Video: U.S. Bee Products Supplier Promotes Hive Health

Honeybee Bonanza at GloryBee in Eugene
By Arrianee LeBeau, KVAL News, 4/10/2009

For several years beekeepers have been reporting a drop in adult honey bees called Colony Collapse Disorder. But some people at GloryBee Foods Factory are working to make sure bees survive the test of time.

Bee Venom Protein May Help Fight Cancer

Dextrin-Phospholipase A(2): Synthesis and Evaluation as a Bioresponsive Anticancer Conjugate
Biomacromolecules, 2009 Apr 8

There is still an urgent need for improved treatments for metastatic cancer. Although the phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) crotoxin, an antitumor protein that appears to act by interaction with epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), has recently shown activity in breast cancer in phase I clinical trials, it also displayed nonspecific neurotoxicity.

Therefore, the aim of this study was to apply a novel concept called polymer-masked-unmasked-protein therapy (PUMPT) to give a bioresponsive dextrin-PLA(2) conjugate that would reduce PLA(2) systemic toxicity but retain antitumor activity following alpha-amylase triggered degradation of dextrin in the tumor interstitium…

The reduced toxicity and alpha-amylase triggered activity of the dextrin-PLA(2) conjugate confirmed the potential of this approach for further development as a novel anticancer treatment.

Propolis Component Relaxes Coronary Artery Ring Segments

The Vasorelaxant Effect of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester on Porcine Coronary Artery Ring Segments
Vascular Pharmacology, Article in Press

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a naturally occurring compound isolated from honeybee propolis whose cardiovascular properties remain uncertain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible mechanisms of CAPE-induced vasorelaxation in porcine coronary artery rings.

It was found that both the quiescent and pre-contracted coronary artery ring segments were relaxed by CAPE (10- 7 ~ 10- 4 M). Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), methylene blue and removal of endothelium significantly attenuated CAPE-induced relaxation of both quiescent and pre-contracted artery rings. This relaxing effect of CAPE on coronary arteries was also significantly reduced by propranolol, and SQ22536, but not by indomethacin. In addition, the dose-response curves of KCl (2.5 ~ 100 mM) and CaCl2 (10- 5 ~ 10- 2 M) were displaced downwards in the presence of CAPE.

These results suggest that the relaxant effect of CAPE on porcine coronary artery rings might involve the action of nitric oxide (NO) and adrenergic β-receptor, together with their second messenger, cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), respectively, but not involve the synthesis of prostaglandin.

Honey May be Useful as Alternative Ulcer Treatment

An African Perspective on Helicobacter pylori: Prevalence of Human Infection, Drug Resistance, and Alternative Approaches to Treatment
Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Volume 103, Number 3, April 2009 , pp. 189-204(16)

Helicobacter pylori is a Gram-negative, micro-aerophilic, motile, curved rod that inhabits the gastric mucosa of the human stomach. It chronically infects thousands of millions of people world-wide, and is one of the most genetically diverse of bacterial species. Infection with the bacterium leads to chronic gastritis, peptic ulceration, gastric cancers and gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid-tissue (MALT) lymphoma. The prevalence of infection appears to be partly determined by geographical and socio-demographic factors, being higher in Africa than elsewhere.

Current treatment, based on potent combinations that each consist of a proton-pump inhibitor and two antibiotics, is successful in 80%-90% of patients. Some undesirable side-effects, poor patient compliance and drug resistance are, however, associated with significant levels of treatment failure and with contra-indications for some patients.

Antibiotic resistance in H. pylori is a growing global concern that merits the urgent attention of public-health authorities. Numerous pieces of clinical evidence have revealed that eradication of the organism from a patient results in improvement of gastritis and drastically decreases the frequency of relapse of gastric and duodenal ulcers. Natural products, including medicinal plants and honey, may offer useful alternatives in the treatment of H. pylori-related infections.

UK Official Says Pesticides Not a Threat to Honey Bees

Government Rejects Calls to Ban Neonicotinoids
By Mary Clarke, Glee Birmingham (UK), 4/7/2009

The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Hilary Benn has rejected calls by the Soil Association to ban the use of Neonicotinoids, a type of insecticide that it claims kills honey bees.

The insecticide has been withdrawn from use and sale in France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia and the Soil Association is campaigning for the British Government to take the same action to stem the decline in honey bee populations…

Soil Association policy director Peter Melchett said: "While new funding and new research are welcome, it will not help if the Government ignores existing scientific evidence that has led other countries to ban chemicals known to kill bees.

