Stingless Bee Honey May Help Relieve Symptoms and Problems of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

In Vitro Modulation of Endogenous Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Oxidative Stress in Autism Lymphoblastoid Cell Line (ALCL) by Stingless Bee Honey Treatment

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2020 Dec 1;2020:4539891

Autism has been associated with a low antioxidant defense mechanism, while honey has been known for decades for its antioxidant and healing properties. Determination of stingless bee honey (KH) effects on antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidative damage in Autism Lymphoblastoid Cell Line (ALCL) was performed. 

ALCL and its normal sibling pair (NALCL) were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium at 37°C and 5% CO2. ALCL was treated with 400 μg/mL KH (24 h), and oxidative stress marker, malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage was determined via comet assay. 

Low SOD activity (p < 0.05) and high MDA level (p < 0.05) were observed in ALCL compared to NALCL. Higher grade (Grades 2 and 3) of DNA damage was highly observed (p < 0.05) in ALCL compared to NALCL, whereas lower grade (Grades 0 and 1) DNA damage was highly detected (p < 0.05) in NALCL compared to ALCL. KH treatment caused a significant increase in SOD and GPx activities (p < 0.05) in ALCL compared to untreated ALCL. 

Correspondingly, KH treatment reduced the Grade 2 DNA damage (p < 0.05) in ALCL compared to untreated ALCL. CAT activity showed no significant difference between all three groups, while the MDA level showed no significant difference between treated and untreated ALCL. 

In conclusion, KH treatment significantly reduced the oxidative stress in ALCL by increasing the SOD and GPx antioxidant enzyme activities, while reducing the DNA damage...

Conclusions

KH, an antioxidant-rich natural product, has a high potential in alleviating oxidative stress, reducing the oxidative damage, and may help to improve the symptoms and problems of ASD.

Propolis and Bee Pollen May Help Treat High Cholesterol (Excess Triglycerides) and Liver Damage Caused by Type-2 Diabetes

Effect of antioxidant-rich propolis and bee pollen extracts against D-glucose induced type 2 diabetes in rats

Highlights

• Propolis and bee pollen have high antioxidant ability.
• Naringin and Apigenin were the most abundant polyphenolic compounds in propolis and bee pollen, respectively.
• 16 weeks of treatment with D-glucose led to type 2-diabetes, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hepato-renal damage.
• Propolis and bee pollen attenuated the deleterious effects induced by D-glucose.

The present study was designed to investigate the preventive effect of propolis, bee pollen and their combination on Type 2 diabetes induced by D-glucose in rats. 

The study was carried out by feeding daily two concentrations (100 and 200 mg/Kg BW) of propolis or bee pollen (or their combination to normal (non-diabetic) and diabetic rats for a period of 16 weeks. In vivo biochemical changes associated to diabetes are induced by drinking a solution containing 10% of D-glucose (diabetic rats). The in vitro antioxidant activity was also evaluated and the chemical composition of propolis and bee pollen extracts was determined by UHPLC-DAD. 

Phytochemical composition of propolis and bee pollen revealed the presence of several natural antioxidants, such as hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids, flavonoids, flavan-3-ols and stilbens. The major antioxidant compound present in propolis was Naringin (290.19 ± 0.2 mg/Kg) and in bee pollen was apigenin (162.85 ± 17.7 mg/Kg). 

These results have been related with a high antioxidant activity, more intense in propolis extract. In rats, the administration of D-glucose had induced hyperglycemia (13.2 ± 0.82 mmol/L), increased plasmatic insulin levels (25.10 ± 2.12 U/L) and HOMA-IR index (14.72 ± 0.85) accompanied with dyslipidemia, elevation of hepatic enzyme levels, and a change in both serum renal biomarkers and plasmatic calcium. 

