Manuka Honey as Cancer-Fighting Agent

UAEU research into curative properties of Manuka honey reaches new breakthrough

The National

A UAE University team has found that Manuka honey effectively inhibits the growth of a variety of cancerous cells. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National
The beneficial health effects of high-quality honey have long been documented by researchers.

As Philip McCabe, president of the world beekeeping federation likes to say, “Honey was a medicine before medicine was even invented.”

Scholars at the United Arab Emirates University recently reached a new breakthrough in their years-long study of Manuka honey as a cancer-fighting agent.

The research team, led by Dr Basel Al-Ramadi, professor of cancer immunology at UAEU, discovered that Manuka honey — when injected as part of a medical concoction — helped combat the growth of several types of cancer cells....

Bee Venom May Help Treat Internal Parasites

Low virulence potential and in vivo transformation ability in the honey bee venom treated Clinostomum complanatum

Exp Parasitol. 2017 Oct 22. pii: S0014-4894(17)30456-3

The helminth parasites possess great capabilities to adapt themselves within their hosts and also develop strategies to render the commonly used anthelmintics ineffective leading to the development of resistance against these drugs. Besides using anthelmintics the natural products have also been tested for their anti-parasitic effects.

Therapeutic efficacy of honey bee venom (HBV) has been tested in various ailments including some protozoal infections but very little is known about its anthelmintic properties.

To investigate the anthelmintic effect of HBV the excysted progenetic metacercariae of Clinostomum complanatum, a heamophagic, digenetic trematode with zoonotic potential, infecting a wide variety of hosts, were obtained from Trichogaster fasciatus, a forage fish, which serves as the intermediate host. The metacercarial worms were in vitro incubated in RPMI-1640 medium containing HBV along with the controls which were devoid of HBV for the analysis of worm motility, enzyme activity, polypeptide profile and surface topographical changes. The motility of the worms was significantly reduced in a time dependent manner with an increase in the concentration of HBV.

Following incubation of worms the release of cysteine proteases was inhibited in the presence of HBV as revealed by gelatine substrate gel zymography. As well as the polypeptide profile was also significantly influenced, particularly intensity/expression of Mr 19.4 kDa, 24 kDa and 34 kDa was significantly reduced upon HBV treatment. The HBV treatment also inhibited antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) significantly (p < 0.05) in the worms.

The scanning electron microscopy of the HBV treated worms revealed tegumental disruptions and erosion of papillae as well as spines showing vacuolation in the tegument. The HBV treated worms also showed a marked decline in the transformation rate when introduced into an experimental host which further reflect the anthelmintic potential of HBV.

Bee Pollen, Propolis Boost Immune Response

Blood Hematological and Biochemical Constituents, Antioxidant Enzymes, Immunity and Lymphoid Organs of Broiler Chicks Supplemented with Propolis, Bee Pollen and Mannan Oligosaccharides Continuously or Intermittently

Poult Sci. 2017 Oct 10

This study investigate the effect of bee pollen (BP) and/or propolis (Pro) as an alternative to Mannan oligosaccharides (Bio-MOS, a hydrolyzed yeast with natural and artificial flavors Alltech Inc) when given continuously or intermittently on antioxidant enzymes, immunity, weight and morphology of lymphoid organs of broilers.

Thus, 324 unsexed one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly distributed into nine treatment groups, each replicated 6 times of 6 birds per replicate. The chicks were kept in wire cages and fed the same basal diet and were submitted to the following treatments: control without supplementation (control) or supplemented with BP at 300 mg, Pro at 300 mg, BP+Pro at 300 mg each and Bio-MOS at 0.5 g/kg diet.

Each supplemented group was subdivided into two subgroups in which the additives were supplied continuously or intermittently. In the continuously supplemented groups, supplementations were given from one till 36 days of age, and in the intermittently supplemented groups, the administration was only three days before, on the day of and day after vaccination. The BP and Pro supplied continuously or intermittently was equally potent for improving immunity, antioxidant enzymes similar to Bio-MOS. All supplements supplied either continuously or intermittently resulted a significantly higher thymus (P < .04) and bursa weights (P < .001) than the control group.

