Propolis a Potential Anti-Tumor Agent

In vitro Cytotoxic Activity of Baccharis dracunculifolia and Propolis Against HEp-2 Cells
Natural Product Research, 22 April 2010

Baccharis dracunculifolia is the most important vegetal source of propolis in southeast Brazil, and researchers have been investigating its biological properties.

Propolis is a complex resinous hive product collected by bees from several plants, showing a very complex chemical composition. It has been employed since ancient times due to its therapeutic properties, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory and antitumour activities, among others.

The goal of this work was to compare the cytotoxic action of B. dracunculifolia, propolis and two isolated compounds (caffeic and cinnamic acids) on human laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma (HEp-2) cells in vitro.

These cells were incubated with different concentrations of each variable, and cell viability was assessed by the crystal violet method. Lower concentrations of B. dracunculifolia (extract and essential oil), propolis, as well as caffeic and cinnamic acids, showed no cytotoxic activity against HEp-2 cells.

On the other hand, elevated concentrations (50 and 100 µg per 100 µL) exerted a cytotoxic action, and propolis showed a more efficient action than its vegetal source and isolated compounds.

Further investigation is still needed in order to explore the potential of these variables as antitumour agents and to understand their mechanisms of action.

Propolis May Help Treat Yeast Infections

Antifungal Activity of Brazilian Propolis Microparticles Against Yeasts Isolated from Vulvovaginal Candidiasis
Evidence-based Compl. and Alt. Medicine, April 12, 2010

Propolis, a resinous compound produced by Apis mellifera L. bees, is known to possess a variety of biological activities and is applied in the therapy of various infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of propolis ethanol extract (PE) and propolis microparticles (PMs) obtained from a sample of Brazilian propolis against clinical yeast isolates of importance in the vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).

PE was used to prepare the microparticles. Yeast isolates, obtained from vaginal exudates of patients with VVC, were exposed to the PE and the PMs. Moreover, the main antifungal drugs used in the treatment of VVC (Fluconazole, Voriconazole, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, Miconazole and Amphotericin B) were also tested. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined according to the standard broth microdilution method.

Some Candida albicans isolates showed resistance or dose-dependent susceptibility for the azolic drugs and Amphotericin B. Non-C. albicans isolates showed more resistance and dose-dependent susceptibility for the azolic drugs than C. albicans. However, all of them were sensitive or dose-dependent susceptible for Amphotericin B.

All yeasts were inhibited by PE and PMs, with small variation, independent of the species of yeast.

The overall results provided important information for the potential application of PMs in the therapy of VVC and the possible prevention of the occurrence of new symptomatic episodes.

New Zealand Apitherapy Company’s Profits Soar

Comvita predicts 500+% lift in profit, shares rise 10%
Robert Smith, National Business Review, 4/29/2010

Comvita is forecasting a big lift in full year net profit after tax, with the manuka honey producer confirming today that it expects a bottom line result of $4.9 million.

That unaudited net profit forecast for the year ended March is up 512.5% on the previous year, when it recorded a net profit after tax of $0.77 million…

A progressive reduction in inventory, the sale of global licensing rights of Medihoney to Derma Sciences in February and the improved operating performance have seen the company cut its debt by 61.7% over the past year to currently sit at $11.6 million…

Bee Sting Therapy Offers Hope for AIDS Patients

By Stella Kabura, Business Daily Africa, April 21, 2010

Bee stings and bee venom are an unlikely route to health, but according to one centre in Kenya, the results are stunning, relieving arthritis, slowing the effect of HIV/Aids, stimulating the immune system and delivering a claimed permanent cure for daily pain.

The earliest records of man keeping and harvesting from bees date back to ancient Egyptians, but traditionally the sole focus was on honey.

Now it seems that bee-keeping may be entering a new era as eyes turn to the potential for health cures from the sting too.

