Malaysian Honey Extract May Help Treat Keloids

Antiproliferative Effect of Methanolic Extraction of Tualang Honey on Human Keloid Fibroblasts
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011

Background

Keloid is a type of scar which extends beyond the boundaries of the original wound. It can spread to the surrounding skin by invasion. The use of Tualang honey is a possible approach for keloid treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the antiproliferative effect of methanolic extraction of Tualang honey to primary human keloid fibroblasts and to identify the volatile compounds in methanol extraction of Tualang honey.

Methods

Crude Tualang honey was extracted with methanol and then dried using rota vapor to remove remaining methanol from honey. Normal and keloid fibroblasts were verified and treated with the extracted honey. Cell proliferation was tested with [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yi)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt] (MTS) assay. Extraction of Tualang honey using methanol was carried out and the extracted samples were analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The result was analysed using SPSS and tested with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests.

Results

Methanolic extraction of honey has positive anti proliferative effect on keloid fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. The presence of fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid and octadecanoic acid may contribute to the anti-proliferative effect in keloid fibroblasts. 

Conclusions

The methanolic honey extraction has an antiproliferative effect on keloid fibroblasts and a range of volatile compounds has been identified from Tualang honey. The antiproliferative effect of keloid fibroblasts towards Tualang honey may involve cell signaling pathway. Identifying other volatile compounds from different organic solvents should be carried out in future.

Manuka Honey Shows Potential for Radiation-Induced Dermatitis

Medical News Today, 9/27/2011

New findings point to a possible role for manuka honey in the prevention of clinically significant radiation-induced dermatitis in breast cancer patients.

The results, from a phase 2 study reported at the 2011 European Multidisciplinary Cancer Congress (EMCC), show that the product may also decrease the duration of dermatitis episodes.

Nichola Naidoo, MD, Waikato District Health Board, Hamilton, New Zealand, and colleagues randomised 81 patients to either standard aqueous cream or manuka honey in a non-blinded fashion using a range of radiation schedules...

Radiation dermatitis is a common side effect in patients undergoing irradiation of the breast and/or chest wall, with the incidence of early grade 2 reactions reported in 30 to 50% of patients.

Dermatitis is due, in part, to an acute inflammatory response, with the release of cytokines, serotonin, and histamine as well as elevated levels of reactive oxidative species.

Many topical agents are used in clinical practice however no single agent has been proven to prevent radiation dermatitis.

Manuka honey, which is a monofloral honey made by bees in New Zealand that frequent the manuka bush known as Leptospermum scoparium, has demonstrated wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties, possibly related to its significant levels of antioxidants. The product has also been shown to be useful for healing moist desquamation and for radiation-induced mucositis.

The primary study endpoint was the incidence of radiation dermatitis ≥ grade 2.

Results revealed a lower incidence of grade ≥ 2 dermatitis in the honey-treated group compared to the group using aqueous cream (37.2% versus 57.8%, P=0.08). There was a trend towards a lower incidence of grade ≥ 2 dermatitis lasting longer than 1 week in patients treated with honey compared to aqueous cream (14.0% versus 28.9%, P=0.1)…

Synthetic Counterpart of Royal Jelly Fatty Acid Helps Treat Dry Skin

Effects of Hydroxydecine (10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid) on Skin Barrier Structure and Function in vitro and Clinical Efficacy in the Treatment of UV-Induced Xerosis
Eur J Dermatol, 2011 Sep 22

10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, a natural fatty acid only found in royal jelly, may be of value in correcting skin barrier dysfunction. We evaluated the activity of Hydroxydecine, its synthetic counterpart, in vitro on the regulation of epidermal differentiation markers, ex vivo on the inflammatory response and restoration of skin barrier function, and in vivo on UV-induced xerosis in healthy human volunteers.

In cultured normal human keratinocytes, Hydroxydecine induced involucrin, transglutaminase-1 and filaggrin protein production. In topically Hydroxydecine-treated skin equivalents, immunohistochemical analysis revealed an increase in involucrin, transglutaminase-1 and filaggrin staining.

