Bee Venom Therapy Popular in Sudan

Bee venom: Sudan's alternative medicine

Middle East Monitor

From inside his small shop in souk in the centre of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, Abdullah Al-Sarraj was able to make bee stings an "effective and rapid treatment" for people who are suffering from chronic diseases.

In the shop with its own distinctive buzz, Hamza grabs forceps and gets to work with the bees. He says treatment by bees was mentioned in the Quran and everything that comes from the stomach of bees is healing, including the honey and wax, but he says even the venom from their sting can heal.

He says he uses the bees' sting to treat ailments by inserting them into specific sites on a patients' body depending on the disease being treated, adding that the "stings relax the nerves".

Al-Sarraj is considered one of the oldest therapists of this type of alternative medicine in Khartoum.

Bee venom contains "a treatment for about 140 diseases, because it contains organic, non-chemical medicinal substances that do not cause side effects," says Al-Sarraj.

Propolis, Royal Jelly, and Bee Venom May Help Treat High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Sci Rep. 2022 Dec 1;12(1):20765.

Apitherapy combination improvement of blood pressure, cardiovascular protection, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses in dexamethasone model hypertensive rats

Hypertension-induced ventricular and vascular remodeling causes myocardial infarction, heart failure, and sudden death. Most available pharmaceutical products used to treat hypertension lead to adverse effects on human health. Limited data is available on apitherapy (bee products) combinations for treatment of hypertension.

This study aims to evaluate the antihypertensive effects of combinations of natural apitherapy compounds used in the medical sector to treat a variety of diseases. Rats were assigned into six groups consisting of one control group and five hypertensive groups where hypertension (blood pressure > 140/90) was induced with dexamethasone. One of these groups was used as a hypertension model, while the remaining four hypertensive groups were treated with a propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom combination (PRV) at daily oral doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg, and with losartan 10 mg/kg.

The PRV combination at all doses decreased arterial blood pressure below the suboptimal value (p < 0.001), and PRV combination treatment improved dexamethasone-induced-ECG changes. The same treatment decreased angiotensin-II, endothelin-1, and tumor growth factor β serum levels in hypertensive rats. Additionally, PRV combination improved histopathological structure, and decreased serum levels of NF-kB and oxidative stress biomarkers. We concluded that PRV combination therapy may be used as a potential treatment for a variety of cardiovascular diseases.

How To Treat Eczema Using Honey

The National Eczema Association reports that honey has become more popular in recent years for treating eczema, and while it appears to be safe, it should be used with caution. You should discuss it or any alternative treatments with your doctor. While an allergic reaction to honey is unlikely, it can happen — especially if you're allergic to bee stings or pollen. If you have any concerns, play it safe and test your skin. Apply a small amount of honey to a small area and watch for any symptoms that include itching, redness, or a rash. You should also never give honey to babies under one year of age because it could give them botulism, per WebMD.

HEALTH DIGEST

The Use of Medicinal Honey in Wound Care of Horses

The right kind of honey is key if you want to try this technique

By Carol Shwetz Dvm

Medicinal honey shows impressive results in combatting antibiotic resistance, improving patient welfare and economizing wound management for humans and companion animals.

When the source of honey is well chosen, there are no mentionable side effects or contra-indications.

Honey is roughly 80 per cent simple sugars (such as glucose and fructose) and 20 per cent water and also contains more than 200 different bioactive compounds (including proteins, enzymes, amino acids, phytochemicals, vitamins, antioxidants and minerals).

Its therapeutic potency is complex. It contains compounds both known and unknown by the scientific world. It is a product of nature and thus variations in composition occur between geographical locations of the hive, season, weather and the bee’s pasture conditions. As a result of this variability, science struggles to fully standardize, quantify and qualify the healing benefits of honey...