“Though it doesn’t cure the disease, we have had HIV patients improve by 80 per cent,” said Andrew Write of the Wild Remedies organisation that deals with bushman honey, referring to a study showing that nerve damage in 50 HIV patients improved by 83 per cent after bee therapy...

“We had a guy come here with pain all over,” he recalled, “after stinging him with a bees for a month, in which the number of stings were gradually increased to 30 stings in a day, all of a sudden he came back no longer in pain.”

The therapy, known as Apitherapy, stings certain parts of the body, known as “acu-points” in acupuncture.

The stinging has been found to activate the adrenal glands, in turn producing cortisol which is one of the body’s main inflammatory agents and also part of the immune system, which helps the body fight disease...

But it’s not all just a painful process. In addition to stinging from bees, the therapy also uses bee venom and raw, unprocessed honey from bees.

The nectar and pollen collected by bees has been found to have medicinal value.

To survive in nature, plants develop properties to give them resistance to attack by microbes.

Bees then add to these medicinal properties in the plant nectar by adding enzymes of their own to preserve and improve the medicinal quality, after extracting the nectar from plants.

This raw honey, which remains unheated, contains several enzymes and antibacterial substances, including hydrogen peroxide content added by the bee.

After a prolonged period, the peroxide compound makes it an ideal substance in the treatment of wounds and disorders caused by bacteria.

The honey also stimulates cell growth and is thus ideal for wounds that show no signs of healing.

In addition, bee propolis is also collected from the buds of certain trees by bees and used as a sealant in the construction of bee hives.

Write and his crew collect the propolis from bee hives.

It contains 50 per cent flavanoids, 30 per cent wax, 10 per cent essential oils, five per cent pollen containing amino acids and proteins and five per cent other substances including vitamins and sugars.

The bee centre uses the propolis as an antiviral on patients, citing the flavanoid as an anti-viral agent...

To extract the bee venom, which they also use, voltage is induced on a board roughly 30 centimetres by 20 centimetres which contains wires that conduct electricity.

When the board is switched on, the voltage provokes the bees to attack “their enemy” in the form of an electric wire.

“The bees get shocked, they try to sting the wires and the venom (they produce) drops on the surface of the board,” explains Write, “the other bees sense the smell (of the venom) which angers them making them produce more venom”.

Once the venom is produced and dries up, it is then scraped off the board and mixed with raw honey.

Therapeutically, the venom is believed to act as an analgesic thanks to a mix of peptides and protein compounds, which have a strong neurotoxin and immunogenic effect.

Moreover, the venom has also been found beneficial on the cardiovascular system, respiratory system and digestive system, according to Write.

According to the organisation’s handbook on the ‘bushman honey’ produced by the centre, bee venom mixed with honey has been sold for more than a decade, with 13 million jars used to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis...

Propolis Alleviates Harmful Effects of Toxin

Propetamphos-Induced Changes in Haematological and Biochemical Parameters of Female Rats: Protective Role of Propolis
Food and Chemical Toxicology, Article in Press

The present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of propolis in alleviating the toxicity of propetamphos on haematological and biochemical parameters in rats. Twenty-four female Wistar–Albino rats (200–250 g) were randomly divided into four equal groups of six rats each. As normal drinking water was given to the control group, propolis (100 mg/kg bw/day), propetamphos (15 mg/kg bw/day), and propolis (100 mg/kg bw/day) with propetamphos (15 mg/kg bw/day) combinations were given to the other three groups by adding to drinking water for 28 days, respectively.

The levels of glucose and triglyceride, and the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were increased, and total protein was decreased in serum of rats treated with propetamphos. Lymphocyte percentage was increased, while neutrophil percentage and total leukocyte counts were decreased due to propetamphos administration. In conclusion, propetamphos was determined to cause harmful effects in rats, and the administration of propolis to these animals alleviated the harmful effects of propetamphos.