The co-administration of propolis and bee pollen extracts alone or in combination restored these biochemical parameters and attenuated the deleterious effects of D-glucose on liver and kidney functions. Furthermore, these effects were better attenuated in the combined therapy-prevented diabetic rats. Hence, it is possible to conclude that propolis and bee pollen can be used as a preventive natural product against diabetes induced dyslipidemia and hepato-renal damage.

Red Propolis May Be Used to Treat Schistosomiasis (Snail Fever, Bilharzia)

In vitro studies and experiments with mice show that the natural extract was more effective than the only drug available to combat this parasitic disease.

Well-known for its bactericidal and anti-fungal properties, Brazilian red propolis has now been found to act powerfully against the parasite that causes schistosomiasis, reducing the number of eggs and killing the helminths (worms).

In experiments performed at Universidade Guarulhos (UnG) in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, with FAPESP’s support, 400 milligrams per kilogram of body weight was a sufficient dose of red propolis to reduce the parasite load by more than 60% in mice infected with the flatworm Schistosoma mansoni. It was equally effective against the immature and adult stages of the parasite. In vitro tests also showed that red propolis blocked reproduction and oviposition (egg-laying).

“Propolis, especially the red variety, is well-known for its action against bacteria and fungi. It protects the beehive from intruders, and we expected that some of its more than 20 substances would act against parasitic infectious agents. What surprised us was that it disrupted the worm’s integument and killed adult as well as immature worms, which the conventional treatment for schistosomiasis doesn’t do,” said Josué de Moraes, a professor at UnG and last author of the article on the study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

The results of all the tests suggest red propolis may be more effective to treat schistosomiasis than the only pharmaceutical product available for this purpose. Before red propolis can be prescribed for patients, of course, it must be tested in clinical trials on humans with the disease...

Heat Treatment Decreases Antibacterial Activity of Honey

Antimicrobial activity of heat-treated Polish honeys

Food Chem. 2020 Nov 17;128561

Bactericidal properties of honey depend on botanical and geographical origin, where thermal treatment can have a significant affect. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature on minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), vitamin C content, total polyphenols content and antioxidant capacity of ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) of several nectar honey varieties from northern Poland (lime, rapeseed, multifloral and buckwheat). The honeys were subjected to thermal treatment at 22 °C, 42 °C, 62 °C, 82 °C and 100 °C for two exposure times. The results showed a significant reduction of antimicrobial properties (MBC ⩾ 50%) at 82 °C and 62 °C after 15 and 120 min exposure time for most samples. Short time exposure reduced vitamin C content (⩽ 50 %) but increased total polyphenols content (⩾ 27%) and FRAP value (⩾ 106%).

Bee Venom May Help Treat Arthritis (Osteoarthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Pain, Stiffness, Swelling, Inflammation)

Investigation of anti-inflammatory effects of bee venom in experimentally induced adjuvant arthritis

Reumatologia. 2020;58(5):265-271

Abstract

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis is a multisystemic inflammatory disease characterized by destruction of the joints. An effective treatment method of the disease has not been developed yet. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects of bee (Apis mellifera anatoliaca) venom (BV) on serum inflammatory parameters, serum antioxidant load and clinical parameters of experimentally induced adjuvant arthritis in rats.

Material and methods: A total of 35 Wistar albino male rats were used. The animals were divided into 5 groups. First group animals served as negative controls. The second, third, fourth and fifth groups were used for experimental arthritis induction. Following clinical development of arthritis, the first group was subcutaneously administered 0.2 ml of physiological saline, and the second, third and fourth groups were treated subcutaneously with 2 µg/kg, 4 µg/kg and 20 µg/kg once a week three times. Physiological saline injected fifth group animals were used as a sham-treatment group. Clinical observations and evaluation of arthritis were made at the 15th day, and at the end of the experiment. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase, paraoxonase, serum aryl esterase, high-sensitivity C reactive protein, interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were determined in cardiac blood samples taken at the end of the 29th day.