"The Government prefers to blame ‘very wet weather’ and poor management by ‘less experienced beekeepers’ than to face their own responsibility to control bee-killing chemicals that have been used on up to 1.5 million acres of farmland in the UK."…

Honey Helps Weight Loss, Immune Response, Memory

Available at Your Pharmacy Now: Honey
By Julia Griffin, Miller-McCune, 4/3/2009

It's increasingly known that honey can act as a salve on the outside of the body, but tests performed on rats show honey's traditional healing properties really do work from the inside, too — aiding weight loss, immune response and even memory.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that two-thirds of Americans over the age of 20 are overweight. An Antipodean academic sees the shift toward diets high in sugar and fat, but low in actual nutrition, as a key factor in these rising rates.

Lynne Chepulis, who recently earned a Ph.D. from the University of Waikato in New Zealand (home of the highly regarded, and tasty, manuka honey), has spent the last 15 years researching the potential health benefits of honey — a natural associated with increased risks of Type II sweetener high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants with a low glycemic index. And she's just published a book on her findings, Healing Honey.

Foods with a high glycemic index contain carbohydrates that are easily broken down and absorbed more quickly into the blood stream than foods with a low GI. Diets containing large amounts of high GI foods are diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hyperglycemia. Because GI carbohydrates in the American diet primarily come from sugars, refined starches and grains, high GI diets also place individuals at risk for obesity.

Chepulis believes switching the "sweetness" of diets from sugar (high GI) to honey (low GI) may improve overall health, and her extensive research of rat diets has unveiled multiple benefits of honey previously unknown to science.

On multiple occasions, Chepulis found that rats fed honey-based diets had lower body weights and 10 percent less body fat than rats fed sugar diets — an effect observed in both juvenile rats given the diets for six weeks and adult rats fed the diets for a full year. The weights of honey-fed rats were similar to but still slightly less than the weight of rats given a sugar-free diet...

Chepulis also found that rats fed a honey-based diet had 15 to 20 percent higher HDL ("good") cholesterol. More research is needed to determine what factors are responsible because neither the observed weight loss nor the low GI value of honey can fully explain this effect…

In a 2007 study, Chepulis found a 12-month honey diet induces a significant boost to an adult rat's immune system in two similar but distinct ways…

An experiment on honey's impact on behavior found that honey-fed rats had better spatial memory and lower anxiety than rats fed either a sugar-based or sugar-free diet…

Chepulis said future studies are needed to determine the optimal fructose, antioxidant and enzyme content of honey, which varies depending on region and pollen type, and how food processing affects the health benefits of the sweet substance.

While her research has only dealt with rodents, Chepulis believes her results indicate that switching human diets from sugar to honey could have numerous health and cognitive benefits — especially since the rats in her experiments were all fed diets proportional in caloric and nutritional content to those of people…

Propolis Delays Onset of Kidney Damage Caused by Diabetes

Experimental Diabetic Nephropathy Can be Prevented by Propolis: Effect on Metabolic Disturbances and Renal Oxidative Parameters
Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol. 22, No. 2, April 2009

Oxidative stress may play a key role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Propolis and its extract have antioxidant properties. The effect of ethanolic extract of propolis against experimental diabetes mellitus-associated changes was examined…

These results may suggest a strong antioxidant effect of propolis which can ameliorate oxidative stress and delay the occurrence of diabetic nephropathy in diabetes mellitus.

In conclusion, propolis has an antioxidant effect which can decrease metabolic disturbances and oxidative stress that are associated with diabetes. Consumption of food and drink containing effective antioxidant agents as propolis may delay the onset and/or progression of diabetic nephropathy and delay the occurrence of diabetes-associated renal function impairment.