Propolis Protects Reproductive Organs from Damage by Toxins

Protective Role of Propolis Against Reproductive Toxicity of Triphenyltin in Male Rabbits
Food Chem Toxicol, 2010 Apr 15

Triphenyltin (TPT) is known to cause endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity and a decrease in testosterone production. It is involved in the production of reactive oxygen species.

Propolis has been reported to be an important antioxidant. Therefore, the present study aimed to elucidate the possible protective effects of propolis in alleviating the toxicity of triphenyltin chloride (TPTCl) on reproductive performance, testosterone levels, lipid peroxidation and enzyme activities in seminal plasma of male New-Zealand white rabbits.

Animals were orally administered the doses of propolis, TPTCl and propolis plus TPTCl every day for 12 weeks. Results showed that semen quality was deteriorated following treatment with TPTCl. Also, testosterone levels, body weight (BW), relative weights of testes (RWT) and epididymis (RWE) were decreased. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and lactate dehydrogenase were increased, while glutathione S-transferase, transaminases and phosphatases were decreased in seminal plasma of rabbits treated with TPTCl compared to control.

Propolis alone significantly increased testosterone levels, BW, RTW, REW, semen characteristics and seminal plasma enzymes, and decreased the levels of free radicals and lactate dehydrogenase. Furthermore, the presence of propolis with TPTCl alleviates its toxic effects.

From the present study, it can be concluded propolis can be effective in the protection of TPTCl-induced reproductive toxicity.

Ohio Family Builds Bee Product Business

Solon family all abuzz about beekeeping; honey, beeswax turned into natural body products
By Lindsay Betz, Sun News, 4/24/2010

…After their first season of keeping bees, the Rzepkas realized they would have a surplus of honey and beeswax, despite the fact the whole family loves the raw honey from the hives. David said he can get about 75 pounds of honey from one hive during the year.

[Visit beecology.com for products and pricing.]

“We wanted to do something with all of it, and making candles was just too easy for us,” David’s wife Amy said. “So we decided to try to make lip balm.”

So David — a self-proclaimed “tinkerer by nature” — started combining different ingredients in the basement to try to make lip balm, soap and other body products. He also consulted a chemist for advice on the formulas.

The whole family soon got involved — including their three children, Molly, 18, Rachel, 16, and Nathan, 14.

“A lot of my friends have tried the lip balm, and they like it better than Burt’s Bees,” Rachel said, adding she constantly has to replenish the lip balm stock in her backpack since her friends always take it from her.

The family recently got a warehouse in Bedford Heights to mix bigger batches of the products — and so David would stop making big messes in the basement.

Last summer, the Rzepkas sold their natural products at local farmers markets and will do the same this year. They are also hoping to start selling at local boutiques…

Honey, Propolis have Health Benefits

The Amazing Honeybee
By Debbie Croft, Sun-Star, 4/24/2010

…Honey is the original candy and a wonderful, healthful energy food which may also help people who have pollen-based allergies.

Propolis is the sticky substance bees use to seal cracks in the hives. With its astounding anti-bacterial qualities, if a mouse were to crawl into a beehive and die, the bees would cover it with propolis, inhibiting decay indefinitely.

Manuka honey is now officially certified as a wound dressing, Jupe continues, because it sucks the water out of bacteria, so that the infection-causing germs in the wound cannot live if honey is applied in the bandage…

Content of Bee Venom Varies by Season

Africanized Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Venom Profiling: Seasonal Variation of Melittin and Phospholipase A2 Levels
Toxicon, Article in Press

Apis mellifera venom is comprised basically of melittin, phospholipase A2, histamine, hyaluronidase, catecholamine and serotonin. Some of these components have been associated with allergic reactions, amongst several other symptoms.

On the other hand, bee mass-stinging, caused by Africanized honey bee (AHB), is increasingly becoming a serious public health issue in Brazil; therefore, the development of efficient serum-therapies has become necessary.