In a model of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP)-induced inflamed epidermis, a Hydroxydecine-containing emulsion inhibited TSLP release. In a model of inflammation and barrier impairment involving human skin explants maintained alive, Hydroxydecine balm restored stratum corneum cohesion and significantly increased filaggrin expression, as shown by immunohistochemistry. It also decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13).

In healthy volunteers with UV-induced xerosis, the hydration index increased by +28.8% and +60.4% after 7 and 21 days of treatment with Hydroxydecine cream, respectively.

Hydroxydecine thus proved its efficacy in activating keratinocyte differentiation processes in vitro, restoring skin barrier function and reducing inflammation ex vivo, and hydrating dry skin in vivo.

Honey-Based Hydrogel Dressing Accelerates Burn Wound Healing

Gelam (Melaleuca spp.) Honey-Based Hydrogel as Burn Wound Dressing
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2011 Sep 19

A novel cross-linked honey hydrogel dressing was developed by incorporating Malaysian honey into hydrogel dressing formulation, cross-linked and sterilized using electron beam irradiation (25 kGy).

In this study, the physical properties of the prepared honey hydrogel and its wound healing efficacy on deep partial thickness burn wounds in rats were assessed. Skin samples were taken at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after burn for histopathological and molecular evaluations.

Application of honey hydrogel dressings significantly enhanced wound closure and accelerated the rate of re-epithelialization as compared to control hydrogel and OpSite film dressing. A significant decrease in inflammatory response was observed in honey hydrogel treated wounds as early as 7 days after burn. Semiquantitative analysis using RT-PCR revealed that treatment with honey hydrogel significantly suppressed the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-6).

The present study substantiates the potential efficacy of honey hydrogel dressings in accelerating burn wound healing.

Brazilian Green Propolis Components May Help Treat Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer

Isolation, Identification, and Biological Evaluation of HIF-1-Modulating Compounds from Brazilian Green Propolis
Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 19, Issue 18, 15 September 2011, Pages 5392-5401

The tumor microenvironment is characterized by hypoxia, low-nutrient levels, and acidosis. A natural product chemistry-based approach was used to discover small molecules that modulate adaptive responses to a hypoxic microenvironment through the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 signaling pathways.

Five compounds, such as baccharin (3), beturetol (4), kaempferide (5), isosakuranetin (6), and drupanin (9), that modulate HIF-1-dependent luciferase activity were identified from Brazilian green propolis using reporter assay. Compounds 3, 9 and 5 reduced HIF-1-dependent luciferase activity. The cinnamic acid derivatives 3 and 9 significantly inhibited expression of the HIF-1α protein and HIF-1 downstream target genes such as glucose transporter 1, hexokinase 2, and vascular endothelial growth factor A. They also exhibited significant anti-angiogenic effects in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay at doses of 300 ng/CAM. On the other hand, flavonoids 4 and 6 induced HIF-1-dependent luciferase activity and expression of HIF-1 target genes under hypoxia. The contents (g/100 g extract) of the HIF-1-modulating compounds in whole propolis ethanol extracts were also determined based on liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry as 1.6 (3), 14.2 (4), 4.0 (5), 0.7 (6), and 0.7 (9), respectively.

These small molecules screened from Brazilian green propolis may be useful as lead compounds for the development of novel therapies against ischemic cardiovascular disease and cancer based on their ability to induce or inhibit HIF-1 activity, respectively.

Horse Wounds Treated with Manuka Honey Remained Significantly Smaller

A Preliminary Study on the Effect of Manuka Honey on Second-Intention Healing of Contaminated Wounds on the Distal Aspect of the Forelimbs of Horses
Veterinary Surgery, Early View (Online Version of Record published before inclusion in an issue)

Objective

To determine the effect of manuka honey on second-intention healing of contaminated, full-thickness skin wounds in horses.

Methods

One wound was created on the dorsomedial aspect of the third metacarpus in both forelimbs, contaminated with feces, and bandaged for 24 hours. Bandages were removed and wounds rinsed with isotonic saline solution. Wounds on 1 limb had manuka honey applied daily (n = 8) whereas wounds on the contralateral limb received no treatment (n = 8). Bandages were replaced and changed daily for 12 days, after which treatment stopped, bandages were removed, leaving wounds open to heal. Wound area was measured 24 hours after wound creation (day 1), then weekly for 8 weeks. Overall time for healing was recorded. Wound area and rate of healing of treated and control wounds were compared statistically.