Combining BP with Pro resulted in a further increase in thymus weights and small follicle diameter compared to the control group. In addition, thymus percentage in the group received BP+Pro showed a further increase compared to the control and Pro supplemented intermittently. Bio-MOS, when supplied continuously or intermittently, resulted in the greatest response in splenic lymphoblasts.

Supplementation with either BP or Pro intermittently, is adequate to promote health and immune response of broiler chicks, with 40% saving of supplementation costs.

Ultrasound Treatment is Recommended Over Thermal Processing of Honey

Effects of ultrasound and high pressure on physicochemical properties and HMF formation in Turkish honey types

Journal of Food Engineering
Volume 219, February 2018, Pages 129-136

In industrial production, thermal processing of honey at 50 °C commonly induces liquefaction, i.e. it reduces the crystal count and viscosity and delays any subsequent crystallization. Unfortunately, thermal treatment can generate toxic 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), thereby resulting in quality reduction.

Considering this, the present work aims at evaluating the influence of (two) processing technologies as alternatives to thermal processing of honey, namely high hydrostatic pressure (HHP; P = 220–330 MPa, T = 50/60 °C, t = 23/106 min), and ultrasound processing (US; at 24 kHz). The quality parameters evaluated for honey included liquefaction time, HMF content, diastase number, colour and viscosity. The best process conditions for maximising liquefaction were found to be P = 220 MPa, T = 50 °C, t = 106 min for HHP, and a 7 mm probe with 0.5 cycles (batch) for US treatment.

US treatment is recommended over thermal processing owing to the convenience, shorter processing times, and less quality loss. Likewise, HHP treatment was shorter and with lower HMF values than thermal processing. In conclusion, ultrasound and HHP are both potential alternatives to thermal processing for liquefaction of honey crystals.

Propolis, Honey Component May Help Treat Parkinson's Disease

Protective role of chrysin on 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurodegeneration a mouse model of Parkinson's disease: Involvement of neuroinflammation and neurotrophins

Chem Biol Interact. 2017 Oct 17. pii: S0009-2797(17)30601-4

Chrysin is a natural flavonoid which is found in bee propolis, honey and various plants, and neuroprotective effect of chrysin in mice was previously demonstrated by our group. Neuroinflammation, neurotrophic factors and neuronal recovery factors associated with the neuroprotective effect of this flavonoid require further investigations.

Thus, now we investigated the possible involvement of inflammatory cytokines, neurotrophic factors and neuronal recovery in the effect of chrysin in 6-hydroxidopamine (6-OHDA), a well-established model of Parkinson's disease, in striatum of mice. The 6-OHDA microinjection induced behavioral alterations on the rotarod test and apomorphine-induced circling behavior in mice. 6-OHDA administration elevated levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-gamma, interleukin-1β, interleukin-2, interleukin-6 and nuclear factor-kappa B and decreased the interleukin-10 levels, total reactive antioxidant potential and total antioxidant reactivity in striatum, as well as, modified the calcium-binding protein B (S100B), brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor levels. The intrastriatal injection of 6-OHDA also induced an decrease of dopamine, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, homovanylic acid levels and tyrosine hydroxylase content. Oral treatment with chrysin (10 mg/kg, 28 days), culminated with the prevention of these alterations occasioned by 6-OHDA.

These results corroborated with the neuroprotective effect of chrysin in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and, indicated the mechanism involved throught the inflammatory cytokines, neurotrophic factors and recovery of dopaminergic neurons in striatum.