Honey-Propolis-Engineered Collagen Peptides as Promising Wound-Healing Matrix in Mouse Model

In this study, collagen hydrolysates (CHDs) were fabricated with honey-propolis wax (HPW), structurally modified as a sponge matrix, and experimentalized on wound healing in a mouse model. The scaffold was characterized by means of in vitro enzymatic degradation; in vitro HPW release; and in vivo wound-healing mouse model, wound-healing-specific RNA, transcripts, and protein markers. The functional activity of the HPW extracted from raw propolis was determined using total flavonoids, antioxidant scavenging assays, and anti-hemolytic principles. 

The results indicated that HPW had a high flavonoid content (20 μg/mL of wax) and antioxidant activities. The effective concentration (EC50) of HPW was estimated (28 mg/mL) and was then used in the subsequent in vivo experiments. Additionally, the dopped mixture of CHDs and HPW substantially enhanced the wound-healing process and regulated wound biochemical markers such as hexoseamine and melondialdehyde. CHDs- HPW upregulated the expression of growth factors including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) (2.3-fold), fibroblast growth factor (FGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) (1.7-fold), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) (3.1-fold), indicating their potential capacity to perform wound re-epithelialization and the loading of ground tissue. Pro-inflammatory markers IL-1 β (51 pg/mL) and TNF-α (220 pg/mL) were significantly reduced in the CHD-HPW-treated wound. 

These interesting results were further confirmed using mRNA and protein growth factors from the wound, which enhanced the load of collagen-I in the wound site. In conclusion, CHDs-HPW exhibited a significant reduction in inflammation and inflammatory markers and helped to obtain a faster wound-healing process in a mouse model. The newly engineered biosponge could be developed as a promising therapeutic approach for the regeneration and repair of damaged human skin in the future.

First Kenyan Apitherapy Workshop with International Participation, December 2022

 

Intensive Apitherapy Course & Workshops in Romania

Application form for the Intensive Apitherapy Course & Workshops (I.A.C.W.) with Dr. Stefan Stângaciu and his colleagues.

Flavonoid Extract from Propolis Protects Heart After Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)

Flavonoid Extract from Propolis Provides Cardioprotection following Myocardial Infarction by Activating PPAR- γ

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Jul 5;2022:1333545

We have previously reported that flavonoid extract from propolis (FP) can improve cardiac function in rats following myocardial infarction (MI). However, the mechanisms responsible for the cardioprotective effects of FP have not been fully elucidated. In the current study, we explored whether FP can reduce inflammatory cytokines and attenuate sympathetic nerve system activity and antiendoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and whether the cardioprotective effects are related to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) activation.

Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups: Sham group received the surgical procedure but no artery was ligated; MI group received ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) branch of the coronary artery; MI + FP group received FP (12.5 mg/kg/d, intragastrically) seven days prior to LAD ligation; FP group (Sham group + 12.5 mg/kg/d, intragastrically); MI + FP + GW9662 group received FP prior to LAD ligation with the addition of a specific PPAR-γ inhibitor (GW9662), 1 mg/kg/d, orally); and MI + GW9662 group received the PPAR-γ inhibitor and LAD ligation.

The results demonstrated that the following inflammatory markers were significantly elevated following MI as compared with expression in sham animals: IL-1β, TNF-α, CRP; markers of sympathetic activation: plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine and GAP43, nerve growth factor, thyroid hormone; and ER stress response markers GRP78 and CHOP. Notably, the above changes were attenuated by FP, and GW9662 was able to alleviate the effect of FP.

In conclusion, FP induces a cardioprotective effect following myocardial infarction by activating PPAR-γ, leading to less inflammation, cardiac sympathetic activity, and ER stress.

