a bioassay method against a standard strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Further work studied the rate of generation of ROS hydrogen peroxide from these preparations.

Results

Surgihoney® antimicrobial activity was shown to be largely due to ROS hydrogen peroxide production. By modification of Surgihoney®, two more potent honey prototypes were shown to generate between a two- and three-fold greater antibacterial activity and up to ten times greater ROS peroxide activity.

Conclusions

Surgihoney® is a clinically available wound antiseptic dressing that shows good antimicrobial activity. Two further honey prototypes have been shown to have antimicrobial activity that is possible to be enhanced due to demonstrated increases in ROS peroxide activity.