Brazilian Green Propolis May Help Treat Cardiovascular Diseases

Brazilian Green Propolis Inhibits Ox-LDL-Stimulated Oxidative Stress in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells Partly through PI3K/Akt/mTOR-Mediated Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Jul 7;2019:5789574

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Propolis has been widely used as a dietary supplement for its health benefits, including cardiovascular protective effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytoprotective effects of Brazilian green propolis (BP) against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) damage. Our results suggested that treatment with BP rescued Ox-LDL-stimulated HUVECs cell viability losses, which might be associated with its inhibitive effects on the cell apoptosis and autophagy. We also noticed that BP restored Ox-LDL-stimulated HUVECs oxidative stress, by induced antioxidant gene expressions, including Heme oxygenase-1 and its upstream mediator, Nrf2, which were mediated by the activation of the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR. Pretreatment with wortmannin, PI3K/AKT inhibitor, abolished BP induced Nrf2 nuclear translocation and HO-1 level. Our results demonstrated that BP protected HUVECs against oxidative damage partly via PI3K/Akt/mTOR-mediated Nrf/HO-1 pathway, which might be applied into preventing Ox-LDL mediated cardiovascular diseases.

What are the benefits of manuka honey for runners?

Runner's World

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“Manuka or not, all honey is a type of carbohydrate and using it to fuel physical activity can help energy utilization and performance,” Hultin says. She also notes that the antioxidants in manuka honey may help relieve postexercise inflammation. Although, since this has not been studied, it’s unclear how much honey you would need to eat to see a significant difference. You can probably get the same antioxidant bang-for-your-buck by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Los Angeles-based registered dietitian Mascha Davis, M.P.H., R.D.N., adds, “Manuka honey is well studied for wound healing and its antimicrobial properties, so if runners have wounds it could potentially speed up the healing process.”

Honey Component Boosts Wound Healing

5-hydroxymethylfurfural-embedded poly (vinyl alcohol)/sodium alginate hybrid hydrogels accelerate wound healing

Int J Biol Macromol. 2019 Jul 25. pii: S0141-8130(19)34768-3

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Treating large acute or chronic wounds remains a challenging task because of a lack of effective methods to accelerate wound healing. Though growth factor-based wound products are found to be effective, they are costly and are potentially associated with increased cancer mortality. Effective, safe, and affordable strategies to tackle large or chronic wounds need to further be designed and developed. Here, we designed a new antioxidant-embedded hydrogel system for speeding up the wound healing process. We prepared multifunctional poly (vinyl alcohol)/sodium alginate (PVA/SA) hydrogels with the incorporation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), and investigated their physiochemical and biological properties in vitro and in vivo. PVA, SA, 5-HMF, and Ag-NPs were employed for good mechanical properties, good biocompatibility, anti-inflammation, and anti-bacterial activity, respectively. 5-HMF is commonly found in many food products (e.g. honey, coffee, and black garlic) and is known as an antioxidant. In our in vitro study, 5-HMF was found to effectively facilitate the proliferation and migration of human skin fibroblasts (HSF), and collagen production. Besides, 5-HMF-embedded PVA/SA hybrid hydrogels supported controlled release and good cell compatibility, and more importantly accelerated wound healing in vivo through ameliorated inflammation, enhanced angiogenesis/vascularization, increased collagen production, and promoted re-epithelialization.

Saudi Arabian Sumra honey Effective Against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) in Infected Wounds, Burns

In vitro evaluation of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus susceptibility to Saudi honeys

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019 Jul 25;19(1):185

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BACKGROUND:

Honey has been increasingly recognized as a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of wound infections. There is an urgent need for assessment and evaluation of the antibacterial properties against wound pathogens of honeys that have not yet been tested.

METHODS:

Ten Saudi honeys collected from different geographical locations were screened initially for their antibacterial potential against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) by the agar well diffusion method. Manuka honey (UMF-12) was used for comparison. Of the tested honeys, the honey that exhibited the greatest antibacterial activity in the agar well diffusion assay was further evaluated for its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against ten MRSA clinical isolates and three American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) reference strains by the microbroth dilution method.

RESULTS:

Locally produced honeys exhibited variable antibacterial activity against the tested isolates in the agar well diffusion assay. They were unable to exhibit antibacterial activity against MSSA and MRSA at 25% dilutions (w/v) in catalase solution. However, Sumra and Talha honeys showed a zone of inhibition at 50% dilutions (w/v) in catalase solution. This finding means that both honeys possess weak non-peroxide-based antibacterial activity. Moreover, Sumra honey showed a larger inhibition zone at 50 and 25% dilutions (w/v) in distilled water than Manuka honey against both MSSA and MRSA. This result demonstrates that Sumra honey has more hydrogen peroxide-related antibacterial activity or total antibacterial activity than Manuka honey. In addition, MIC results obtained through a microbroth dilution assay showed that Sumra honey inhibited the growth of all MRSA clinical isolates (n = 10) and reference strains [MRSA (ATCC 43300) and MSSA (ATCC 29213)] at lower concentrations (12.0% v/v) than those required for Manuka honey-mediated inhibition (14.0% v/v). This result means that Sumra honey has more peroxide or synergistic antibacterial activity than Manuka honey. An equivalent MIC (15.0% v/v) was observed for E. coli (ATCC 25922) between Manuka honey and Sumra honey.

