Honey May Help Treat Diabetes

Honey extracts inhibit PTP1B, upregulate insulin receptor expression, and enhance glucose uptake in human HepG2 cells

Biomed Pharmacother. 2019 Mar 27;113:108752

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Honey is a food known for its medical properties. In this work, we have studied the impact of different types of honey on insulin signalling pathway.

We found that honey extracts inhibit the enzyme PTP1B, one of the main negative regulators of insulin receptor signalling. HPLC-MS analysis allowed us to confirm the presence of several natural PTP1B inhibitors in the honey extracts analysed. Statistical analysis methods show a correlation between specific 1H-NMR resonance frequencies/HPLC peaks and the inhibitory power of the samples.

This finding will allow the prediction of the biological properties of honey samples applying relative simple analytical methods. Finally, we demonstrated that the treatment of HepG2 cells with honey extracts enhances the expression of insulin receptor, and stimulates glucose uptake.

For the first time, our results demonstrate that bioactive components of honey could improve glycaemic control by both inhibiting PTP1B and stimulating the expression of insulin receptor in liver cells.

Malaysian University to Study Stingless Bee (Kelulut) Honey, Propolis

UCTS, companies sign MoA to study ‘kelulut’ honey, propolis

BY CONNY BANJI 

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SIBU: University College of Technology Sarawak (UCTS) has started to venture into the production of ‘propolis kelulut’ and honey harvesting after signing a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Simpulan Emas Sdn Bhd and Need Lee Enterprise here last Wednesday (March 20).

The agreement between the parties is for a collaborative research project, particularly on ‘kelulut’ (stingless bees) honey and propolis.

UCTS was represented at the signing ceremony by its vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Khairuddin Abdul Hamid while Simpulan Emas by managing director Yong Hue Lee and Need Lee by managing director Tiang Need Lee.

The objective of the MoA was to enable UCTS researchers to study the physicochemical and antioxidant properties of Malaysian ‘kelulut’ honey and propolis. Simpulan Emas and Need Lee for their part are to collaborate by sharing their resources and expertise...

Honey-Based Salve with Burdock Leaf Dressings Boosts Healing of Traumatic Wounds

Honey-Based Salve and Burdock Leaf Dressings as an Alternative to Surgical Debridement of a Traumatic Wound Eschar

Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2019 Mar 1;8(3):101-107

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Objective: Nonviable necrotic eschar is an impedance to wound healing and can ultimately lead to failure of soft tissue coverage in traumatic or high-risk wounds. Topical therapeutic agents can provide a less invasive management alternative to surgical debridement of eschar.

Approach: The case of a 40-year-old male with a traumatic right lower extremity amputation complicated by surgical incision ischemic eschar formation is reported. Honey-based salve with burdock leaf dressings was used to noninvasively manage eschar extending over the incision site. Images were obtained for 5 months of follow-up.

Results: Five-month follow-up demonstrated complete resolution of eschar and re-epithelialization of skin in the affected region. Innovation: Honey-based salve with burdock leaf dressings shows promise for enhancing healing outcomes in traumatic wounds that develop nonviable eschar.

Conclusion: Surgical debridement of an amputation stump with large ischemic eschar was avoided with the use of honey-based salve with burdock leaf dressings.

Natural Rubber-Propolis Membranes Boost Healing of Burns

Natural rubber-propolis membranes improves wound healing in second-degree burning model

Int J Biol Macromol. 2019 Mar 22. pii: S0141-8130(18)36201-9

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Our aim was to evaluate effects of natural rubber membrane (NR) associated with aqueous propolis extract (P) on the wound healing in rats burn model.

The membranes were characterized for wettability and pore presence after the membrane preparation by casting the liquid solution in Petri dishes, at different temperatures (27 and 60 °C). Male Wistar rats were divided into treatment groups (n = 5 per group: control without treatment, silver sulfadiazine, NR, NRP) initiated immediately after second-degree burn and maintained during 10 days.