In this work, we have analyzed the venom composition of AHB in Brazil through one year. In order to verify the homogeneity of this venom, one specific hive was selected and the correlation with climatic parameters was assessed. It was possible to perceive a seasonal variation on the venom contents of melittin and phospholipase A2. Moreover, both compounds presented a synchronized variation of their levels, with an increased production in the same months. This variation does not correlate or synchronize with any climatic parameter.

Data on the variation of the AHB venom composition is necessary to guide future intra and inter species studies.

Video: Local Honey to Help Allergies?

Bee Keepers Working to Meet Demand

KCRG-TV, 4/19/2010 - With the spring air thick with pollen, some people think swallowing a spoonful of local honey helps. But local beekeepers say they are just trying to keep the bee population up.

If finding local honey to cut down on the stuffy heads and puffy eyes of spring is on your list, that could be a challenge. Because of cold winters and a mysterious disease, one South Amana beekeeper says it takes more work for fill honey jars…

Honey Alleviates Wound Odor for Cancer Patients

Honey Beneficial for Treatment of Fungating Tumor Wounds
The Medical News, 4/17/2010

Surviving cancer is physically and emotionally exhausting. But for many patients, beating the disease itself is just the first hurdle. A second ordeal comes from living with the fungating tumor wounds that accompany various cancers. Aside from the pain they inflict, these wounds often emit a strong and offensive odor. Not only does going into public become potentially embarrassing, but it also can be extremely depressing when even close family members are repulsed by the smell.

At the 2010 Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) and the Wound Healing Society (WHS), an international conference drawing clinicians from all over the globe, which was held April 17-20 in Orlando, a clinician presented a series of cases illustrating the benefits of MEDIHONEY® dressings not only in the treatment of fungating tumor wounds but in eliminating their odor and the stigma that goes with it. MEDIHONEY® dressings are a unique key line of products whose active ingredient is medical-grade active Leptospermum honey (ALH), indigenous to New Zealand, that can succeed in alleviating wounds when other treatments have failed. Princeton-based Derma Sciences, Inc. owns the global rights to MEDIHONEY

Malodor in a fungating tumor wound has been attributed to the presence of anaerobic organisms that thrive in areas of superficial and deep necrosis. The odor emanates from the unstable fatty acids released as a metabolic byproduct of the anaerobic bacteria. Among its other effects, MEDIHONEY has been reported to effectively reduce and even eradicate odor in acute and chronic wounds as a result to the preferential metabolism of honey's glucose, which produces lactic acid, instead of amino acids, which produce malodorous ammonia, amines and sulfur compounds.

The investigator, Debbie Segovia RN, MSN, APRN-CNS, CWOCN, examined two women aged 44 and 60 at the Cancer Treatment Centers of America in Tulsa. The 44-year-old, with locally advanced ductal carcinoma, sought treatment for bilateral breast wounds. Silver sulfadiazine and Dakin's 0.25% solution proved ineffective for exudate and odor management. After cleansing and rinsing, caregivers applied a MEDIHONEY dressing, which was changed daily. The necrotic slough tissue was rapidly debrided and the odor was immediately eradicated. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effect of the honey provided an "analgesic" effect, resulting in decreased wound pain associated with the wound itself and the dressing change procedure. The right breast wound completely healed and the left breast wound continued to progress toward healing…

Video: Raw Honey to the Rescue for Allergies?

Local Honey Again Recommended for Allergies

Allergy Treatment Could Have an Alternative, But Ask Your Doctor First
ConnectTriStates.com, 4/20/2010

The spring weather brings us all the pretty flowers, blooms, trees and freshly cut grass... but also allergies.

There might be another natural way to ease those symptoms.

In fact, Many of you may say it's time to throw out the pills and nasal sprays, and take a teaspoon of locally harvested honey.

Jim Blakemore tells us, "I take a tablespoon before I go to bed at night." That's been his ritual for the last 15 years.

It didn't take long for him to see the advantages to eating a bit of locally-harvested honey.

