International Conference on the Medicinal Use of Honey, Nov. 20-22, 2013, in Indonesia

Welcome to 3rd International Conference on the Medicinal Use of Honey

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the program committee, we cordially invite you to join the “3rd International Conference on Medicinal Use Of Honey Bee Products“ that will take place from 20-22 November 2013 in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.  After the success of the first meetings in Malaysia and the second meeting in Pakistan, we are happy to mark the 3rd meeting in Indonesia.

We are looking forward to your participation and active contribution at a time when honey bee products is further expanding. Studies that analyzed active substance of honey and variety of potential of its use has been implemented in various countries. Similarly, the efficacy of honey against several diseases, although it still in trial on experimental animal. Various advanced research at the clinic trial level and the use of some variants of honey and other bee products in the field of medicine continues to be developed. The scientist and experts agreed that honey is the perfect supplements and it contains variety of active substances that can cure various diseases. Verification of this statement through various studies and trials are needed and the results should be disseminated worldwide. To that end, the international conference on the use of honey in health care becomes a necessity. Hasanuddin University have the opportunity to host the 3rd International Conference on the Medicinal Use of Honey.

We are looking forward to seeing you in Makassar and to a most productive advance in the field on medicinal use of honey bee products. 

Prof. Dr. Veni Hadju, MSc.

Conference Chair

Royal Jelly Did Not Present Stimulatory Effect on Reproductive Organs

Morphometry of the genital tract and superovulatory response in rabbits supplemented with royal jelly

Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec, vol.65 no.3 Belo Horizonte June 2013

RESUMO

Avaliou-se o efeito da suplementação com geleia real sobre a morfometria do aparelho genital, resposta superovulatória e qualidade embrionária de coelhas. Trinta e seis fêmeas foram distribuídas em quatro grupos (G), sendo: G1 (n=9) formado por animais não suplementados com geleia real, e G2, G3 e G4 (n=9 em cada grupo) por animais suplementados com 10, 20 e 40mg/dia de geleia real. A superovulação consistiu na aplicação de 40UI de gonadotrofina coriônica equina, seguida por 40UI de gonadotrofina coriônica humana, via intramuscular, 48 horas após, e submetidas à cobrição natural. Os animais foram sacrificados, e os embriões coletados 72 horas após a cópula. Não houve diferença estatística entre tratamentos para as variáveis analisadas. O peso médio do aparelho genital foi de 10,88±0,38g; dos ovários – direito e esquerdo –, 0,28±0,02g; e o índice gonadossomático, 0,02±0,0g. O número médio de estruturas totais recuperadas foi de 9,2±1,4; de embriões viáveis, 8,7±1,4; e de degenerados, 0,5±0,2. Dos embriões viáveis, 5,6±0,8 foram classificados como grau I; 2,3±0,5, como grau II; e 0,8±0,2, como grau III. A suplementação com geleia real na dose de até 40mg/dia não apresentou efeito estimulador sobre o aparelho genital e a qualidade embrionária de coelhas.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this paper was to assess the effect of supplementation of royal jelly on the morphometry of the genital tract, superovulatory response and embryonic quality in adult rabbits. 36 rabbits were distributed in four groups (G), as follows: G1 (n=9): no supplementation with royal jelly, G2, 3 and 4 (n=9): supplementation with 10, 20 and 40mg/day of royal jelly. The superovulatory protocol consisted in the application of a dose of 40UI of Equine Chorionic Gonadotrophin, followed by a dose of UI of Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin, intramuscularly, 48 hours later, and submitted to natural cover. The animals were euthanasiated and the embryos collected 72 hours after copulation. There was no statistical difference for the analyzed variables (P>0.05). The average weight for the female genital tract was 10.89±0.38g; the average weight of right and left ovaries was 0.28±0.02g and the average gonadosomatic index rate was 0.02±0.0g. The number of total recovered structures was 9.2±1.4. The average number of viable embryos was 8.7±1.4 and of degenerated embryos was 0.5±0.2. Viable embryos were morphologically classified as degree I: 5.6±0.8; degree II: 2.3±0.5; degree III: 0.8±0.2. Royal jelly did not present stimulatory effect on organs related to the reproduction of rabbits, nor was it effective to improve their embryonic quality at dosages of up to 40mg of in natura royal jelly.