Bee Venom May Help Treat Prostate Cancer

Formulation, characterization and cellular toxicity assessment of a novel bee-venom microsphere in prostate cancer treatment

Scientific Reports volume 12, Article number: 13213 (2022)

Bee venom (B.V.) is a toxin produced naturally by honey bees with several toxic and therapeutic efficacies. It is used in the treatment of different cancer kinds like renal, hepatic, and prostate cancer. Due to its protein nature, it is degraded in the upper gastrointestinal tract. Colon-targeted drug delivery systems represent a useful tool to protect B.V. from degradation and can be administered orally instead of I.V. infusion and traditional bee stinging. In the present study, B.V. loaded enteric-coated cross-linked microspheres were prepared by emulsion cross-linking method. Percentage yield, entrapment efficiency %, swelling degree, and in-vitro release are evaluated for prepared microspheres. Free B.V., optimized microspheres formula (F3), and doxorubicin cytotoxic effects were tested by MTT assay. Results concluded that free B.V. was more effective against the growth of human prostate adenocarcinoma (PC3) cells followed by optimized microspheres than doxorubicin. But both free B.V. and doxorubicin have a cytotoxic effect on normal oral epithelial cells (OEC). According to flow cytometric analysis, the optimized microsphere formula induced apoptosis and reduced necrosis percent at IC50 concentration. Furthermore, microspheres did not affect the viability of OEC. These results revealed that microspheres have a degree of specificity for malignant cells. Therefore, it seems that this targeted formulation could be a good candidate for future clinical trials for cancer therapy.

Bee Pollen May Be Useful as Protective Strategy for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Protective Effects of Bee Pollen on Multiple Propionic Acid-Induced Biochemical Autistic Features in a Rat Model

Metabolites 2022, 12(7), 571; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo12070571

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders that clinically presented as impaired social interaction, repetitive behaviors, and weakened communication. The use of bee pollen as a supplement rich in amino acids amino acids, vitamins, lipids, and countless bioactive substances may lead to the relief of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, glutamate excitotoxicity, and impaired neurochemistry as etiological mechanisms autism. Thirty young male Western albino rats were randomly divided as: Group I-control; Group II, in which autism was induced by the oral administration of 250 mg propionic acid/kg body weight/day for three days followed by orally administered saline until the end of experiment and Group III, the bee pollen-treated group, in which the rats were treated with 250 mg/kg body weight of bee pollen for four weeks before autism was induced as described for Group II. Markers related to oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, glutamate excitotoxicity, and neurochemistry were measured in the brain tissue. Our results indicated that while glutathione serotonin, dopamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), GABA/Glutamate ratio, and vitamin C were significantly reduced in propionic acid-treated group (p < 0.05), glutamate, IFN-γ, IL-1A, IL-6, caspase-3, and lipid peroxide levels were significantly elevated (p < 0.05). Bee pollen supplementation demonstrates protective potency presented as amelioration of most of the measured variables with significance range between (p < 0.05)–(p < 0.001)

Manuka Honey and Nitrofurazone Composite Boosts Healing of Burn Wounds

Enhanced Healing Activity of Manuka Honey and Nitrofurazone Composite in Full-Thickness Burn Wounds in the Rabbit Model

Front. Vet. Sci., 23 May 2022

Burns cause many significant changes in metabolism and inflammatory reactions, leading to poor regeneration in animals and humans. A list of medicines to treat burns is available in the market. But due to the high cost of these medicines, these are unaffordable, especially for farmers of middle-class families of Africa and Asia.

Therefore, a low-cost complementary treatment has always been a topic of many researchers, and there is a dire need of time for the welfare of animals to save them. The current study was planned to scrutinize the therapeutic effects of Manuka honey and Nitrofurazone ointments on full-thickness burn wounds in the rabbit model. The healing efficacy was performed through wound contraction rate, hematological analysis, the thickness of dermis and epidermis, and collagen content percentage.

Histopathology was performed after taking biopsy samples at the end of the research. Based on statistical analysis using wound healing time (days, D), the combination (MO + NT) resulted in a shorter period (27 D ± 1) than the average healing time of controlled (36 ± 2), Manuka ointment (31.33 D ± 1.52), and Nitrofurazone ointment (32 ± 1).