"Within a couple of days, I quit taking all my allergy tablets that I had to buy and I would enjoy the outdoors more." he told KHQA. And he's not alone, just ask local beekeeper Grant Gillard who states, "The secret is the honey is locally-produced with pollen from the surrounding area. The bees bring it back and that's what you ingest orally. So when you breathe in the pollen, your sinuses don't go crazy."…

Weight Loss, MS and Cancer - Could Bees Hold the Key?

By Anna Millar, The Scotsman, 4/20/2010

There is an old French proverb that goes, while honey is sweet, the bee stings. However, though it was once thought of merely as a common pest, nature's contrary little helper has been enjoying a rather more positive buzz in recent years.

Officially named apitherapy, the use of bee products to prevent or heal illness is not a new phenomenon, dating back thousands of years to early civilisations in ancient Egypt, Greece and China.

But the last decade has seen apitherapy receiving growing exposure, particularly for its (occasionally controversial) use in treating multiple sclerosis, arthritis, infections, skin conditions, diabetes and other problems.

At the other end of the spectrum, on the celebrity beauty circuit – and increasingly on the high street – bee-inspired lotions and potions have become big business, with many prescribing to the notion that pollen can promote tighter, younger-looking skin at a fraction of the cost of surgery.

A household name, and perhaps the best known of the bee products, royal jelly has long been hailed as nature's rejuvenator. Essentially bee's milk, royal jelly is rich in vitamins B and C and is often used to promote healthy hair, nails and skin.

It is also reputed to relieve symptoms of PMT, stress and arthritis. It has also become a useful ally in pregnancy and menopause – effective in lowering blood cholesterol levels, it is used to stimulate the reproductive system and help aid pain and flushes.

And it's not just women who are reaping the benefits. Some believe the jelly can prevent osteoporosis, not to mention aiding men with prostate problems. Those suffering from liver cirrhosis and diabetic wounds have also been known to benefit from its anti-inflammatory effects.

Elsewhere, some evidence suggests bee pollen can provide relief from premature ageing and aid weight-loss. High in vitamin C, minerals, amino acids and enzymes, it can boost the immune system.

Propolis, the natural resin created by bees in the construction of hives, has garnered a reputation for its ability to increase the formation of antibodies and strengthen the immune system. Some studies have also found that it helps reduce inflammation when treating second-degree burns, and suggest, most controversially, that the caffeic acids in propolis could help prevent colon cancer.

And the appreciation of apitherapy isn't just about health. Last year it was reported that fans of Hollywood's Eat-Clean Diet, such as Nicole Kidman and Halle Berry, were incorporating flax seed, wheatgerm and bee pollen into their diet to rev up the metabolism.

Bee-derived face masks have also become popular, with some beauty salons now offering bee venom and manuka honey masks to smooth and plump the skin, the venom being used to control the facial muscles by lifting, tightening and firming the skin.

While naysayers point out the lack of scientific evidence, anecdotally apitherapy's reputation continues to grow, with more research constantly underway.

But perhaps the most contentious debate is around the use of bee venom therapy (BVT), which is said to relieve the suffering of people with multiple sclerosis, as the compound acts to reduce inflammation. Users are essentially stung by bees, often many times, in a bid to ease their pain…

Honey Boosts Healing, Cuts Costs for Uninsured Wound Patients

Study Suggests Treating Wounds with Patented Medical Honey Dressing Makes Healing Affordable for Uninsured Patient Population

Newswise, 4/17/2010 — Using a particular brand of medical honey dressing may be a safe, effective and low-cost method of treating chronic, non-healing wounds in indigent patients, according to a poster presented at the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC) and the Wound Healing Society (WHS), an international conference drawing clinicians from all over the globe, which was held April 17-20 in Orlando.

Registered nurses Diane Maggio RN, BSN, CRRN, CWON and Laverne Graves, RN, BSN, CWS, from the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Pomona, NJ identified several challenges when treating indigent patients at the outpatient wound clinic. They include poor patient compliance, multiple wound types, lack of finances, multiple health issues, and poor personal hygiene.