The NRP membranes presented hydrophilic and porous characteristics. Macroscopic analysis from lesions showed that all groups presented crust formation. At the end of the experiment, the lesions treated with NRP membranes prepared at 60 °C had a higher regression percentage indicating a faster wound healing. The biopsies showed that the treatment with the NRP membranes induced a wound healing with collagen production, angiogenesis, reepithelization, and a small number of inflammatory cells, characterized by the crust detachment and the epithelium formation.

In conclusion, NRP membranes are promising as a dressing for the burns treatment since were able to accelerate the healing process and tissue repair without the curative switch.

Honey Flavonoid Shows Anti-Microbial, Anti-Diabetic, Anti-Obesity, Anti-Tumor, Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Two Approaches for Evaluating the Effects of Galangin on the Activities and mRNA Expression of Seven CYP450

Molecules 2019, 24(6), 1171

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Galangin is a marker compound of honey and Alpinia officinarum Hance that exhibits great potential for anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory applications.

Galangin is frequently consumed in combination with common clinical drugs. Here, we evaluated the effects of galangin on cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated metabolism, using two different approaches, to predict drug–drug interactions. Male Sprague Dawley rats were administered galangin daily for 8 weeks. A “cocktail-probes” approach was employed to evaluate the activities of different CYP450 enzymes.

Blood samples of seven probe drugs were analysed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in positive and negative electrospray-ionisation modes. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated to identify statistical differences. CYP mRNA-expression levels were investigated in real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction experiments. The galangin-treated group showed significantly decreased AUC0–∞ and Cmax values for CYP1A2, and CYP2B3. The galangin-treated group showed significantly increased AUC0–∞ and Cmax values for CYP2C13 and CYP3A1. No significant influences were observed in the pharmacokinetic profiles of CYP2C11, CYP2D4 and CYP2E1. The mRNA-expression results were consistent with the pharmacokinetic results.

Thus, CYP450 enzyme activities may be altered by long-term galangin administration, suggesting galangin to be a promising candidate molecule for enhancing oral drug bioavailability and chemoprevention and reversing multidrug resistance.

Medical Grade Honey Reduces Infections, Ruptures in Horse Wounds

Intra-lesional application of medical grade honey improves healing of surgically treated lacerations in horses

Equine Vet J. 2019 Mar 21

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BACKGROUND:

Infection and dehiscence of simple lacerations is common in horses, and consistently effective methods of prevention are yet to be found. Honey has been shown to promote wound healing when applied topically; however, intra-lesional application prior to wound closure has not been reported.

OBJECTIVES:

To examine whether intra-lesional application of medical grade honey (MGH) would reduce the incidence of infection and dehiscence following wound closure.

STUDY DESIGN:

Prospective, open-label randomised block design clinical study.

METHODS:

Lacerations, treated by field practitioners, were divided into treatment and control groups using block randomisation. Horses in the treatment group received a single intra-lesional treatment with l-mesitran gel (MGH). Data were collected at the time of wound closure and at suture removal.

RESULTS:

Data from 127 horses were included, 69 MGH-treated and 58 control cases. No adverse effects of the MGH were recorded. MGH-treated horses were more likely to completely heal [P = 0.006, odds ratio (OR) 3.40 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.41 - 8.20], to have no signs of infection (P = 0.007, OR 3.64, CI 1.42 - 9.26) and for the veterinarians to report some degree of satisfaction (P = 0.04, OR 2.72, CI 1.05 - 7.09) compared to control cases. Numbers needed to treat for complete healing was 5.1 (CI 2.8 - 40).

MAIN LIMITATIONS:

Clinical studies have inherent flaws compared to wound healing models, because of variability between wounds. There were more horses with limb injuries in the control group, although not statistically significant, this may have biased the results. Clinical satisfaction and signs of infection were subjective evaluations and evaluators were not blinded to the treatment group.

CONCLUSIONS:

Intra-lesional application of MGH to lacerations prior to wound closure may be beneficial in preventing infection and dehiscence. Larger, blinded studies focusing on wounds at a specific location with more objective assessment should be pursued.