Results

Treatment with manuka honey decreased wound retraction and treated wounds remained significantly smaller than control wounds until day 42; however, there was no difference in overall healing time between treatment and control wounds.

Conclusions

Treatment with manuka honey reduced wound area by reducing retraction but did not affect overall healing time of full-thickness distal limb wounds using this wound-healing model.

Bee Venom Provides ‘Collective Immunity’ for Hive

Beyond the Antipredatory Defence: Honey Bee Venom Function as a Component of Social Immunity
Toxicon, 2011 Sep 10

The honey bee colonies, with the relevant number of immature brood and adults, and stable, high levels of humidity and temperatures of their nests, result in suitable environments for the development of microorganisms including pathogens.

In response, honey bees evolved several adaptations to face the increased risks of epidemic diseases. As the antimicrobial venom peptides of Apismellifera are present both on the cuticle of adult bees and on the nest wax it has been recently suggested that these substances act as a social antiseptic device.

Since the use of venom by honey bees in the context of social immunity needs to be more deeply investigated, we extended the study of this potential role of the venom to different species of the genus Apis (A. mellifera, Apisdorsata, Apiscerana and Apisandreniformis) using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry techniques.

In particular we investigated whether (similarly to A. mellifera) the venom is spread over the body cuticle and on the comb wax of these three Asian species. Our results confirm the idea that the venom functions are well beyond the classical stereotype of defence against predators, and suggest that the different nesting biology of these species may be related to the use of the venom in a social immunity context.

The presence of antimicrobial peptides on the comb wax of the cavity-dwelling species and on the cuticle of workers of all the studied species represents a good example of "collective immunity" and a component of the "social immunity" respectively.

Honey Effective in Management of Chronic Pressure Ulcers

Use of Medihoney as a Non-Surgical Therapy for Chronic Pressure Ulcers in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal Cord, 2011 Sep 20

Study design: Prospective, observational study of 20 spinal cord-injured (SCI) patients with chronic pressure ulcers (PUs) using Medihoney. 

Objectives: To determine the effects of Medihoney by bacterial growth, wound size and stage of healing in PUs.

Methods: We treated 20 SCI adult patients with chronic PUs using Medihoney. In all, 7 patients (35%) were female, and 13 (65%) were male. The average patient age was 48.7 years (30-79). In all, 6 patients (30%) were tetraplegic and 14 (70%) were paraplegic. Also, 5 patients (25%) had grade IV ulcers and 15 patients (75%) had grade III ulcers according to the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel.

Results: After 1 week of treatment with Medihoney, all swabs were void of bacterial growth. Overall 18 patients (90%) showed complete wound healing after a period of 4 weeks, and the resulting scars were soft and elastic. No negative effects were noted from the treatment using Medihoney. No blood sugar level derailment was documented.

Conclusion: The medical-honey approach to wound care must be part of a comprehensive conservative surgical wound-care concept. Our study indicates the highly valuable efficacy of honey in wound management and infection control as measured by bacterial growth, wound size and healing stage.

Practical Uses for Bee Venom

Strand Arcade Pharmacy, 9/15/2011

It's a well recognised observation in the bee keeping community, that beekeepers rarely have muscular or joint problems. They rarely suffer from arthritis and attribute this to the fact that they frequently receive bee stings. It is now known that Bee Venom has anti-inflammatory properties in addition to its obvious pain causing chemicals.

Bee venom or apitoxin as it is also known contains a number of interesting compounds. One component is melittin which is a strong anti-inflammatory that stimulates the production of cortisol in the body. Cortisol reduces inflammation. Adolapin, also found in bee venom blocks the cyclo-oxygenase pathway reducing inflammation in the body.

Bee Venom may be administered, directly as a sting – inconvenient unless you happen to be a beekeeper or to the skin as a balm. It may also be taken orally along with glucosamine supplements…

Malaysian Honey Boosts Memory in Postmenopausal Women

Improvement in Immediate Memory After 16 Weeks of Tualang Honey (Agro Mas) Supplement in Healthy Postmenopausal Women
Menopause, 2011 Sep 15

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the verbal learning and memory performance of postmenopausal women who received tualang honey (Agro Mas) in comparison with women receiving estrogen plus progestin therapy and untreated controls.