Honey Boosts Reproductive Functions

The effects of honey and vitamin E administration on apoptosis in testes of rat exposed to noise stress

J Hum Reprod Sci, 2013 Jan;6(1):54-8

AIMS:

A variety of stress factors are known to inhibit male reproductive functions. So this study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of honey and vitamin E on the germinative and somatic cells of testes of rats exposed to noise stress.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Mature male wistar rats (n = 24) were randomly grouped as follows: Group 1 (honey + noise stress), 2 (vitamin E + noise stress), 3 (noise stress,) and 4 as the control group. In groups 1, 2, and 3, rats were exposed to noise stress. In groups 1 and 2, rats also were given honey and vitamin E, respectively, orally for 50 days. After that, the germinative and somatic cells of testes parenchyma were isolated by digesting the whole testes by a standard method. Next, viability, apoptosis, and necrosis of the cells were evaluated by TUNEL kit and flow cytometry.

RESULTS:

The rates of apoptosis and necrosis of the testicular cells were increased (P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respectively), but viability of these cells decreased in testes of rats exposed to noise stress (P = 0.003). However, administration of honey and vitamin E were significantly helpful in keeping the cells of testis parenchyma alive, which suffers from noise pollution (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

Noise stress has negative influences on the cells of testicular tissue by increasing apoptotic and necrotic cells. However, the associated enhancement in healthy cells suggests that honey and vitamin E have positive influences on the testis parenchyma.

Derma Sciences CEO Highlights Rapid Growth of MEDIHONEY Products in Presentation at Comvita Annual Meeting

Published: July 25, 2013

PRINCETON, N.J. — Derma Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: DSCI), a medical device and pharmaceutical company focused on advanced wound care, announces that its chief executive officer, Edward J. Quilty, highlighted the rapid growth of MEDIHONY® Dressings with medical grade Manuka (Leptospermum) Honey, and the rewarding relationship between Derma Sciences and Comvita Limited in a presentation at Comvita’s annual shareholders’ meeting in New Zealand yesterday. MEDIHONEY is the leading brand of medical grade honey products and is one of the fastest-growing moist wound healing wound dressings in the field of advanced wound care, with a sales growth rate exceeding 30% annually…

Jujube Honey Has Antifungal Properties

Effect of Jujube Honey on Candida albicans Growth and Biofilm Formation

Arch Med Res, 2013 Jul 15

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

Candida species, especially Candida albicans, are major fungal pathogens of humans that are capable of causing superficial mucosal infections and systemic infections in humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the jujube (Zizyphus spina-christi) honey for its in vitro inhibitory activity against pre-formed biofilm and its interference with the biofilm formation of C. albicans.

METHODS:

The XTT reduction assay, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed to determine the inhibitory effect of Jujube honey on C. albicans biofilm. Changes in the infrared spectrum after treatment with honey were also determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.

RESULTS:

Jujube honey affects biofilms by decreasing the size of mature biofilms and by disruption of their structure. At a concentration of 40% w/v, it interferes with formation of C. albicans biofilms and disrupts established biofilms. The SEM and AFM results indicated that this type of honey affected the cellular morphology of C. albicans and decreased biofilm thickness.

CONCLUSIONS:

The present findings show that jujube honey has antifungal properties against C. albicans and has the ability to inhibit the formation of C. albicans biofilms and disrupt established biofilms.

Kate Middleton: Bee Venom is One of New Mom’s Beauty Secrets

Hollywood Life, 7/23/2013

Sure, we can’t all marry Prince William and become a Duchess and then give birth to an absolutely adorable royal baby — but hey, we can at least try to get skin like Kate’s!

As it turns out, Kate is a huge fan of using bee venom on her face. Yes, you read that correctly — bee venom. Now, we don’t recommend traipsing into your backyard and poking at the nearest beehive you find, mostly because it’s super easy to find skin care products that utilize the anti-bacterial properties found in bee venom…

Origin and Function of the Major Royal Jelly Proteins of the Honeybee (Apis mellifera) as Members of the Yellow Gene Family

Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc, 2013 Jul 16

In the honeybee, Apis mellifera, the queen larvae are fed with a diet exclusively composed of royal jelly (RJ), a secretion of the hypopharyngeal gland of young worker bees that nurse the brood. Up to 15% of RJ is composed of proteins, the nine most abundant of which have been termed major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs).