Propolis Helps Treat Urinary Tract Infections

Xyloglucan + Gelose Combination versus Placebo as Adjuvant Therapy to First-Line Antimicrobials for Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection in Adults

Urol Int. 2019 Mar 19:1-8

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BACKGROUND:

A medical device containing xyloglucan-gelose-hibiscus-propolis (referred to hereafter as xyloglucan + gelose) acts as a mucosal barrier protector and urinary acidifier. The safety and efficacy of this device were investigated as adjuvant therapy to first-line antimicrobials for treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI) in adults.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

In this multicentre, randomised, parallel group, double-blind, phase IV study, xyloglucan + gelose (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20) were administered orally in combination with an antimicrobial agent (e.g., ciprofloxacin) for 5 days, then alone for 5 days, then beginning on Day 30 of the study for 15 days per month for 2 months.

RESULTS:

Frequency of adverse events (AEs) was 5 and 45% in the xyloglucan + gelose and placebo groups respectively. All AEs were unrelated to study products. Xyloglucan + gelose reduced uroculture positivity (defined as a bacterial count ≥103 CFU/mL) from 100% of patients at baseline to 0% at Day 11, with recurrence in 3 patients (15%) by Day 76. Corresponding results with placebo were 100% uroculture positive patients at baseline reduced to 45% at Day 11, with recurrence in 14 patients (70%) by Day 76. Xyloglucan + gelose significantly reduced the frequency of urinary incontinence and urgency of micturition compared with placebo (both p < 0.05), with symptom resolution in all patients by Day 90.

CONCLUSIONS:

The xyloglucan + gelose medical device was safe, well tolerated, and it reduced bacteriological and symptomatic parameters in adults with uncomplicated UTI.

Propolis Recommended for Tooth Pain

Comparison of two desensitizing agents for decreasing dentin hypersensitivity following periodontal surgeries: a randomized clinical trial.

Quintessence Int. 2019;50(4):320-329

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OBJECTIVE:

Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a common problem with multifactorial etiology. It is characterized by a short, sharp pain due to exposed dentin usually at the cervical margin. This randomized clinical trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of two desensitizing agents for reduction of dentin hypersensitivity (DH) following periodontal surgeries.

METHOD AND MATERIALS:

This study evaluated 96 patients who had one or two teeth with DH (120 teeth). The teeth were randomly allocated into four groups for treatment with 10% ethanolic extract of propolis (group 1), 30% ethanolic extract of propolis (group 2), Single Bond Universal dentin bonding agent (group 3), and distilled water as placebo (group 4). The degree of DH was determined according to the patients' response to tactile and air blast stimuli using a visual analog scale (VAS). The level of pain was also recorded before treatment and at 1, 7, 14, 21, 60 and 90 days after the treatment.

RESULTS:

All interventions (groups 1 to 3) were significantly effective in decreasing DH, and 10% and 30% ethanolic extracts of propolis were equally effective. The dentin bonding agent was completely effective at all time points. All three interventions (groups 1 to 3) effectively decreased DH at 60 and 90 days.

CONCLUSIONS:

This clinical trial showed all interventions were more effective than the placebo in decreasing DH. The tested propolis extracts were equally effective irrespective of their concentration. Application of Single Bond Universal had a fast relieving effect on DH. Propolis extracts and dentin bonding agent were equally effective in relieving DH in the long term.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

DH following periodontal surgery causes patient discomfort and hinders everyday activities. Propolis is a natural desensitizing agent with antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, healing effects, and cariostatic activity. It also stimulates reparative dentin formation. Flavonoids and cinnamic acid derivatives are the main biologically active components in the composition of propolis. According to the results of this study, application of propolis is recommended for patients with mild or moderate pain. Dentin bonding agent could be a better choice when immediate effect is needed.