CONCLUSIONS:

Sumra honey may be used as an alternative therapeutic agent for infected wounds and burns, where additional hydrogen peroxide-related antibacterial activity is needed. In the future, the physiochemical characteristics of Sumra honey may be evaluated and standardized.

Bee Venom Component May Help Prevent Pregnancy Loss (Miscarriage, Abortion)

Prophylactic Effects of Bee Venom Phospholipase A2 in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Pregnancy Loss

Toxins (Basel). 2019 Jul 12;11(7). pii: E404

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Spontaneous abortion represents a common form of embryonic loss caused by early pregnancy failure. In the present study, we investigated the prophylactic effects of bee venom phospholipase A2 (bvPLA2), a regulatory T cell (Treg) inducer, on a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced abortion mouse model. Fetal loss, including viable implants, the fetal resorption rate, and the fetal weight, were measured after LPS and bvPLA2 treatment. The levels of serum and tissue inflammatory cytokines were determined. To investigate the involvement of the Treg population in bvPLA2-mediated protection against fetal loss, the effect of Treg depletion was evaluated following bvPLA2 and LPS treatment.

The results clearly revealed that bvPLA2 can prevent fetal loss accompanied by growth restriction in the remaining viable fetus. When the LPS-induced abortion mice were treated with bvPLA2, Treg cells were significantly increased compared with those in the non-pregnant, PBS, and LPS groups. After LPS injection, the levels of proinflammatory cytokines were markedly increased compared with those in the PBS mouse group, while bvPLA2 treatment showed significantly decreased TNF-α and IFN-γ expression compared with that in the LPS group. The protective effects of bvPLA2 treatment were not detected in Treg-depleted abortion-prone mice.

These findings suggest that bvPLA2 has protective effects in the LPS-induced abortion mouse model by regulating Treg populations.

Honey Boosts Bone Formation in Exercise

Honey Supplementation and Exercise: A Systematic Review.

Nutrients. 2019 Jul 12;11(7). pii: E1586. doi: 10.3390/nu11071586.

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Honey is a natural substance formed primarily of carbohydrates (~80%) which also contains a number of other compounds purported to confer health benefits when consumed. Due to its carbohydrate composition (low glycaemic index, mostly fructose and glucose), honey may theoretically exert positive effects when consumed before, during or after exercise.

This review therefore appraised research examining the effects of honey consumption in combination with exercise in humans.

Online database (PubMed, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus) searches were performed, yielding 273 results. Following duplicate removal and application of exclusion criteria, nine articles were reviewed. Large methodological differences existed in terms of exercise stimulus, population, and the nutritional interventions examined.

All nine studies reported biochemical variables, with four examining the effects of honey on exercise performance, whilst five described perceptual responses. Acute supplementation around a single exercise session appeared to elicit similar performance, perceptual, and immunological responses compared with other carbohydrate sources, although some performance benefit has been observed relative to carbohydrate-free comparators.

When consumed over a number of weeks, honey may dampen immunological perturbations arising from exercise and possibly improve markers of bone formation. More well-controlled research is required to better understand the role for honey in a food-first approach to exercise nutrition.

Medical Grade Honey Boosts Pediatric Wound Healing, Inhibits Scar Formation

The pro-healing effects of medical grade honey supported by a pediatric case series

Complement Ther Med. 2019 Aug;45:14-18

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INTRODUCTION: 

The development of antibiotic resistance demands for novel complementary therapies for wound care. We here present a case series on the use of medical grade honey (MGH) in pediatric wounds. We aim to illustrate the specific antimicrobial and pro-healing activity of MGH and support its easy and safe use.

METHODS: 

Four pediatric patients with wounds of different origin are discussed in this prospective observational case series. All wounds were treated via monotherapy with daily MGH application.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: 

Wound covering with MGH prevents pathogen infiltration and has antimicrobial activity. Moreover, MGH keeps the wound moist and possesses strong pro-healing effects, such as autolytic debridement of non-vital tissue and restoration of vascular structures. The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative action of MGH together with the supplemented vitamins C and E may inhibit scar formation.

CONCLUSION: 

MGH is safe and easily applicable and can be recommended in all kinds of wounds.