METHODS: A total of 102 postmenopausal women were recruited and randomly assigned to three groups: tualang honey (20 mg/d), estrogen plus progestin therapy (Femoston 1/5), and untreated control. Their verbal learning and memory performances were assessed using the Malay version of the Auditory Verbal Learning Test before and after 16 weeks of intervention. Data were analyzed using the repeated-measures analysis of variance, and a P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS: There were significant differences in the mean scores of total learning as well as the mean scores of trials A1, A5, A6, and A7 between the three groups. There were also significant differences in the overall mean scores of total learning and trials A1 and A5 between both estrogen plus progestin therapy and tualang honey groups when compared with the untreated control group. However, significant differences in the mean score for trials A6 and A7 were only observed between the estrogen plus progestin therapy and untreated control groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Postmenopausal women who received tualang honey showed improvement in their immediate memory but not in immediate memory after the interference and delayed recall. This is comparable with the improvement seen in women receiving estrogen plus progestin therapy.

Study Looks at Biochemical Method to Synthesize Propolis Component

Effect of Ionic Liquids on Enzymatic Synthesis of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester
Bioprocess Biosyst Eng, 2011 Sep 10

Although caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active flavonoid, plays an important role in the antioxidant activity of honeybee propolis, the isolation of CAPE from honeybee propolis is time-consuming due to wide variety of impurities present. Therefore, biochemical method to synthesize CAPE was investigated in this study.

Since ionic liquids (ILs) possess some unique characteristics as appreciated alternatives to conventional solvents for certain biotransformation, the effect of ILs as reaction media for enzymatic synthesis of CAPE was assessed. Several factors including substrate molar ratio, and reaction temperature affecting the conversion yield of lipase-catalyzed CAPE synthesis were also investigated.

Reaction yields were significantly higher in hydrophobic ILs than in hydrophilic ILs (almost zero). Among nine hydrophobic ILs tested, the highest conversion of synthetic reaction was obtained in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl]imide ([Emim][Tf(2)N]). A reaction temperature of 70 °C was found to give high conversion. In addition, optimal substrate molar ratio between phenethyl alcohol and caffeic acid (CA) was decreased significantly from 92:1 to 30:1 when ILs were used instead of isooctane.

Royal Jelly May Help Treat Alzheimer`s Disease

Improve Cognitive Function and Memory with Royal Jelly
Apitherapy Review, Issue #7, August 2011

Royal jelly is one of the most nutritionally complex foods on the planet with the ability to shore up many nutritional deficiencies and may help people overcome conditions they may have been dealing with for years. Royal jelly is also highly regarded for its brain-boosting capabilities. Whether you are a young student looking for an edge on an exam, a CEO with tremendous demands on your time, or have received the devastating diagnosis of Alzheimer`s disease, royal jelly may be able to deliver remarkable results.

Royal Jelly and the Acetylcholine Connection

Royal jelly is a creamy substance produced by the common worker bee; one of the purposes is of developing and nourishing the queen bee. On this diet of royal jelly, the queen bee will typically grow to be 40 percent larger and can live up to 40 times longer than the worker bee. Royal jelly isn`t just food for the queen bee, it`s her longevity strategy.

Royal jelly`s structure and composition has not, so far been replicated by man in any lab. The only lab capable of producing such a substance is the bee hive. This superfood is rich in protein, loaded with B vitamins, and contains many other minerals and nutrients. One of the key ingredients in royal jelly that may have profound implications for improving memory and invigorating mental acuity is acetylcholine.

Acetylcholine was the first neurotransmitter discovered. It is found in the brain, spinal cord, and throughout areas of the nervous system. It regulates memory and is needed to transmit nerve messages from cell to cell. Interestingly, royal jelly is the only natural source of pure acetylcholine. Optimal levels of acetylcholine in the brain are associated with improved memory, fluidity of thought, and enhanced cognitive function.