Propolis Can Be Used as a Natural Additive Agent in Orange Juice or Other Fruit Juices

Preservation of orange juice using propolis

J Food Sci Technol. 2017 Oct;54(11):3375-3383

Orange juice is one of the most popular and the most consumed fruit juices all over the world, especially in Europe and the chemical food preservatives, such as sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate and their mixtures, have long been used in orange juice sold on the market. Excessive consumption of these preservatives may be hazardous to human health. Propolis, composed of resins collected from plant buds and exudates and mixed with salivary gland secretions and beeswax by honey bee workers, has been used as a human medicine and natural food preservative.

We hypothesis that propolis, without alcohol, can serve as an alternative and non-synthetic preservative of orange juice. In this study, the preservative effect of propolis emulsion on orange juice was determined up to 35 days. Propolis emulsion (0.02 g/mL propolis, 12 mL), emulsion control (12 mL containing Tween-80, hydrophilic phospholipid and polyethylene glycol 400), sodium benzoate (0.4 g) and potassium sorbate (0.4 g) was each added to 388, 388, 400 and 400 mL orange juice respectively.

Propolis emulsion showed significant inhibition of bacteria growth and l-ascorbic acid degradation. Orange juice pH value, titratable acidity, total phenolic content, color and antioxidant capacity were effectively maintained by propolis emulsion. A control solution with all the same emulsifying agents without propolis did not show these properties.

It was concluded that propolis can be used as a natural additive agent in orange juice or other fruit juices as an alternative to chemical preservatives.

Propolis, Royal Jelly, and Bee Venom May Help Treat High Blood Pressure

Anti-hypertensive and cardioprotective effects of a novel apitherapy formulation via upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α and -γ in spontaneous hypertensive rats

Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences

Available online 10 October 2017

Ventricular remodeling is associated with many heart diseases, and ventricular remodeling induced by hypertension can be fatal independent of hypertension. In this study, we prepared a novel apitherapy formulation, designated Bao-Yuan-Ling (BYL), which contained propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom, to treat spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs). We then evaluated the pharmacology of BYL and the potential mechanisms through which BYL affects hypertension and ventricular remodeling.

We found that BYL treatment could reduce blood pressure in SHRs. Thereafter, we found that BYL treatment reduced serum levels of angiotensin II, endothelin 1, and transforming growth factor-β and improved the myocardial structure. Moreover, the results of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction indicated that BYL treatment could upregulate the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-α and PPAR-γ.

Thus, we could conclude that BYL had hypotensive and cardioprotective effects in SHRs, potentially through improvement of myocardial energy metabolism.

Propolis Solution Helps Treat Chronic Periodontitis

One-stage Full Mouth Disinfection Using 20% Propolis Hydroalcoholic Solution: A Clinico-microbiologic Study

Contemp Clin Dent. 2017 Jul-Sep;8(3):416-420

BACKGROUND:

Propolis is a resinous substance produced by honeybees which has many therapeutic properties because of its unique composition. It has been widely used since many years for different medicinal purposes.

AIM:

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of one-stage full mouth disinfection (OSFMD) using 20% propolis hydroalcoholic solution in chronic periodontitis patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Thirty patients diagnosed with chronic periodontitis and presenting three or more nonadjacent teeth with deep pockets were selected for the study. Clinical parameters including gingival index, plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment level were recorded at baseline in all the patients followed by subgingival plaque sampling. All the thirty patients were randomly allocated into two groups; 15 patients (control group) were subjected to scaling and root planning (SRP) alone, and in remaining 15 patients (test group), SRP was done followed by OSFMD using 20% propolis hydroalcoholic solution after 24 h. All the patients were kept at periodic recall, and clinical and microbiological parameters were again taken at 4 weeks and 12 weeks.

RESULTS:

There was a significant improvement for all the clinical parameters, with higher probing depth reduction and attachment gain in the test group when compared to the control group. Furthermore, the microbiological counts of the periodontopathogens were found to decrease considerably more in the test group.

CONCLUSION:

SRP followed by OSFMD with propolis extract after 24 h was more effective than SRP alone in chronic periodontitis patients.