Royal Jelly May Help Treat Obesity

Effects of Royal Jelly Administration on Lipid Profile, Satiety, Inflammation, and Antioxidant Capacity in Asymptomatic Overweight Adults

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Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Jun 13;2019:4969720

Objectives:

Obesity and overweight are chronic disorders of multifactorial origin that are characterized by high oxidative status and by chronic activation of macrophages in peripheral tissues. Effective therapeutic approaches to lower inflammation and oxidative stress are currently of general interest. Royal jelly (RJ) is a functional food with a broad range of pharmacological activities, mainly used by healthy individuals or borderline patients to protect themselves against disease onset. The objective of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to investigate the effects of RJ supplementation on metabolic profile and oxidative and inflammatory parameters in asymptomatic overweight adults, considered at an early stage of developing metabolic syndrome.

Material and Methods:

The experimental group (n=30) was given RJ and the control group (n=30) was provided with a placebo for eight weeks. Anthropometric, biochemical parameters, biomarkers of oxidative stress, and inflammation were assessed at baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks of the intervention, and after additional 2 weeks of follow up.

Results and Conclusion:

Compared with the placebo, RJ supplementation demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in total cholesterol (6.7%; p = 0.041) and inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (19%; p = 0.027), whereas significant increases were observed in anti-inflammatory marker adiponectin (34%; p = 0.011), endogenous antioxidants bilirubin (35%; p = 0.002) and uric acid (5%; p = 0.018), total antioxidant capacity in serum (54%; p = 0.005), and leptin (17%; p = 0.025). The present study demonstrated positive effects of RJ administration on lipid profile, satiety, inflammation, and antioxidant capacity in overweight adults. Therefore, our study supports the benefits of RJ supplementation for the improvement of human health.

Gwyneth Paltrow's Bee Sting Therapy

Harpers Bazaar

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Also referred to as 'apitherapy', Paltrow's previously spoken about using bee stings to decrease inflammation and skin scarring.

"I've been stung by bees. It's a thousands of years old treatment called apitherapy. People use it to get rid of inflammation and scarring. It's actually pretty incredible if you research it," she told the New York Times.

At this stage, there is very little evidence behind apitherapy and medical proessionals do not recommend it.

Oral Administration of Honey Increases Testosterone Levels in Males (Fertility, Testosterone Replacement Therapy, Low Testosterone)

Mechanisms of honey on testosterone levels

Heliyon. 2019 Jul 4;5(7):e02029

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Testosterone is an anabolic steroid and the principal sex hormone in males. Maintaining adequate levels of testosterone throughout the life span of male is very desirable, especially it is now well-known that low levels of testosterone is associated with various aging diseases/disorders.

Therefore, still, so many research studies have focused on enhancing serum levels of testosterone in males. Here, we intended to systematically discuss and present the impact of honey on serum levels of testosterone in males.

This was conducted by searching PubMed, Scopus, and Embase electronic databases for research articles from May 1993 through April 2019 using the keywords "honey" and "honeybee" versus "testosterone". Moreover, references from relevant published articles were also reviewed and cited to frame an integral discussion, conclusion, and future research needs. In conclusion, the collective evidence, which is mainly based on in vivo system studies, reveals that oral administration of honey increases serum testosterone level in males.

Mechanistically, honey may increase serum level of testosterone by increasing the production of luteinizing hormone, enhancing the viability of Leydig cells, reducing oxidative damage in Leydig cells, enhancing StAR gene expression, and inhibiting aromatase activity in the testes. However, further research studies on humans, mainly clinical trials, in this specific research approach are still needed to confirm the effect of honey on testosterone.

Egyptian Propolis Boosts Effect of Anti-Cancer Drug

Propolis Potentiates Methotrexate Anticancer Mechanism and Reduces its Toxic Effects

Nutr Cancer. 2019 Jul 18:1-21\

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Egyptian propolis is a powerful antioxidant and free radical scavenger produced by bees. The current study was designed to characterize Egyptian propolis, investigate its anticancer effect in vitro and its protective role against methotrexate (MTX) toxicity in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) experimental model. Our results revealed a high content of total phenolics, flavonoids and dihydroflavonols in propolis ethanolic extract (PEE).

PEE prompted cytotoxic effects in cancer cell lines and antitumor effects against EAC mice model by reducing tumor volume, count of viable tumor cells with a significant elevation in the life span as well as the mean survival time of mice. The hepatic and renal biochemical and toxicity parameters of EAC-bearing mice treated with MTX were improved by PEE. Also, it elevates the expression of Bax, caspase-3 and cytochrome-C and reduces the Bcl2 expression in EAC cells.

Moreover, PEE with MTX induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. Interestingly, the combination of PEE with MTX showed potent apoptosis as shown by DNA fragmentation gel, comet assay and dihydrofolate reductase level (DHFR).