Implications for Alzheimer`s Disease

…Most traditional treatments pursued by Western medicine try to increase levels of acetylcholine in the brain of the Alzheimer`s patient. These drugs attempt to raise the levels of acetylcholine by inhibiting the enzymes that lead to the breakdown or degradation of acetylcholine. Royal jelly, however, can raise levels of acetylcholine without the side effects often associated with the use of medications, such as nausea and liver toxicity…

Heaven Bee Venom Mask - Reviewed and Recommended

StyleBistro.com, 9/13/2011

Perhaps it was all the media hype, the appeal of a British Royal, or the masochist in all of us, but when Sarah came across a face mask with bee venom, the Truth In Aging community was positively buzzing with excitement. I must admit that I caught the bug myself and couldn’t resist trying the Bee Venom Face Mask ($89 for 50ml) by British boutique brand, Heaven.

I love it. The Bee Venom Mask is left on for about 20 minutes and I have been using it for nearly a month on my face and neck about three times a week. Aftr rinsing, I follow with my normal regimen, but sometimes my skin looks so glowing and refreshed that I’ve left it that (apart from eye cream and anything else that I’ve been specifically testing) for the rest of the day…

Labs to Test for Methylglyoxal as Measurement of Manuka Honey Activity

Manuka Honey Pioneers Welcome Ratification of Testing Method

Press Release: Manuka Health, 9/13/2011

Global leaders in the production of therapeutic grade manuka honey, Manuka Health, have welcomed the announcement that the leading testing laboratories in Singapore, New Zealand government-owned AsureQuality, will now be testing for methylglyoxal as their measurement of activity in manuka honey.

Manuka Health developed what has become the gold standard for the manuka honey industry in 2008, believing that consumers around the world deserved to be able to have total faith in the active potential of the manuka honey products they were buying.

CEO Kerry Paul is pleased to see some further progress toward the standard being adopted worldwide. “We’ve said for a long time that a methylglyoxyal-based scale would be the standard against which all manuka honey would be measured in the future. Many within the industry have tried to promote very outdated and unreliable testing in the past. We’ve got a way to go, but this is great first step.”

Manuka Health has worked with several leading laboratories Hills and AsureQuality to get consistency in methylglyoxal testing. There is a need to have several laboratories capable of providing a repeatable scientific test as the scientific body of evidence supporting methylglyoxyal as the primary factor contributing to the unparalleled antibacterial properties of New Zealand manuka honey continues to mount up….

Apitherapy Research Center to be Established in U.K.

Study of Bees May be Medicinal Honeypot
By Greg Wright, Yorkshire Post, 9/13/2011

The next time you feel tempted to swat a bee, consider this fact:

You are attacking a flying pharmacy.

Mankind has mistreated bees for centuries, and our ignorance means we’ve lost the chance to eradicate a host of lethal diseases.

With help from a team of Yorkshire-based bee lovers, we could be about to get a second chance.

Entrepreneur James Fearnley plans to establish a centre in the North York Moors which will study how bees can improve our health.

Mr Fearnley predicts that the centre will create 10 jobs in the heart of the National Park, at a time when the public sector spending squeeze is making life harder for rural communities.

Mr Fearnley, who is the founder of Whitby-based Nature’s Laboratory, believes it would be the height of folly to take bees for granted. His company is behind the BeeVital brand, which develops products derived from bees.

The long term survival of the honey bee is in question while researchers are discovering some “astounding medicinal properties for products produced by honey”, according to Mr Fearnley.

”Everyone now knows about the antibiotic properties of honey, but we have discovered that bees are collecting a chemical antidote to Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) but only in areas where sleeping sickness is found,’’ he said.

“In tropical areas, where bees are seriously challenged by micro bacteria, they are collecting material that is highly effective against MRSA.”

If Mr Fearnley’s initiative succeeds, Yorkshire could become a global centre for the study of bees.

He said yesterday: “Our vision is to develop an international focus for the better understanding of the medicinal values of bee products, or apiceuticals as we call them…

James Fearnley, the founder of the healthcare brand, BeeVital, has been involved in natural medicine since the early 1970s.

In 1992 he co-founded a company specialising in bee products.

He was one of the first people in the UK to commission scientific studies into propolis…