Although it is widely accepted that RJ somehow determines the fate of a female larva and in spite of considerable research efforts, there are surprisingly few studies that address the biochemical characterisation and functions of these MRJPs. Here we review the research on MRJPs not only in honeybees but in hymenopteran insects in general and provide metadata analyses on genome organisation of MRJP genes, corroborating previous reports that MRJPs have important functions for insect development and not just a nutritional value for developing honeybee larvae.

Fermentation by Fungi Converts Stored Pollen Into Bee Bread

Fungicide Contamination Reduces Beneficial Fungi in Bee Bread Based on an Area-Wide Field Study in Honey Bee, Apis mellifera, Colonies

J Toxicol Environ Health A, 2013 May;76(10):587-600

Fermentation by fungi converts stored pollen into bee bread that is fed to honey bee larvae, Apis mellifera, so the diversity of fungi in bee bread may be related to its food value. To explore the relationship between fungicide exposure and bee bread fungi, samples of bee bread collected from bee colonies pollinating orchards from 7 locations over 2 years were analyzed for fungicide residues and fungus composition.

There were detectable levels of fungicides from regions that were sprayed before bloom. An organic orchard had the highest quantity and variety of fungicides, likely due to the presence of treated orchards within bees' flight range. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Rhizopus, and Cladosporium (beneficial fungi) were the primary fungal isolates found, regardless of habitat differences. There was some variation in fungal components amongst colonies, even within the same apiary. The variable components were Absidia, Alternaria, Aureobasidium, Bipolaris, Fusarium, Geotrichum, Mucor, Nigrospora, Paecilomyces, Scopulariopsis, and Trichoderma. The number of fungal isolates was reduced as an effect of fungicide contamination. Aspergillus abundance was particularly affected by increased fungicide levels, as indicated by Simpson's diversity index.

Bee bread showing fungicide contamination originated from colonies, many of which showed chalkbrood symptoms.

Propolis May Help Treat Colorectal Cancer

Portuguese propolis disturbs glycolytic metabolism of human colorectal cancer in vitro

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013, 13:184

Background

Propolis is a resin collected by bees from plant buds and exudates, which is further processed through the activity of bee enzymes. Propolis has been shown to possess many biological and pharmacological properties, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunostimulant and antitumor activities. Due to this bioactivity profile, this resin can become an alternative, economic and safe source of natural bioactive compounds.

Antitumor action has been reported in vitro and in vivo for propolis extracts or its isolated compounds; however, Portuguese propolis has been little explored. The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro antitumor activity of Portuguese propolis on the human colon carcinoma cell line HCT-15, assessing the effect of different fractions (hexane, chloroform and ethanol residual) of a propolis ethanol extract on cell viability, proliferation, metabolism and death.

Methods

Propolis from Angra do Heroismo (Azores) was extracted with ethanol and sequentially fractionated in solvents with increasing polarity, n-hexane and chloroform. To assess cell viability, cell proliferation and cell death, Sulforhodamine B, BrDU incorporation assay and Anexin V/Propidium iodide were used, respectively. Glycolytic metabolism was estimated using specific kits.

Results

All propolis samples exhibited a cytotoxic effect against tumor cells, in a dose- and time-dependent way. Chloroform fraction, the most enriched in phenolic compounds, appears to be the most active, both in terms of inhibition of viability and cell death. Data also show that this cytotoxicity involves disturbance in tumor cell glycolytic metabolism, seen by a decrease in glucose consumption and lactate production.

Conclusion

Our results show that Portuguese propolis from Angra do Heroismo (Azores) can be a potential therapeutic agent against human colorectal cancer.

Medicinal Manuka Honey Can Be Faked

Threats to Manuka Honey Industry

New Zealand Radio, 7/19/2013

A team of scientists has discovered threats to the manuka honey industry.

Genuine New Zealand manuka honey can fetch up to $250 a kilogram overseas because it contains special naturally occurring bioactive compounds.

Research that is yet to be published by a consortium of universities and Crown Research Institutes has discovered those properties can be faked by adding chemicals to normal honey, such as regular clover or low grade manuka honey.

