Beside honey, honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) are able to produce many byproducts, including bee pollen, propolis, bee bread, royal jelly, and beeswax. Even if the medicinal properties of these ...byproducts have been recognized for thousands of years by the ancient civilizations, in the modern era, they have a limited use, essentially as nutritional supplements or health products. However, these natural products are excellent sources of bioactive compounds, macro- and micronutrients, that, in a synergistic way, confer multiple biological activities to these byproducts, such as, for example, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. This work aims to update the chemical and phytochemical composition of bee pollen, propolis, bee bread, royal jelly, and beeswax and to summarize the main effects exerted by these byproducts on human health, from the anticancer and immune-modulatory activities to the antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, hypotensive, and anti-allergic properties.
Background and purpose: Complementary medicine plays a major role in treatment of infertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of royal jelly on sperm parameters and testosterone ...levels in infertile men. Materials and methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 100 infertile men attending the infertility treatment center in Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital were monitored for two months and then underwent a spermogram test. Afterwards, they were treated with royal jelly (100 mg/daily) for two months and spermograms were performed again. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS V21. Results: Royal jelly significantly increased sperm motility, improved morphology, and increased testosterone levels (P≤0.001), but, no significant difference was seen in sperm count before and after consumption of royal jelly (47.76 ± 23.59 and 50.28 ± 29.44, respectively, P≥ 0.2). Conclusion: According to current study, royal jelly could be used as a supplement along with other medications to boost fertility and treat male infertility. (Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20180609040028N2)
The aim of this study is to reveal differences of volatile components of royal jelly (RJ) produced by different honeybee stocks. Volatile components of three RJ samples from high and low RJ ...production honeybee stocks were extracted by headspace-solid phase micro-extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis of the volatile components are suggestive of the fact that honeybee stock selected for increasing RJ yields (royal jelly bees) has shaped distinct volatile component profile compared with the unselected Italian bees. In total, 37 components were identified that could distinguish three RJ samples, including 5 aldehydes, 5 esters, 5 alkanes, 14 alcohols and phenols, 4 ketones and 4 other components. Our study provides the first characterization of volatile components in RJs and uncovered the differences among royal jelly secreted by different bee stocks.
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•Royal jelly from three genetically different honeybee stocks were investigated.•GC-MS coupled to chemometric methods were applied to royal jelly.•37 differential metabolites were identified to distinguish different royal jelly samples.•Significant differences among different royal jelly samples were investigated.•Primary knowledge on volatile metabolites of different royal jelly samples was acquired.
Major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) are the protein components in royal jelly (RJ). MRJPs 1–7 are detected in the honeybee Apis mellifera RJ. Although A. mellifera MRJP (AmMRJP) 2 exhibited ...antibacterial activity, the other MRJPs with antimicrobial activities in A. mellifera RJ remains largely unknown. Here, we compared the antibacterial activity of recombinant AmMRJPs 1–7 expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells. Antibacterial assays of recombinant AmMRJPs 1–7 against the gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli revealed that AmMRJPs 2–5 and 7 exhibited antibacterial activity, whereas AmMRJPs 1 and 6 displayed almost no antibacterial activity. Consistent with the antibacterial activity of AmMRJPs, AmMRJPs 2–5 and 7 are bound to bacterial cell walls. These results indicated that AmMRJPs 2–5 and 7 contribute directly to the antibacterial property of RJ, suggesting that MRJPs play a role in the antimicrobial property of RJ.
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•Recombinant Apis mellifera major royal jelly proteins 1–7 (AmMRJPs 1–7) were produced.•Antibacterial activity of recombinant AmMRJPs 1–7 was compared.•AmMRJPs 2–5 and 7 exhibit antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli.•AmMRJPs 2–5 and 7 directly contribute to the antibacterial property of RJ.
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•Royal jelly contains proteins, peptides, lipids, phenols, flavonoids and other bioactive substances.•Royal jelly and its active ingredients improve cancer, obesity, Alzheimer's ...disease and other diseases.•As a functional food, royal jelly shows great potential in promoting human health.
Royal jelly (RJ) is a kind of bee product widely used in cosmetics, medicine and other fields. Not only can RJ regulate the physiological function of bee population, but also play a specific biological role in many diseases. This paper overviews the main active ingredients in the functional food RJ, including major royal jelly protein, fatty acids, phenols, flavonoids, etc, and summarizes the active role of RJ in the maintenance of human health, such as the regulation of immunity, lifespan, memory, digestive system, blood glucose, obesity, antibacterial and anti-cancer effect, among which the regulation of memory can be used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. These findings will benefit for comprehensive understanding and use of RJ, hence making it more effective in maintaining health.
Stability Evaluation of Royal Jelly Gel Rizki, Putri Anugrah; Krisnamurti, Desak Gede Budi; Reksodiputro, Mirta Hediyati ...
Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis,
05/2023, Volume:
71, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Scars that occur in surgical wounds are still a health problem worldwide. Excessive scarring significantly affects the patientʹs quality of life, both physically and psychologically, and can also ...cause pain, pruritus, and contractures and cost a considerable amount of money. Therefore, it is essential to find dressings that improve a patient's prognosis. Topical therapy for treating scars is becoming popular because it is easy to use, convenient, non-invasive, and relatively inexpensive. However, no single therapy provides optimal results to eliminate hypertrophic scar formation. For most people in the world, herbs are easier to obtain because they are widely available at relatively affordable prices, so herbal therapy is still the main choice in wound healing management. Nowadays, the selection of natural ingredients such as Royal Jelly (RJ) has increased in popularity and is in demand by the public for improving the healing of surgical wounds. The study found that the flavonoid content in the sample was equivalent to quercetin and that the total phenol content in the royal jelly extract ranged from 1.41% to 1.66%. The stability test showed that the royal jelly was stable in different conditions for up to 28 days, with no significant changes observed in pH, color, smell, texture, or spreadability.
Background and purpose: Daunorubicin is an effective drug in chemotherapy, but its clinical use is limited due to serious side effects. Royal jelly as a natural compound obtained from bees can be ...helpful in preventing the damage caused by daunorubicin. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of royal jelly on the number of apoptotic cells and the expression of genes involved in apoptosis in mice treated with daunorubicin. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 77 Balb/c mice were randomly divided into seven groups (n= 11 per group): sham, control, royal jelly (50 and 100 mg/kg), daunorubicin (2 mg/kg), and royal jelly (50 and 100 mg/kg) + daunorubicin. The mice received saline (0.09%), IP daunorubicin, and royal jelly orally for eight weeks. To estimate the number of apoptotic cells and the expression of genes related to apoptosis in testis, we used ELISA test and Real-time PCR assay, respectively. Data analysis was done applying One-way Analysis of Variance and Tukey's test in SPSS. Results: Daunorubicin caused significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells, and expression levels of p53, Bax, caspase 3, caspase 8, and caspase 9 (P<0.01) and a significant decrease in the bcl-2 gene expression (P<0.01). In treatment groups, these changes were moderated by royal jelly. Conclusion: Royal jelly administration, by reducing the number of apoptotic cells and affecting the expression of genes involved in apoptosis, improves the damage caused by daunorubicin on the testicular tissue of mice.
Background and Objective: Interactive effects of aerobic training (AT) and royal jelly (RJ) consumption is still not well understood in multiple sclerosis (MS). Therefore, the aim of this study was ...determine the effect of aerobic training with royal jelly consumption on health related anthropometric markers in an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model. Material and Methods: 49 EAE induced by complete Freund’s Adjuvant, model female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to 7 groups: (1) EAE, (2) sham (Sh), (3) RJ50 mg/kg, (4) RJ100, (5) AT, (6) AT+RJ50, (7) AT+RJ100. Also, 7 healthy rats were put in the healthy control group (HC). AT was performed for five weeks, four sessions per week at a speed of 11-15 m/min for 30 minutes and RJ was IP injection for 50 and 100 mg/kg/day. Results: In the AT, AT+RJ50, AT+RJ100 and RJ100 groups, weight, visceral fat weight and aerobic power were higher than the EAE group (P≥0.05); in the RJ50 group, weight and in the RJ100 and AT+RJ100 groups, BMI was lower than the EAE group (P≥0.05). AT+RJ100 reduced food intake compared to the EAE group (P≥0.05); also, aerobic power in the AT, AT+RJ50 and AT+RJ100 groups was higher than the RJ50 and RJ100 groups (P≥0.05). Conclusion: Generally AT and RJ alone improved anthropometric markers in EAE model; also interaction of AT and RJ was dependent of dosage of RJ so that the effect of 100 mg/kg dosage was higher than 50 mg/kg.
Burn wounds are vulnerable to various infections due to damage to the tissue and changes in immune responses.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is a critical bacterium that can cause burn wound infections, ...which can be life-threatening and delay wound healing. Therefore, it is essential to develop an efficient strategy to prevent the spread of infection in burn wounds. The present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of electrospun nanofibers of royal jelly on a chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol polymer scaffold in repairing burn wounds infected with
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. To achieve this, the researchers analyzed the morphology and physicochemical properties of the synthesized nanofibers using SEM, FTIR, BET, and TGA analyses. They also examined the antibacterial properties of the nanofibers using agar diffusion and spread plate techniques. In addition, hemolysis tests were carried out to assess biocompatibility. Finally, the ability of the nanofibers to repair burn wounds infected with
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
was evaluated using a laboratory mouse model. The study results showed that the synthesized nanofibers had desirable morphology and physicochemical properties and significant antibacterial effects in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Also, loading RJ into the polymer scaffold significantly reduced erythrocyte lysis. The wound healing and contraction rates were significantly higher than the control groups, and tissue repair, re-epithelialization, and collagen synthesis occurred faster, preventing the spread of infection to deeper tissue areas. Based on these findings, the synthesized system has the potential to serve as a suitable substitute for some invasive treatments and chemical drugs to improve chronic wounds and manage infection control in burn injuries.
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