These findings demonstrate that Egyptian propolis extract had high chemical diversity and different antioxidant effects. Also, it optimizes the antitumor potential of MTX and declined its toxic effects.

Here's the Lowdown on the Antibacterial Properties of Propolis

Bees make propolis to protect their hives and humans have been using it for thousands of years too

Alberton Record

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Bees make propolis from the sap of needle-leaved trees or evergreens all over the world. The antibacterial properties of propolis come from the trees’ active plant compounds. Here’s the lowdown.

Bees produce a compound called propolis from the sap of needle-leaved trees or evergreens. When they combine the sap with their own exudate and beeswax, they create a sticky substance used as a coating when building their hives.

The antioxidant and antibacterial properties of propolis come from the active plant compounds it contains.

The propolis also acts as an antibacterial barrier protecting the hive from contamination and external invaders. The name propolis comes from the Greek word meaning “defense of the city”...

Manuka Honey Helps Save Injured Puppy

Pet Gazette

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Three-month old Cooper was successfully treated at Medivet 24 Hour Faygate and is now exploring his new home

A Labrador puppy with life-threatening wounds on his front leg has been saved due to an innovative combination of laser treatment and Manuka Honey dressings.

His owner Laura Hobbs had bought Cooper from a breeder at the end of May. She was told that he had a ‘small cut’ on his left foreleg but that it was nothing to worry about.

A few days later, he started limping and became lethargic, the next day the two wounds opened on his leg. They were partially covered by areas of black, hardened skin, indicating a condition called ‘necrosis’...

Honey, Nutmeg Extract Product Boosts Success of Intrauterine Insemination (IUI, Fertility, Pregnancy, Menses)

The effect of a natural vaginal product based on honey on the success of intrauterine insemination (IUI) in infertility treatment

Avicenna J Phytomed. 2019 Jul-Aug;9(4):310-321.

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Objective:

Due to high prevalence of infertility and increasing tendency towards complementary medicine, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of a vaginal natural product based on honey and 1% extract of Myristica fragrans on the extent of success of intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Materials and Methods:

This non-randomized clinical trial study with a historic control group, was performed on infertile women. In this trial, 159 patients were assigned to the intervention group, and 288 patients were recruited to the control group. All the participants received clomiphene or letrozole from the third up to seventh day of menstruation, and on days 6, 7, and 8, they received human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) injections. IUI was performed 36 hours after human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) injection. In the intervention group, a natural vaginal product was used besides the above treatments, from menstruation day 7 until the day before performing IUI. Sixteen days after IUI, serum beta HCG was measured to investigate chemical pregnancy, and six weeks following IUI, vaginal sonography was performed to investigate clinical pregnancy.

Results:

Analysis showed that the pregnancy rate was higher in the group that receiving the natural product compared to the control group. Chemical pregnancy rate was 18.1% vs. 15.4%, and clinical pregnancy rate was 15.2% vs. 13.8% for intervention and control groups, respectively; but, this difference was not significant.

Conclusion:

It seems that the use of this vaginal product for a longer period of time and across several menses cycles before IUI, may produce more positive results. Further studies, however, are needed to be done.

Propolis Component May Help Treat Liver Cancer

Chemical and Pharmacological Aspects of Caffeic Acid and Its Activity in Hepatocarcinoma

Front Oncol. 2019 Jun 21;9:541

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Caffeic acid (CA) is a phenolic compound synthesized by all plant species and is present in foods such as coffee, wine, tea, and popular medicines such as propolis. This phenolic acid and its derivatives have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic activity. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the anticarcinogenic activity of this compound against an important type of cancer, hepatocarcinoma (HCC), considered to be of high incidence, highly aggressive and causing considerable mortality across the world.

The anticancer properties of CA are associated with its antioxidant and pro-oxidant capacity, attributed to its chemical structure that has free phenolic hydroxyls, the number and position of OH in the catechol group and the double bond in the carbonic chain. Pharmacokinetic studies indicate that this compound is hydrolyzed by the microflora of colonies and metabolized mainly in the intestinal mucosa through phase II enzymes, submitted to conjugation and methylation processes, forming sulphated, glucuronic and/or methylated conjugates by the action of sulfotransferases, UDP-glucotransferases, and o-methyltransferases, respectively.

The transmembrane flux of CA in intestinal cells occurs through active transport mediated by monocarboxylic acid carriers. CA can act by preventing the production of ROS (reactive oxygen species), inducing DNA oxidation of cancer cells, as well as reducing tumor cell angiogenesis, blocking STATS (transcription factor and signal translation 3) and suppression of MMP2 and MMP-9 (collagen IV metalloproteases).

Thus, this review provides an overview of the chemical and pharmacological parameters of CA and its derivatives, demonstrating its mechanism of action and pharmacokinetic aspects, as well as a critical analysis of its action in the fight against hepatocarcinoma.