Results: From the data, total oxidant level (TOL) and oxidative stress index (OSI) were calculated. Significant improvements were observed in the clinical signs of arthritis and inflammatory markers such as in IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 and TOL and OSI in the 20.0 µg/kg BV-administered group. Bee venom administration did not cause any significant increase in ALT and AST values or signs of liver toxicity.

Conclusions: Bee venom treatment was effective in alleviation of symptoms of the experimental rat adjuvant arthritis by means of clinical observation and serum inflammatory markers.

Bee Bread, Bee Pollen Show Antimicrobial Activity

Bee-collected pollen (BCP) is a well-known functional food. Honey bees process the collected pollen and store it in the hive, inside the comb cells. The processed pollen is called bee- bread or ambrosia and it is the main source of proteins, lipids, vitamins, macro-and micro-elements in honey bee nutrition. During storage, beebread undergoes solid state fermentation which preserves it and increases the bioavailability of nutrients. Research on beebread has been rather limited until now. In recent years, there is an increasing interest regarding the antimicrobial properties of BCP and beebread, due to emerging antimicrobial resistance by pathogens. Both BCP and beebread exhibit antimicrobial properties against diverse pathogens, like bacteria and fungi. As is the case with other bee products, lack of antimicrobial resistance might be attributed to the synergy of more than one antimicrobial compounds within BCP and beebread. Furthermore, BCP and bee bread exert targeted activity against pathogens and affect the host microbiome in a prebiotic manner. This review aims to present up to date research findings regarding these aspects as well as to discuss current challenges and future perspectives in the field.

...BCP or BB demonstrate selective antimicrobial activity that is usually higher against Gram-positive compared to Gram-negative bacteria. Strain specificity should be further investigated to identify BCP/BB compounds responsible for that. In that respect more studies should be conducted towards exploring synergy of BCP and BB extracts (or compounds detected within) and antibiotics. This synergy could prevent or delay microbial resistance which is a major public health issue.

Invitation to the Online Romanian Apitherapy Congress, Nov. 20-22, 2020

The Romanian Apitherapy Society is offering next week-end (November 20-22), through ZOOM online platform, free access to our international speakers and regular participants.

For more details please check our website: http://www.apiterapie.ro/en/the-xiii-th-romanian-apitherapy-congress/

Please share this info with all your best friends and colleagues from your own national Apitherapy Associations/groups.

We have a limited number of seats in the conference room, so hurry-up with your registration.

Best regards from Romania,

Yours all,

Dr. Stefan Stangaciu

E-mail: drstangaciu@gmail.com + drstangaciu@apitherapy.com

How to Make Homemade Antibiotic with Turmeric and Honey

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of turmeric
• 100 grams of honey (Buckwheat Honey is Great) 

Instructions:

In a glass jar, mix the ingredient, and stir well.

Take a tablespoon of the remedy on every hour to treat the flu. Do not swallow it immediately, but leave it to melt in the mouth. On the next day, take the same amount but on every 2 hours, and repeat on the third day, taking it only three times daily.

You can also add it to your tea or milk.

Propolis Spray Helps Treat Viral and Bacterial Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (COVID, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Pandemic)

A standardized polyphenol mixture extracted from poplar-type propolis for remission of symptoms of uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection (URTI): A monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Phytomedicine. 2020 Oct 8;80:153368. 

Abstract

Background: The most common symptoms of mild upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are sore throat, muffled dysphonia, and swelling and redness of the throat, which result from the inflammation process following acute bacterial or viral infection.

Hypothesis/purpose: As propolis is a natural resinous substance traditionally used to maintain oral cavity and upper respiratory tract health due to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, the aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an oral spray based on poplar-type propolis extract with a known and standardized polyphenol content, on the remission of the symptoms associated with mild uncomplicated URTIs.

Study design: A monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed.