A significant decrease in the count of red blood cell (RBC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) in all treatments was noticed mainly in MO + NT. Furthermore, burns induced a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the white blood cells (WBCs) count levels in the MO-treated group. While the level of platelets (PLTs) was not significantly different from the healthy control group. Histopathological assessment (epithelialization, fibrosis, and angiogenesis) of skin showed burn healing to be better in MO and MO + NT groups.

In conclusion, the composite of Manuka honey with Nitrofurazone led to the faster recovery than other treatments.

Bee Bread is Probiotic, Has Multiple Health Benefits

Biotechnological Processes Simulating the Natural Fermentation Process of Bee Bread and Therapeutic Properties-An Overview

Front Nutr. 2022 Apr 27

Recent signs of progress in functional foods and nutraceuticals highlighted the favorable impact of bioactive molecules on human health and longevity. As an outcome of the fermentation process, an increasing interest is developed in bee products.

Bee bread (BB) is a different product intended for humans and bees, resulting from bee pollen's lactic fermentation in the honeycombs, abundant in polyphenols, nutrients (vitamins and proteins), fatty acids, and minerals. BB conservation is correlated to bacteria metabolites, mainly created by Pseudomonas spp., Lactobacillus spp., and Saccharomyces spp., which give lactic acid bacteria the ability to outperform other microbial groups. Because of enzymatic transformations, the fermentation process increases the content of new compounds. After the fermentation process is finalized, the meaningful content of lactic acid and several metabolites prevent the damage caused by various pathogens that could influence the quality of BB.

Over the last few years, there has been an increase in bee pollen fermentation processes to unconventional dietary and functional supplements. The use of the chosen starters improves the bioavailability and digestibility of bioactive substances naturally found in bee pollen. As a consequence of enzymatic changes, the fermentation process enhances BB components and preserves them against loss of characteristics.

In this aspect, the present review describes the current biotechnological advancements in the development of BB rich in beneficial components derived from bee pollen fermentation and its use as a food supplement and probiotic product with increased shelf life and multiple health benefits.

Propolis Supplementation Beneficial for Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

HCPLive

New research shows propolis could be a useful supplement to help reduce the severity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms.

A team, led by Mahsa Miryan, Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, assessed the efficacy of propolis supplementation on the severity of IBS symptoms.

There is now evidence that propolis can modulate gastrointestinal function for patients with IBS.

“Emerging evidence has shown an important role of the modulating GI immune system and gut microbiota using prebiotic and/or probiotic supplements in ameliorating the symptoms of IBS, which has been beneficial for many patients,” the authors wrote. “Dietary polyphenols and their secondary metabolites also have a crucial role in maintaining the balance of the GI microbiome by altering bacterial metabolites that can raise mucin gene expression, resulting in an increase in the thickness of the GI mucosal layer and also reduction in GI inflammation.”...

Propolis Helps Treat Wounds, Burns, Acne, Herpes

Deccan Herald

...Many systems of medicine use propolis to treat cold-like symptoms, wounds, burns, acne, herpes and other skin conditions. Studies have shown that propolis works against bacteria, viruses, protozoans and fungi, and has antioxidant and anaesthetic prop...

Ukrainian Bees Kill 3 Russian Invaders

DAILY STAR

A freak bee attack in Ukraine has killed three Russian soldiers and left 25 more in hospital needing treatment.

According to Ukrainian news site Kherson News, a bike of black and yellow mini beasts have joined the fight in defending the country from invading forces.

March 30th is World Apitherapy Day - A Series of Lectures by Leading Experts

EN HONOR A NACIMIENTO DEL DR. FILIP TERC, PADRE DE LA APITERAPIA MODERNA.


When/Cuándo: March 30, 2022 (Wednesday), 3 pm Austria time / miércoles 30 de marzo de 2022, 3 pm hora de Austria

5-10 minute presentation in English PowerPoint and any language audio / ponencias orales de 5-10 minutos en cualquier idioma con acompañamiento de PowerPoint en inglés.