Propolis May Help Prevent Diabetes

Potential Antidiabetic and Hypolipidemic Effects of Propolis Extract in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Vol. 22, No. 2, April 2009

Free radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus leading to various complications including atherosclerosis. Propolis was reported to have oxygen radical scavenging activity. The present study was designed to investigate the possible antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP)…

Oral administration of propolis extract in doses of 100,200 & 300 mg/kg bwt improved the body and kidney weights, serum glucose, lipid profile, MDA and renal function tests. Renal GSH, SOD and CAT were significantly increased while MDA was markedly reduced. These results may suggest a strong antioxidant effect of propolis which can ameliorate oxidative stress and delay the occurrence of diabetic nephropathy in diabetes mellitus…

In conclusion, EEP offers a promising therapeutic value in prevention of diabetes and dyslipidemic profile. These effects could be mainly attributed to its antioxidant properties as shown by significant quenching impact on the extent of lipid peroxidation along with, enhancement of antioxidant defense systems in pancreatic tissue. Further studies will be needed in future to determine the main active ingredient having the beneficial antidiabetic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects.

Honey a Promising Candidate for Colon Cancer Prevention

Honey Constituents and Their Apoptotic Effect in Colon Cancer Cells
Journal of ApiProduct & ApiMedical Science, Vol. 1 (2) pp. 29 - 36

Honey finds a vital role in various applications using its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Our objective was to study the constituents and explore the apoptotic effect of the selected crude honey samples in colon cancer cell lines namely HCT 15 and HT 29…

MTT assay revealed the honey sample containing higher phenolic content showed significant anti-proliferative effect against colon cancer cells. Propidium iodide (PI) staining of 3 % honey treated cells indicated a significant number of cells accumulating in Sub-G1 phase (indicator of apoptosis) after 24 hours. Further, in HT 29 cells, honey elevated the caspase-3 level and displayed typical ladder pattern confirming apoptosis. Most of the drugs used in the cancer are apoptotic inducers, hence apoptotic nature of honey is considered vital…

Four kinds of honey from various geographical locations were analysed. The phenolic content, functional groups and flouorophore present in the honey varied among the samples…Further research illustrated that honey-induced apoptosis in colon cancer cells depends upon the concentration of the honey and the cell line tested. Moreover apoptosis inducing ability of all honey types were different. Samples showing higher phenolic content and tryptophan residues displayed significant anti-proliferative potential. Cell cycle analysis suggested honey induces apoptosis by arresting the cells at sub-G1 phase.

Moreover, DNA ladder and activation of caspase-3 were found to be associated with honey induced apoptosis. Since most of the drugs used for cancer therapy are apoptotic inducers, apoptotic nature of honey is considered vital. Detailed investigation of mechanism behind the honey-induced apoptosis is in progress in our laboratory to further validate crude honey as a promising candidate for colon cancer prevention.

Video: Man Survives 3,000 Bee Stings

Phoenix, AZ. -- A Nevada man is recovering in a Phoenix, Arizona hospital after he was stung 3,000 times by a swarm of killer bees.

Re-Branded Latin American Honey Cough Syrup Boosts Sales

P&G's Trickle-Up Success: Sweet as Honey
Vicks Cough Syrup with Honey started out as a Latin American product, but Procter & Gamble saw an opportunity to offer it in richer markets
By Reena Jana, Business Week, 3/31/2009

A new over-the-counter medicine from Vicks that has become popular in Switzerland in the past year isn't as new as it seems. The product, Vicks Cough Syrup with Honey, is really just the latest version of an elixir that Vicks parent Procter & Gamble (PG) initially created for lower-income consumers in Mexico­ and then "trickled up" to richer lands...

Honey Cough originated in 2003 in P&G's labs in Caracas, Venezuela, which creates products for all of Latin America. Market researchers found that Latin American shoppers tended to prefer homeopathic remedies for coughs and colds. So they set out to create a medicine using natural honey rather than artificial flavors typically used. P&G introduced the syrup in Mexico first, under the label VickMiel, and then in other Latin American markets such as Brazil.

P&G wagered that the product could appeal to parts of the U.S. that have large Hispanic populations. In 2005, the company rebranded it as Vicks Casero for sale in California and Texas, at a price slightly less than Vicks' mainstay product, Vicks Formula 44. P&G won't release sales figures, but within the first year of its release the Cincinnati company boosted distribution to 27% more outlets…

Propolis a Valuable Source of New Bioactive Molecules

Chemical Diversity of Propolis Makes it a Valuable Source of New Biologically Active Compounds
Journal of ApiProduct and ApiMedical Science, 1 (2): 23 - 28 (2009)

Propolis with its diverse pharmacological activities and low toxicity has attracted the attention of modern scientists since about 50 years. However, propolis, or bee glue, has demonstrated remarkable chemical variability, which is a serious obstacle to its standardization and consequently, to its official acceptance into the main stream of our healthcare system.