Methods: This study was conducted in 122 healthy adults who had perceived mild upper respiratory tract infections. Participants, randomly assigned to receive either propolis oral spray (N = 58) or placebo (N = 64), underwent four visits (baseline = t0, after 3 days = t1 and after 5 days = t2 and after a follow-up of 15 days = t3) in an outpatient setting. Propolis oral spray total polyphenol content was 15 mg/ml. The dosage was 2-4 sprays, corresponding to 12-24 mg of polyphenols, three times for five days. The duration of the study was 8 weeks.

Results: After 3 days of treatment, 83% of subjects treated with propolis oral spray had remission of symptoms, while 72% of subjects in the placebo group had at least one remaining symptom. After five days, all subjects had recovered from all symptoms. This means that resolution from mild uncomplicated URTIs took place two days earlier, instead of taking place in five days as recorded in the control group. There was no relationship between the ingestion of propolis oral spray or placebo and adverse reactions.

Conclusion: Propolis oral spray can be used to improve both bacterial and viral uncomplicated URTI symptoms in a smaller number of days without the use of pharmacological treatment, leading to a prompt symptom resolution.

Italian Bee Pollens Show Antioxidant, Nutraceutical Properties (B2, B3, B6, B9, Amino Acids, Polyphenols, Flavonoids, Omega-3, Omega-6)

Antioxidant, Nutraceutical Properties, and Fluorescence Spectral Profiles of Bee Pollen Samples from Different Botanical Origins

Antioxidants (Basel), 2020 Oct 15;9(10):E1001

Bee pollen is made by honey bees (Apis Mellifera) from the pollen of plants and flowers and represents an apiary product enriched in essential amino acids, polyphenols, omega-3, and omega-6 fatty acids. 

This study investigated the botanical origin, micronutrient profile, and antioxidant activity of bee pollen samples (n = 10) harvested in Lucca and Massa Carrara (Tuscany, Italy) between 2016 and 2017. The palynological analysis showed that bee pollen samples were composed of nine botanical families. Front-face fluorescence spectroscopy was performed on bee pollen samples in bulk, without any treatment, and in ethanol extracts to determine the characteristic fluorescent profile and, to identify the main chemical compounds with biological activity. 

The main chemical compounds detected were polyphenols (mainly flavonoids and phenolic acids), hydro-soluble vitamins (B2, B3, B6, and B9), amino acids, and pigments. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity was investigated, and one of the two Viburnum pollens resulted in the highest polyphenols and flavonoids content (20.15 ± 0.15 mg GAE/g fw and 23.46 ± 0.08 mg CE/g fw, respectively). However, Prunus and Eucalyptus families showed the highest in vitro (190.27 ± 8.30 µmol Fe2+/g) and ex vivo (54.61 ± 8.51 CAA unit) antioxidant capacity, respectively. 

These results suggested that Tuscan bee pollen, depending on the botanical family, is rich in essential nutrients and potential nutraceutical product.

Bee Venom Therapy Used to Treat Pain

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Bee Pollen and Propolis May Help Treat Breast Cancer

Water-soluble propolis and bee pollen of Trigona spp. from South Sulawesi Indonesia induce apoptosis in the human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line

Oncol Lett. 2020 Nov;20(5):274

Bee products are best known as one of the beneficial natural products providing multiple pharmacological effects, such as antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. The present study aimed to identify potent products derived from the stingless bee Trigona spp. from Luwu Utara (South Sulawesi, Indonesia), focussing on the water-soluble extract of propolis and bee pollen, against the proliferation of the human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line.

The results from DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method of antioxidant assay revealed that water-soluble propolis and bee pollen had high antioxidant activity, with half-maximal effective concentrations against DPPH radicals of 1.3 and 0.4 mg/ml, respectively...

The present results suggested that water-soluble propolis and bee pollen may have the potential to be elaborated further as a breast anticancer therapy.

Preparing Bee Bread Caviar from Buckwheat Honey

Preparation of Beebread Caviar from Buckwheat Honey through Immobilization with Sodium Alginate

Molecules. 2020 Sep 29;25(19):E4483.