The technical details of our meeting:

Detalles técnicos de la reunión:

Start: March 30 (Wednesday) at 15 h. Vienna (Austria) time (6 am in Vancouver, 2 pm in United Kingdom, 9 am in Miami and New York).

End: around 19 h.

The link to the ZOOM platform will be: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7677675492 Password: 1234

The link to Facebook, for the live transmission will be: https://www.facebook.com/drstangaciu

ESPAÑOL:

Comienzo el 30 de marzo (miércoles) a las 3 pm hora de Austria (10 am en Argentina y Chile, 8 am en Ecuador, 3 pm en España, 7 am en México, 9 am en Miami y Nueva York).

El enlace a la plataforma ZOOM será: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7677675492 Password: 1234

El enlace a Facebook para la trasmisión en vivo será: https://www.facebook.com/drstangaciu

Everything to Know About Apitherapy

Medical News Today

Apitherapy is an alternative therapy that uses products made by honeybees for medicinal purposes. These products include honey, beeswax, royal jelly, pollen, propolis, and bee venom. Apitherapists may use a combination of these products, depending on the condition they are treating...

BREAKING NEWS: New Venue for New 47th Apimondia Congress is Istanbul, Turkey - August 24-28, 2022

 

Venue changed from Russia because of that nation's brutal invasion of Ukraine.

Video: How Bee Venom May Help Cure Cancer

Researchers from Perth's Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research have discovered something interesting about bee venom.

WATCH THE VIDEO.

Upcoming Apitherapy Events Worldwide

Beehive Air Therapy Conference, in Spanish

March 19-20

For more details write an email to: DrStangaciu@Gmail.com

***

Beehive Air Therapy Conference, in Romanian

April 2-3

For more details write an email to: DrStangaciu@Gmail.com

***

Intensive Apitherapy Courses in Iran

April 9-13 and April 16-21
For more details write an email to: DrStangaciu@Gmail.com

***

German Apitherapy Workshops

April 24-30

***

International Conference on Propolis

May 5-7
***

First International Conference on Api-Microbiology

May 28-29

For more details write an email to: DrStangaciu@Gmail.com
***

First Api-Pediatry Conference in Arabic

June 29-30

For more details write an email to: DrStangaciu@Gmail.com and Prof. Mamdouh Abdelrhman mamdouh.abdelrhman@gmail.com

Azerbaijan Propolis May Help Treat Moderate-Severe Depression

Propolis add-on therapy alleviates depressive symptoms; A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

Phytother Res. 2022 Jan 24

Almost half of the treatments with common antidepressants are failed or result in a relapse of symptoms after cessation. Moreover, the antidepressants side effects rationalize the use of complementary medicine as an adjunctive therapy.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of propolis in complementary therapy of depressive disorder. Chromatography technics were used to detect propolis components. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was designed, and 54 participants were randomly assigned to receive either propolis or Placebo for 6 weeks.

Treatment was defined as a decrease in 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17) and Beck depression inventory (BDI). On D42, there was a significant reduction in HAMD score in the propolis group compared with the placebo group (p < .0001). HAMD score significantly decreased in the propolis group from 20.92 ± 3.77 on D0 to 10.03 ± 5.55 on D42, and BDI score was improved from 29.25 ± 3.06 on D0 to 14.17 ± 4.86 on D42.

Our findings confirmed that complementary treatment of propolis with SSRIs could safely attenuate symptoms of moderate-severe MDD. These antidepressant effects might result from the rich phenolic acids and flavonoids content of Azerbaijan propolis.

When will we see bee therapy in Australia?

873 AM

As you know this week, John has had quite the fantasy with bees and he kept the ball rolling by talking to President of Australian Apitherapy Bridgett Goodwin.

Apitherapy is a branch of medicine alternative medicine that uses honey bee products.

Australia is yet to introduce bee therapy, but Bridgett states there are “many benefits”.