Chilean Bee Pollen Shows Antioxidant, Antimicrobial Activity

Honeybee Pollen Load: Phenolic Composition and Antimicrobial Activity and Antioxidant Capacity

J Nat Prod. 2019 Mar 6

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Honeybee pollen loads result from the agglutination of pollen grains and salivary secretions of bees. The potential use of honeybee pollen as a food supplement greatly depends on its chemical composition, which varies depending on the botanical and geographical origin of the pollen grains.

This study aimed to characterize the botanical origin, chemical composition, and antioxidant and antibacterial activities of honeybee pollen from the V Region of Chile. The introduced species Brassica rapa and Eschscholzia californica predominated in the bee pollen analyzed. The honeybee pollen extracts showed antioxidant and antibacterial properties, specifically against the pathogenic microorganism Streptococcus pyogenes. Quercetin and myricetin were found in all samples in large concentrations.

The separation of pollen loads from a multifloral sample demonstrated that E. californica pollen loads are responsible for antibacterial activity. This sample also showed a high concentration of quercetin (304.8 mg/100 g of bee pollen). Based on the present results, honeybee pollen from the V Region of Chile has been found to exhibit antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, it is proposed to use quercetin as a quality indicator for honeybee pollen from this region of Chile.

These results should help establish better quality control criteria for Chilean honeybee pollen and its potential use as a functional ingredient.

Honeydew Honey Has Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Anti-Inflammatory Potential

An overview of physicochemical characteristics and health-promoting properties of honeydew honey

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Food Res Int. 2019 May;119:44-66

Honeydew honey has differentiated chemical and physicochemical characteristics besides potential functional properties such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. In this sense, the interest and consumption of this honey as a functional product by the food industry and consumers have increased. Honeydew honeys usually present dark color, a lower content of monosaccharides and higher values of pH, acidity, electric conductivity, proteins, minerals, phenolic compounds, and oligosaccharides compared to blossom honeys, which contribute to its outstanding biological activities. Consequently, contaminations and adulterations of this honey can occur and compromise the quality, safety and authenticity of honeydew honey.

Thus, detailed knowledge of the composition and properties of honeydew honeys is of great importance, especially considering that honeydew honeys are still few studied and therefore underestimated. Therefore, in this review, the physicochemical characteristics, chemical and bioactive composition, functional and health-promoting properties of honeydew honey as well as contamination, adulteration and authenticity of this honey are summarized.

Intensive Apitherapy & Apipuncture Hands-On Workshop April 7 in New York (Lyme Disease, Arthritis)

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Propolis Effective as Food Preservative

Development of propolis nanoemulsion with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity for use as a potential natural preservative

Food Chem. 2019 Jul 30;287:61-67

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Propolis has demonstrated potential use as food preservative but it presents strong and unpleasant flavor that alters the sensory characteristics foods. A nanoemulsion was proposed to carry the Brazilian propolis extracts for use as natural food preservative. Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities and chemical constituents of the extracts were investigated. The latter were made by sequential extraction using different solvents (hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol).

Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by agar diffusion and microdilution methods and antioxidant activity by DPPH and ABTS assays. Extracts showed antibacterial and antioxidant activity, highlighting the ethanolic which contained artepillin-C, kaempferide, drupanin and p-coumaric acid as main compounds by LC-MS analysis. The nanoemulsion developed by phase inversion method was characterized and stable under thermal-stress and centrifugation conditions. Biological properties evaluated were effectively maintained by the formulation.

It was concluded that the nanoemulsion can be used as a food preservative, preventing degradation and masking the propolis off-flavor.

Libyan Propolis Shows Potent Anti-Trypanosomal Activity (Sleeping Sickness, African Trypanosomiasis, Malaria, Tape Worm)

Isolation of a Novel Flavanonol and an Alkylresorcinol with Highly Potent Anti-Trypanosomal Activity from Libyan propolis

Molecules 2019, 24(6), 1041

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Twelve propolis samples from different parts of Libya were investigated for their phytochemical constituents. Ethanol extracts of the samples and some purified compounds were tested against Trypanosoma brucei, Plasmodium falciparum and against two helminth species, Trichinella spiralis and Caenorhabditis elegans, showing various degrees of activity. Fourteen compounds were isolated from the propolis samples, including a novel compound Taxifolin-3-acetyl-4’-methyl ether (4), a flavanonol derivative.

