Honey as medicine: historical perspectives Kuropatnicki, Andrzej K.; Kłósek, Małgorzata; Kucharzewski, Marek
Journal of apicultural research,
20/1/1/, Letnik:
57, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The use of honey as an internal and external health agent is much older than the history of medicine itself. The earliest recorded medical prescription including honey is from Sumer. Honey was used ...as a remedy against a variety of illnesses in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. There are frequent references to honey in sacred texts. Honey has a long tradition, not only in Western medicine but also in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. Honey was not commonly used by medical practitioners after the fall of the Roman Empire. In medieval times honey was not a popular subject of medical texts and very little was written on its use in that period. In the nineteenth century honey was neglected due to the development of modern synthetic medicine. Its comeback has, however, been observable as early as the beginnings of the twentieth century, and honey has been used again as a remedy for a variety of health problems and an excellent wound healer.
TRAIL (Tumor necrosis factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand) has the ability to selectively kill cancer cells without being toxic to normal cells. This endogenous ligand plays an important role in ...surveillance and anti-tumor immunity. However, numerous tumor cells are resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. In this study, the apoptotic effect of santin in combination with TRAIL on colon cancer cells was examined. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis and expression of death receptors (TRAIL-R1/DR4 and TRAIL-R2/DR5). Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) was evaluated by DePsipher staining with the use of fluorescence microscopy. We have shown for the first time that flavonoid santin synergizes with TRAIL to induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells. Santin induced TRAIL-mediated apoptosis through increased expression of death receptors TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 and augmented disruption of the mitochondrial membrane in SW480 and SW620 cancer cells. The obtained data may indicate the potential role of santin in colon cancer chemoprevention through the enhancement of TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.
Periodontal diseases are among the most common diseases of the oral cavity in the worldwide population. The prevention of gingivitis and periodontitis is based on the removal of bacterial plaque from ...the teeth with use of toothpaste containing active substances. Noteworthy is the ethanolic extract of Brazilian green propolis (EEP-B), which, due to the high content of artepillin C, has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, or immunostimulatory effects. Little is known about interactions between EEP-B and gingival fibroblasts within the oral cavity. The purpose of the article is to determine the role of acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF-1), E-selectin, and ligand of CD40 (CD40L) secreted by human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1) in the gingiva.
We performed our experiments on gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1), which are an ideal in vitro model for studying the processes taking place within the gingiva. We incubated cells with EEP-B or artepillin C at the concentrations of 1 µg/ml and 10 µg/ml. The aFGF-1, E-selectin, and CD40L were detected using the Bio-Plex Magnetic Luminex Assay and the Bio-Plex 200 System.
Ethanolic extract of Brazilian green propolis and artepillin C increased the levels of aFGF-1 secreted by HGF-1. Moreover, EEP-B decreased the levels of E-selectin in both tested concentrations, which was not proved for artepillin C. No changes in the concentration of CD40L released by HGF-1 were observed.
The obtained results may suggest that EEP-B, due to the mixture of various compounds including flavonoids, accelerates the wound healing effects and has anti-inflammatory activity.
Propolis studies in Poland were initiated by Professor Stan Scheller in the 1960s. It was a team of Polish researchers who developed a method of introducing hydrophobic ethanol extracts of propolis ...(EEP) into aqueous solutions, which enabled the study of their biological properties. The studies performed in Poland showed that EEP possesses antioxidant, radioprotective, and immunostimulating properties. It was possible to demonstrate antibacterial activity of propolis on Gram-positive bacteria, virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and protozoa as well as stimulating activity of aqueous extracts of propolis on proliferation of cells in vitro. Polish investigators showed that propolis stimulates regeneration of tissue, acts as antioxidant and radioprotector, has strong immunostimulative properties, affects animals’ life span by extending it, and improves intellectual and life functions of the elderly.
TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) is an endogenous ligand, which plays role in immune surveillance and anti-tumor immunity. It has ability to selectively kill tumor ...cells showing no toxicity to normal cells. We tested the apoptotic and cytotoxic activities of xanthohumol, a prenylated chalcone found in Humulus lupulus on androgen-sensitive human prostate adenocarcinoma cells (LNCaP) in combination with TRAIL. Cytotoxicity was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide tetrazolium reduction assay (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase assay (LDH). The expression of death receptors (DR4/TRAIL-R1 and DR5/TRAIL-R2) and apoptosis were detected using flow cytometry. We examined mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) by DePsipher reagent using fluorescence microscopy. The intracellular expression of proteins was evaluated by Western blotting. Our study showed that xanthohumol enhanced cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of TRAIL. The tested compounds activated caspases-3, -8, -9, Bid, and increased the expression of Bax. They also decreased expression of Bcl-xL and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, while the expression of death receptors was not changed. The findings suggest that xanthohumol is a compound of potential use in chemoprevention of prostate cancer due to its sensitization of cancer cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.
The aim of the study is to evaluate the cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects of HYP-PDT in vitro studies on cultures of selected skin cell lines, as a possibility of using PDT for patients with ...atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.
Primary Dermal Fibroblast and Primary Epidermal Keratinocytes was used in the study. After incubation the cells were treated with hypericin, exposed to VIS visible light. Then cell viability was determined by the MTT assay and cytokines markings were done with Bio-Plex Pro™ Assay kit and with Bio-Plex Suspension Array System.