Research: Bee Pollen is a Source of Antioxidants and Antimicrobials

Screening of Plant Pollen Sources, Polyphenolic Compounds, Fatty Acids and Antioxidant/Antimicrobial Activity from Bee Pollen

Molecules 2022, 27(1), 117

In this study, the botanical origin, total flavonoid and phenolic content, antioxidant activity, phenolic profile and fatty acid composition of mixed bee pollen loads collected in Bayburt, Turkey, were determined.

In addition to these assays, antibacterial activity of bee-collected pollen extract (BCPE) against a variety of food-borne pathogenic bacteria was determined in vitro. Pollen loads were classified into five botanical families based on their color: Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Campanulaceae, Cistaceae and Rosaceae.

Total flavonoid, total phenolic, CUPRAC and CERAC concentrations were 173.52 mg GAE/g, 79.21 mg QE/g, 85.59 mg Trolox/g and 118.13 mg Trolox/g, respectively. Twenty-three phenolic compounds were scanned in bee pollen extract by LC-MS/MS, with rutin being the most abundant. Cis-4,7,10,13,16,19 docosahexaenoic acid was the predominant fatty acid, followed by cis-11-eicosenoic acid, palmitic acid, and alfa linolenic acid.

In addition, the agar well diffusion (AWD) and micro-broth dilution methods were used to determine of the antibacterial activity of the BCPE sample. MIC values were observed to vary between 2.5–5 mg/mL for Gram-positive bacteria and 5–10 mg/mL for Gram-negative bacteria.

These findings indicate that bee pollen could be a potential source of antioxidants and antimicrobials.

Propolis and Honey Better Than Acyclovir for Treating Cold Sores and Genital Herpes

Effect of honey and propolis, compared to acyclovir, against Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)-induced lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis

J Ethnopharmacol. 2021 Dec 26;287:114939

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Apitherapy is a branch of traditional medicine that uses bee products to manage numerous diseases. In this context, the antiherpetic effect of these bee products has been demonstrated in some studies with some controversial results.

Aim of the study: Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness of honey and propolis with acyclovir, the reference drug, in the treatment of cold sores and genital herpes.

Materials and methods: The selection of eligible studies was conducted through the search in Pubmed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, LILACS, and Electronic Scientific Library.

Results: The search yielded 147 articles, of which nine were considered eligible for analysis. The analysis of these studies showed that the healing property of propolis is superior to that obtained for acyclovir (95% CI: 2.70 to 8.25; p = 0.0001). Furthermore, honey also presented a better healing effect than acyclovir against Herpes simplex virus-induced wounds (95% CI: 3.58 to -0.19; p = 0.03), inducing complete re-epithelization of herpetic lesions after 8 days, while for acyclovir, the healing time average was 9 days. It also provoked a similar reduction of pain caused by herpetic compared to acyclovir (95% CI: 2.27 to -0.42; p = 0.18).

Conclusions: Overall, these results confirm the use of honey and propolis as potent antiherpetic agents.

Report on the Health Benefits of Bee Products in Boosting Immunity; Treating Cancer, Diabetes, High Cholesterol, High Blood Pressure, Allergies

Bee Products: An Emblematic Example of Underutilized Sources of Bioactive Compounds

J Agric Food Chem. 2022 Jan 2.

Beside honey, honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) are able to produce many byproducts, including bee pollen, propolis, bee bread, royal jelly, and beeswax. Even if the medicinal properties of these byproducts have been recognized for thousands of years by the ancient civilizations, in the modern era, they have a limited use, essentially as nutritional supplements or health products. However, these natural products are excellent sources of bioactive compounds, macro- and micronutrients, that, in a synergistic way, confer multiple biological activities to these byproducts, such as, for example, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

This work aims to update the chemical and phytochemical composition of bee pollen, propolis, bee bread, royal jelly, and beeswax and to summarize the main effects exerted by these byproducts on human health, from the anticancer and immune-modulatory activities to the antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, hypotensive, and anti-allergic properties.