Honeys have a pleasant taste and a wide range of use. They are characterized by a relatively high consumption compared to bee pollen or beebread. Honeys are the most popular bee products. Considering health reasons, beebread exhibits the strongest properties as it has the highest nutritional value as well as strong detoxifying, antioxidant, and antiradical properties. Despite having such valuable properties, consumption of beebread is negligible; sometimes, it is limited only to supplementation in case of diseases. This paper proposes a new food product, that is, beebread caviar made from buckwheat honey. The expiry date and sensory and physicochemical quality of beebread caviar have been determined in this study. Beebread caviar, obtained by immobilization on alginate carrier, contained 0.34 mg GAE/mL extract. It remained stable until five days after preparation. Its total acidity was 33.7 mval/kg. Its extract content was 22.53%. Caviar had a high overall sensory score of 4.8 points on a 5-point scale. Beebread caviar can be successfully classified as probiotic food because beebread contains a large amount of lactic acid. In the form of caviar, a new, attractive, and convenient form of beebread consumption could become one of the products of comfortable and functional food.

Apitherapy Could Mitigate Some Risks Associated with COVID‐19/Coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2, Treatment, Prophylactic)

Bee products as a source of promising therapeutic and chemoprophylaxis strategies against COVID‐19 (SARS‐CoV‐2)

Phytotherapy Research

The emergence of novel coronavirus (SARS‐CoV‐2) in 2019 in China marked the third outbreak of a highly pathogenic coronavirus infecting humans. The novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) spread worldwide, becoming an emergency of major international concern. However, even after a decade of coronavirus research, there are still no licensed vaccines or therapeutic agents to treat the coronavirus infection.

In this context, apitherapy presents as a promising source of pharmacological and nutraceutical agents for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of COVID‐19. For instance, several honeybee products, such as honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, beeswax, and bee venom, have shown potent antiviral activity against pathogens that cause severe respiratory syndromes, including those caused by human coronaviruses. In addition, the benefits of these natural products to the immune system are remarkable, and many of them are involved in the induction of antibody production, maturation of immune cells, and stimulation of the innate and adaptive immune responses.

Thus, in the absence of specific antivirals against SARS‐CoV‐2, apitherapy could offer one hope toward mitigating some of the risks associated with COVID‐19...

Bee products are known for their several medicinal and pharmaceutical properties, which have been explored since the beginning of society. Of these, the antiviral effect and the ability to stimulate the immune system using bee products stand out as potentially promising alternative in the therapy of severe viral respiratory infections, such as COVID‐19.

Moreover, except for bee venom, apicomplexes are generally well tolerated and readily available, which can contribute to wide access in times of pandemic. The immunomodulatory, antiviral, anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and pro‐resolving effects of different bee products and their chemical components can be useful in prophylaxis, specific treatment, and even symptomatic treatment of COVID‐19. However, the number of current evidence is overwhelming, and large randomized and controlled clinical trials should be conducted to assess the real benefit of apitherapy against SARS‐CoV‐2.

In this direction, here, we present the numerous possibilities of apitherapy in combating COVID‐19 and highlight the importance of bee products as a promising source of therapeutic and prophylactic strategies against this emergent public health crisis.

Apitherapy Clinic Opened in Canada to Treat Lyme Disease, Arthritis, Immune Disorders

Niagara man builds plan for new clinic on the backs of bees

Gord Howard

His father and grandfather were beekeepers back in Paraguay. Unger, who came to Canada in 1974, keeps about five million of them in hives at BY’s Honey Farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

He takes a bit of honey every day like a daily vitamin, and is a firm believer that bees and their byproducts can help help the body heal both physically and mentally.

Later this month he will open what he believes will be Canada’s first apitherapy clinic, using bee venom to ease the pain of people suffering a wide variety of ailments including Lyme disease, arthritis and an immune system weakened by chemotherapy...