Medical-Grade Honey Dressing Use in Developing Countries

Adv Skin Wound Care. 2017 Nov;30(11):1-3

Compared with other medical honeys, SurgihoneyRO (H&R Healthcare Ltd, Southmoor, Abingdon, United Kingdom), a bioengineered medical-grade honey, delivers low concentrations of reactive oxygen to wounds over a sustained period.

This article describes how one provider, Dr Jill Brooks, has successfully used this new antimicrobial dressing in Africa and examines the potential positive impact this dressing could have on wound care in developing countries.

Honey Eye Drops Reduce Symptoms of Dry Eye in Contact Lens Wearers

Treatment of contact lens related dry eye with antibacterial honey

Cont Lens Anterior Eye. 2017 Oct 9. pii: S1367-0484(17)30017-6

AIM:

Contact lens induced dry eye affects approximately 50% of contact lens wearers. The aim was to assess the effects of Manuka (Leptospermum sp.) honey eye drops (Optimel, Melcare, Australia) on dry eye in contact lens wearers. The safety of the honey eye drops in contact lens wear and contact lens wearers' compliance were also evaluated.

DESIGN:

Prospective, randomised, cross over study, examiner masked, pilot treatment trial.

METHODS:

Twenty-four participants aged 20 to 55 years with contact lens related dry eye were recruited and randomised to two treatment groups; 20 completed the study. One group used Optimel eye drops twice a day for two weeks followed by conventional lubricant (Systane Ultra, Alcon) therapy for two weeks; the other group completed the treatments in the reverse order. Before and after each treatment dry eye symptomology, ocular surface inflammation, and tear quantity and quality were assessed. Participants completed a daily log detailing their usage of treatments and any issues.

RESULTS:

Dry eye symptoms improved significantly after Optimel treatment. Patients with more severe symptoms at baseline showed a greater improvement in symptoms. No significant differences were observed in the objective signs of dry eye; presumably because of the short treatment duration. Seventy-five% of contact lens wearers reported good adherence to Optimel treatment and 95% reported no issues using this product.

CONCLUSIONS:

Optimel Eye Drops reduce the symptoms of dry eye in contact lens wearers and are safe to use. A longer treatment period to assess the effect on clinical signs of dry eye is required.

New Findings on Biological Actions and Clinical Applications of Royal Jelly: A Review

J Diet Suppl. 2017 Oct 13:1-19

Royal jelly (RJ) is a natural bee product with great potential for use in medicine. The chemical composition of RJ indicates the presence of various bioactive substances including 10-hydroxydecanoic acid and 24-methylenecholesterol. In addition, a number of biological and pharmacological activities of RJ have been documented.

The aim of this study was to review the biological and medical effects of RJ. The search was conducted in articles from electronic and scientific literature databases such as Pub Med, Science Direct, Scopus, Medline, and ISI Web of Science published from 1990 to 2017 using keywords of pharmacological, biological, and clinical effects and royal jelly. Data were chosen after the primary survey of all abstracts and selected full articles. Comparison among related data was done by the authors. Literature has shown that RJ possesses many beneficial effects on biological systems. For example, the therapeutic uses of RJ have been reported in several diseases such as hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, hypertension, and cancers. It was also found to possess neurotrophic, hypotensive, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antihypercholesterolemic, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory effects.

Owing to the broad spectrum of biological effects and valuable clinical trials, evaluating the beneficial pharmaceutical effects of RJ in animal and human models seems to be important.

Research Project Looks at Anticancer Effect of Manuka and Strawberry Tree Honeys

Evaluation of the anticancer potential of Manuka and strawberry tree honey on a 3D model of colon cancer cells

Università Politecnica delle Marche
Italy
October 16 2017

The research project has the aim to evaluate in vitro the possible anticancer effect of two different kind of honey (Manuka and Strawberry tree honeys) in a 3D model of colon cancer cells. There should be evaluated markers of cytotoxicity, apoptosis, cell proliferation, cell migration and of cell metabolism; further studies will regards the role played by oxidative stress with special focus on the molecular mechanisms involved.