They embarked on a small evidence-based practice study to investigate whether Derma Sciences’ MEDIHONEY® dressings, a unique key line of products whose active ingredient is medical-grade active Leptospermum honey (ALH), indigenous to New Zealand, would serve as a safe, effective, cost-efficient, user-friendly, moist wound healing dressing for use in this group of patients. They evaluated MEDIHONEY’s effectiveness in wounds and burns. The nurses incorporated MEDIHONEY as first-line therapy to not only clean the wound (debridement) but to also provide antimicrobial protection and healing. Princeton-based Derma Sciences, Inc. owns the global rights to MEDIHONEY…

Several patients seen in the study’s indigent outpatient wound clinic who presented with chronic, non-healing wounds were chosen to receive the MEDIHONEY dressings. After cleansing the wound, an appropriate MEDIHONEY dressing (honey impregnated calcium alginate for heavy exudates, honeycolloid or honey paste for light to moderate exudates) was applied and covered with a cover dressing. In their first case, they observed an obese 51-year-old male landscaper affected by diabetes, with a one-and-a-half-year-old ulcer on the bottom of his feet. Previous treatment included hydrogel, silver dressings, cadexomer matrix dressings, compression wraps, off-loading shoes and weekly debridement. A dressing was needed to manage exudate, prepare the wound bed and promote moist wound healing. After six months of unsuccessfuly healing this wound, the study authors tried MEDIHONEY’s calcium alginate bandage, covered with an absorbent foam and transparent film every other day. Complete healing was achieved after a few weeks on MEDIHONEY therapy.

In the case of a 66-year-old male with diabetes, who suffered from venous stasis ulcers and poorly controlled blood sugars, the challenge was to treat five infected, foul-smelling, heavily draining wounds on both legs. Prior treatment included compression bandaging. The nurses noted that excessive exudate and malodor were offensive to everyone in the outpatient wound center. A MEDIHONEY dressing was used to decrease the exudates and malodor, and helped prepare the wound bed and promote moist wound healing. The nurses applied a MEDIHONEY calcium alginate dressing, covered with an absorbent foam dressing, and covered with multilayer compression bandages once weekly. “The odor was immediately eradicated,” noted Maggio in the poster. “The exudates and wound size gradually decreased. By week 16 the wounds [were] well on the way to healing. The patient and staff [were] pleased with ease of use, odor management and wound healing.”

A second patient was a 49-year-old female with a hernia repair that resulted in a open wound that would not heal. The patient had been previously treated with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) while hospitalized. In preparation for discharge, the NPWT was to be discontinued and an antimicrobial dressing was needed to prevent infection of the exposed mesh. The nurses applied MEDIHONEY’s ALH paste along with an ALH-impregnated calcium alginate dressing and an absorbent cover dressing. The dressing was changed every other day. As Nurse Maggio notes, the wound gradually decreased in size. During week 18, surgical debridement with mesh removal was performed. The patient remained infection- free and the wound had almost completely healed by week 28.

The last patient in the study was a 50-year-old healthy male with no diseases but who had sustained a traumatic injury to the dorsal surface of his foot, resulting in an exposed tendon. Previous treatment included daily application of a papain-urea-chlorphyliin enzymatic debriding agent with a gauze dressing. The wound was surrounded by erythema and debridement of necrotic tissue was slow. The MEDIHONEY dressings decreased redness, and prepared the wound bed and promote moist wound healing, noted the nurses.

The authors concluded that integrating MEDIHONEY into the wound care formulary of their indigent outpatient wound care clinic has not only improved healing outcomes but also decreased costs by eliminating the need for enzymatic debriding agents and multitple dressing types. “The dressings have enabled patients to participate easily in their own care, thus improving compliance for a variety of wound types. The antimicrobial effect may have prevented infection in several wounds,” noted the authors…