The crude extracts showed moderate activity against T. spiralis and C. elegans, while the purified compounds had low activity against P. falciparum. Anti-trypanosomal activity (EC50 = 0.7 µg/mL) was exhibited by a fraction containing a cardol identified as bilobol (10) and this fraction had no effect on Human Foreskin Fibroblasts (HFF), even at 2.0 mg/mL, thus demonstrating excellent selectivity. A metabolomics study was used to explore the mechanism of action of the fraction and it revealed significant disturbances in trypanosomal phospholipid metabolism, especially the formation of choline phospholipids.

We conclude that a potent and highly selective new trypanocide may be present in the fraction.

Brown Propolis Shows Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory and Antimicrobial Activities

Bioavailability and In Vivo Antioxidant Activity of a Standardized Polyphenol Mixture Extracted from Brown Propolis

Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Mar 12;20(5)

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Several lines of evidence demonstrate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of propolis, mostly ascribed to its polyphenol content. However, little is known regarding the bioavailability of propolis in acute and prolonged settings of oral administration.

In this study, we first determined the content of the main polyphenols in a brown propolis extract obtained using a patented extraction method (Multi Dinamic Extraction-M.E.D.) by RP-HPLC-UV-PDA-MSn analysis, followed by the bioavailability of galangin and chrysin, the most abundant polyphenols in the mixture (7.8% and 7.5% respectively), following acute (single bolus of 500 mg/kg containing about 3.65 mg of the polyphenol mixture) and prolonged (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg body for 30 days) oral administration in 30 male 8 weeks old C57BL/6 wild-type mice. In the acute setting, blood was taken at 30 s and 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60 and 120 min following the oral bolus. In the prolonged setting, blood samples were obtained after 10, 20 or 30 days of administration.

At the end of treatment, expression of antioxidant enzymes (superoxyde dismutase, SOD-1; catalase, CAT; glutathione peroxidase, GSS) was evaluated in liver tissue. Following both acute and prolonged administration, neither galangin nor chrysin were detectable in the plasma of mice, whereas the glucuronide metabolite of galangine was detectable 5 min after acute administration.

At the end of the prolonged treatment SOD-1 was found to have increased significantly, unlike CAT and GSS. Overall, these data suggest that oral administration of whole brown propolis extract is followed by rapid absorption and metabolization of galangin followed by adaptations of the antioxidant first line defense system.

Iranian Propolis May Help Treat Diabetes

Administration of Iranian Propolis attenuates oxidative stress and blood glucose in type II diabetic patients: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial

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Caspian J Intern Med. 2019 Winter;10(1):48-54

Background:

Hyperglycemia in diabetic people resulted in oxidative conditions. Propolis is the third most important component of bee products which has various functional properties such as anti-oxidant due to its components. The aim of this study was to evaluate the propolis effect on fructosamine level, the catalase activity, and the level of oxidized LDL changes in type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods:

In this double-blind, randomized controlled trial study, 62 type 2 diabetic patients, attending Endocrine clinic in Velayat Hospital (Qazvin, Iran) in 2017, were randomly assigned to one of intervention and placebo (n=31) groups. Participants in intervention group took propolis capsule (500 mg) 3 times a day and those in placebo group took placebo capsules for 8-week. Fructosamine level, catalase activity and the level of oxidized-LDL were measured at the baseline and at the end of the study. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software.

Results:

At the end of the study, significant differences were seen within groups and in-between groups. In Propolis group compared to the placebo, fructosamine (p < 0.05), and the level of oxidized LDL (p < 0.05) decreased, and catalase activity (p < 0.05) improved. However, there were no significant changes in the placebo group at the end of trial.

Conclusion:

Eight weeks intake of propolis as a supplement in type II diabetic patients could improve anti-oxidant defense and decline production of hyperglycemia induced products such as fructosamine.