The experiment showed a significant cytotoxic effect of HYP-PDT and in sublethal doses, an immunomodulatory effect manifested in changes in the concentrations of selected cytokines
The obtaining results confirming the destructive effect of HYP- PDT on the selected, skin cells lines show a possibility of extending the indication for HYP-PDT, for patients with inflammatory skin diseases.
The purpose of this study was to determine the role of HYP-PDT and its cytotoxic and immunomodulatory efficacy in the treatment of colorectal cancer.
SW480 and SW620 cells were properly prepared and ...then treated with HYP-PDT. After HYP-PDT treatment, changes in the concentrations of GM-CSF, MIF, VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and IL-2, IL-4, IL6 were analyzed using Bioplex method.
For SW480 cells: after HYP-PDT, there was a marked decrease in the secretion of GM-CSF, MIF, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1. The applied HYP-PDT showed no effect on the secretion of IL-2, IL-4 and IL-6 by the cell lines.
HYP-PDT shows immunomodulatory potential in in vitro experiments.
Colon cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. The search for effective and minimally invasive methods of treating colon cancer is the aim of modern medicine. Chalcones and their ...derivatives have shown an anticancer activity. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of methoxy-derivatives of 2’-hydroxychalcones: 2’-hydroxy-3”-methoxychalcone (TJ3), 2’-hydroxy-2”-methoxychalcone (TJ6) and 2’-hydroxy-4”-metoxychalcone (TJ7) at the concentrations of 10 µM and 25 µM on the release of IL-8, MIF, VCAM-1, ICAM-1 by colon cancer SW480 and SW620 cell lines. The cytokines and adhesion molecules were detected using the Bio-Plex Magnetic Luminex Assay and the Bio-Plex Suspension Array System. Our results showed that all tested methoxy-derivatives of 2’-hydroxychalcone compounds significantly reduced ICAM-1 released by SW480 cancer cells. The tested compounds at both concentrations did not significantly affect VCAM-1 released by SW480 and SW620 cancer cell lines. All methoxy-derivatives significantly reduced the concentration of MIF in dose dependent manner on SW480 cells. The TJ3 at the concentration of 25 µM significantly decreased IL-8 secreted by SW480 and SW620 cancer cells. Our results demonstrated that tested methoxy-derivatives of 2’-hydroxychalcones showed modulating effect on colon cancer cells.
•The tested compounds could modulating selected mediators released by colon cancer cells.•The soluble factors such as cytokines or adhesion molecules secreted by colon cancer cells determine the microenvironment in which tumor develops.•The tested compounds can be used in cancer chemoprevention through indirect effect in the tumor microenvironment.
Chemokines, also known as chemotactic cytokines, stimulate the migration of immune cells. These molecules play a key role in the pathogenesis of inflammation leading to atherosclerosis, ...neurodegenerative disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, insulin-resistant diabetes, and cancer. Moreover, they take part in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The main objective of our research was to determine the activity of methyl-derivatives of flavanone, namely, 2'-methylflavanone (
), 3'-methylflavanone (
), 4'-methylflavanone (
), and 6-methylflavanone (
), on the releasing of selected cytokines by RAW264.7 macrophages activated by LPS. We determined the concentration of chemokines belonging to the CC chemokine family, namely, MCP-1, MIP-1β, RANTES, and eotaxin, using the Bio-Plex Magnetic Luminex Assay and the Bio-PlexTM 200 System. Among the tested compounds, only
and
had the strongest effect on inhibiting the examined chemokines' release by macrophages. Therefore,
and
appear to be potentially useful in the prevention of diseases associated with the inflammatory process.
Propolis, owing to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, acts as a cariostatic agent, capable of preventing the accumulation of dental plaque and inhibiting inflammation. The ...anti-inflammatory properties of propolis are attributed to caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), which is present in European propolis. The objective of the conducted study was to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of the Polish ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) and isolated CAPE on stimulated with LPS and IFN-α, as well as the combination of LPS and IFN-α. The cytotoxicity of the tested compounds was determined using the MTT assay. The concentrations of specific cytokines released by the HGF-1 cell line following treatment with EEP (25–50 µg/mL) or CAPE (25–50 µg/mL) were assessed in the culture supernatant. In the tested concentrations, both CAPE and EEP did not exert cytotoxic effects. Our results demonstrate that CAPE reduces TNF-α and IL-6 in contrast to EEP. Propolis seems effective in stimulating HGF-1 to release IL-6 and IL-8. A statistically significant difference was observed for IL-8 in HGF-1 stimulated by LPS+IFN-α and treated EEP at a concentration of 50 µg/mL (p = 0.021201). Moreover, we observed that CAPE demonstrates a stronger interaction with IL-8 compared to EEP, especially when CAPE was administered at a concentration of 50 µg/mL after LPS + IFN-α stimulation (p = 0.0005). Analysis of the phenolic profile performed by high-performance liquid chromatography allowed identification and quantification in the EEP sample of six phenolic acids, five flavonoids, and one aromatic ester—CAPE. Propolis and its compound—CAPE—exhibit immunomodulatory properties that influence the inflammatory process. Further studies may contribute to explaining the immunomodulatory action of EEP and CAPE and bring comprehensive conclusions.
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