Researchers have also discovered that storing genuine manuka honey in warm climates can make it fail tests intended to detect illegal additives…

Professional Bee Box for Use in Bee Venom Therapy

This box is the result of many prototypes and experience during the last 10 years.

The collecting of bees from the hive is easy because its use does not disturb the colony. The bees enter inside the box directly. It is not necessary for the person collecting the bees to use any kind of protection. Easy to use in winter.

The best time to collect the bees is when the sun is going down. Put the bee box on the hive (with the both doors open) and a flashlight over the box. Bees will enter the box by following the light.

Because of a special opening, it is easy to remove bees one at a time.

For more information or to purchase, contact Antonio Couto at: antoniocouto@beefine.com 

Bee Venom May Help Treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Bee Venom Effects on Ubiquitin Proteasome System in hSOD1G85R-Expressing NSC34 Motor Neuron Cells

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2013, Published: 18 July 2013

Background

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that results from a progressive loss of motor neurons. Familial ALS (fALS) is caused by missense mutations in Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) that frequently result in the accumulation of mutant-protein aggregates that are associated with impairments in the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). UPS impairment has been implicated in many neurological disorders. Bee venom (BV) extracted from honey bees has been used as a traditional medicine for treating inflammatory diseases and has been shown to attenuate the neuroinflammatory events that occur in a symptomatic ALS animal model.

Methods

NSC34 cells were transiently transfected with a WT or G85R hSOD1-GFP construct for 24 hrs and then stimulated with 2.5 mug/ml BV for 24 hrs. To determine whether a SOD1 mutation affects UPS function in NSC34 cells, we examined proteasome activity and performed western blotting and immunofluorescence using specific antibodies, such as anti-misfolded SOD1, anti-ubiquitin, anti-GRP78, anti-LC3, and anti-ISG15 antibodies.

Results

We found that GFP-hSOD1G85R overexpression induced SOD1 inclusions and reduced proteasome activity compared with the overexpression of GFP alone in NSC34 motor neuronal cells. In addition, we also observed that BV treatment restored proteasome activity and reduced the accumulation of ubiquitinated and misfolded SOD1 in GFP-hSOD1G85R-overexpressing NSC34 motor neuronal cells. However, BV treatment did not activate the autophagic pathway in these cells.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that BV may rescue the impairment of the UPS in ALS models.

'Rogue Ingredients' in Expensive Manuka Honey

ONE News, 7/17/2013

Expensive manuka honey sold as "pure" in Hong Kong has been tested and found to have rogue ingredients including sugar or sugar syrup, the Hong Kong Consumer Council says.

But the New Zealand Bee Products Standards Council says while the result was shocking, testing of manuka honey had produced high levels of false positives to sugar content.

Chairman Dr Jim Edwards said they were aware of the Hong Kong report but did not know how the honey was tested or whether it was checked using a newly created and more reliable test.

"We have been aware of the need to resolve the testing problems," he said.

''We are watching with interests - our reputation is important."…

Bee Sting Therapy: Using Bee Venom for Healing Purposes (Video)

Saludify, 7/16/2013

Bee sting therapy, known as a part of apitherapy (the use of beehive products), is the use of bee venom to treat certain health conditions. Bee venom is full of enzymes, peptides and biogenic amines, and the substance has at least 18 chemical compounds with pharmaceutical properties.

While bee sting therapy was traditionally applied through the use of live bees, modern technology has found ways to extract the venom and incorporate it into creams, ointments and injections. Bee sting therapy is still considered most effective, however, when venom is administered directly from the bee itself...

Honey-Based Pill Helps Treat Asthma

Improved Treatment of Asthma by Using Natural Sources of Antioxidants

School of Biotechnology, International University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam ; Faculty of Applied sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.

A combined composition of the extracted powders from Hippocampus kuda and Rhizoma Homalomenae together with honey in a form of medical pill (named as BRONAS) for the treatment of asthma has thoroughly been investigated under this study. BRONAS has shown its high anti-inflammatory effects and strong inhibition upon the pathogenesis of asthma. In comparison with other treatments without using BRONAS, the restoration of patients' health was improved by a factor of 2-3.

CLINICAL TRIALS WITH ACTR NUMBER: ACTRN12612000766819.