On the other hand, the variation in the chemistry of propolis from different ecosystems has made it a source of new biologically active molecules, mainly antioxidative, antibacterial and anticancer agents. The most important recent findings concerning bioactive molecules isolated from propolis are reviewed and discussed here…

Research into propolis has revealed the pharmacological properties of substances previously known as plant secondary metabolites, but insufficiently evaluated. Analysis of propolis has also led to the discovery of many valuable plant substances that otherwise might not have been found. This is due to the ability of honeybees to find, in whatever environment they inhabit, sources of substances in plants that provide an efficient protection of their hives from infections and from the elements of weather.

Obviously, the study of bee glue and the search for plants used by bees for propolis collection in tropical, subtropical and even northern regions has the potential to uncover new biologically active compounds with important pharmacological effects, especially antibacterial, antioxidant and anticancer substances. For this reason, new types of propolis from unexplored regions will continue to attract growing interest among scientists searching for new bioactive molecules.

UK Company Offers Honey Pills to Soothe Stomach Complaints

The Sun (UK), 4/2/09

AND for those too lazy to open a jar, HONEY PILLS were launched this week by the company Lifeplan.

The tablets contain half a gram of manuka honey, which studies suggest may have antibacterial properties and help to soothe stomach complaints.

According to the manufacturers, some people can’t stomach the taste of manuka honey, which is different to the normal stuff. So they’ve bunged it into a tablet...

Royal Jelly Protein Inhibits Growth of American Foulbrood Bacteria

Towards Functional Proteomics of Minority Component of Honeybee Royal Jelly: The Effect of Post-Translational Modifications on the Antimicrobial Activity of Apalbumin2
PROTEOMICS, 25 Mar 2009

This study illustrates multifunctionality of proteins of honeybee royal jelly (RJ) and how their neofunctionalization result from various PTMs of maternal proteins.

Major proteins of RJ, designated as apalbumins belong to a protein family consisting of nine members with Mr of 49-87 kDa and they are accompanied by high number of minority homologs derived from maternal apalbumins.

In spite of many data on diversity of apalbumins, the molecular study of their individual minority homologous is still missing. This work is a contribution to functional proteomics of second most abundant protein of RJ apalbumin2 (Mr 52.7 kDa).

We have purified a minority protein from RJ; named as apalbumin2a, differ from apalbumin2 in Mr (48.6 kDa), in N-terminal amino acids sequences - ENSPRN and in N-linked glycans. Characterization of apalbumin2a by LC-MALDI TOF/TOF MS revealed that it is a minority homolog of the major basic royal jelly protein, apalbumin2, carrying two fully occupied N-glycosylation sites, one with high-mannose structure, HexNAc2Hex9, and another carrying complex type antennary structures, HexNAc4Hex3 and HexNAc5Hex4.

We have found that apalbumin2a inhibit growth of Paenibacillus larvae. The obtained data call attention to functional plasticity of RJ proteins with potential impact on functional proteomics in medicine.

Honey Penetrates Bacteria Biofilm

Bacteria, Biofilm and Honey: A Study of the Effects of Honey on 'Planktonic' and Biofilm-Embedded Chronic Wound Bacteria
Scand J Infect Dis, 2009 Mar 23:1-7

Chronically infected wounds are a costly source of suffering. An important factor in the failure of a sore to heal is the presence of multiple species of bacteria, living cooperatively in highly organized biofilms. The biofilm protects the bacteria from antibiotic therapy and the patient's immune response.

Honey has been used as a wound treatment for millennia. The components responsible for its antibacterial properties are now being elucidated. The study aimed to determine the effects of different concentrations of 'Medihoney' therapeutic honey and Norwegian Forest Honey 1) on the real-time growth of typical chronic wound bacteria; 2) on biofilm formation; and 3) on the same bacteria already embedded in biofilm.

Reference strains of MRSE, MRSA, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were incubated with dilution series of the honeys in microtitre plates for 20 h. Growth of the bacteria was assessed by measuring optical density every 10 min. Growth curves, biofilm formation and minimum bactericidal concentrations are presented.

Both honeys were bactericidal against all the strains of bacteria. Biofilm was penetrated by biocidal substances in honey. Reintroduction of honey as a conventional wound treatment may help improve individual wound care, prevent invasive infections, eliminate colonization, interrupt outbreaks and thereby preserve current antibiotic stocks.