Lip Balm Containing Propolis Better Than Aciclovir Cream in Treating Cold Sores

Comparative Study with a Lip Balm Containing Propolis Special Extract GH 2002 0,5 % vs. Aciclovir Cream 5 % in Patients with Herpes labialis in the Papular / Erythematous stage. A Single-blind, Randomized Two-arm Study

Current Therapeutic Research

Available online 14 October 2017

Background and Objectives

This controlled single-blind trial compared the efficacy of a lip balm with propolis special extract GH 2002 at a concentration of 0.5 % in the treatment of episodes of Herpes labialis with that of aciclovir 5% cream.

Patients and Methods

Patients in the erythematous/papular stage were randomized to two groups: 189 patients were treated with propolis cream, 190 patients with aciclovir (ITT population). Application was five times daily. The primary parameter was the difference in median time to complete encrustation or epithelization of lesions. Secondary parameters were the development of typical Herpes symptoms (pain, burning and itching, tension and swelling), the global assessment of efficacy, and the safety of application.

Results

The predefined clinical situation was reached after a median of four days with propolis and after five days with aciclovir (p < 0.0001). Significant differences in favor of the study preparation were also found with all secondary parameters and symptoms. No allergic reactions, local irritations or other adverse events were observed.

Conclusions

Propolis GH 2002 extract lip balm 0.5 % was found superior in the treatment of episodes of Herpes labialis over aciclovir cream 5 % in patients in the papular/erythematous phase upon inclusion.

Pollen Diversity of Bee Bread Is Linked to Its Nutrient Content

Nutritional composition of honey bee food stores vary with floral composition

Oecologia, First Online: 14 October 2017

Sufficiently diverse and abundant resources are essential for generalist consumers, and form an important part of a suite of conservation strategies for pollinators. Honey bees are generalist foragers and are dependent on diverse forage to adequately meet their nutritional needs. Through analysis of stored pollen (bee bread) samples obtained from 26 honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) hives across NW-England, we quantified bee bread nutritional content and the plant species that produced these stores from pollen.

Protein was the most abundant nutrient by mass (63%), followed by carbohydrates (26%). Protein and lipid content (but not carbohydrate) contributed significantly to ordinations of floral diversity, linking dietary quality with forage composition. DNA sequencing of the ITS2 region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA gene identified pollen from 89 distinct plant genera, with each bee bread sample containing between 6 and 35 pollen types. Dominant genera included dandelion (Taraxacum), which was positively correlated with bee bread protein content, and cherry (Prunus), which was negatively correlated with the amount of protein. In addition, proportions of amino acids (e.g. histidine and valine) varied as a function of floral species composition.

These results also quantify the effects of individual plant genera on the nutrition of honey bees. We conclude that pollens of different plants act synergistically to influence host nutrition; the pollen diversity of bee bread is linked to its nutrient content. Diverse environments compensate for the loss of individual forage plants, and diversity loss may, therefore, destabilize consumer communities due to restricted access to alternative resources.

VIDEO: Gerard Butler Almost Had A Fatal Overdose...Of Bee Venom

By James McClure  |  Oct 13, 2017 

Gerard Butler is lucky to be alive after nearly suffering a fatal overdose...of bee venom. No, the Scottish actor wasn't partying too hard near an apiary when he decided to shoot up with stingers. He turned to venom to cope with the strain of working on the set of 'Geostorm,' which opens next weekend.

"I had a lot of inflammation," Butler told Seth Meyers yesterday. "I was hanging a lot on wires in this 65 pound space suit, and that's fine for a couple hours, but after five weeks, you're hurting."

So he turned to his nutritionist, who recommended taking bee venom, which supposedly has anti-inflammatory compounds that could've helped Butler battle through the gruelling shoot if it'd been injected properly. But the bee-venom dealer that he flew in wasn't very good at his job. And yes, Butler realizes how sketchy this whole situation sounds in retrospect...