Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Royal Jelly Accelerates Healing of Oral Mucositis

This is great news for cancer therapy patients! I'm simply amazed to see the consistent documentation of the healing properties from all the products of the beehive. Royal Jelly, Propolis, Honey, Bee Pollen and Bee Venom all possess very important, documented evidence of healing and aiding living beings. Why is it so difficult for consumers and practitioners to not hear this important message that it's easy to Bee Healthy with honey bee products...


Oral Mucosal Adhesive Films Containing Royal Jelly Accelerate Recovery From 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Oral Mucositis
J PharmacolSci, 2013 Jan 25

Oral mucositis induced by chemotherapy or radiotherapy has an impact upon quality-of-life, is dose-limiting for chemotherapy, and causes considerable morbidity. We evaluated the effect of royal jelly (RJ) on 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced oral mucositis in hamsters.

Oral mucositis was induced in hamsters through a combination of 5-FU treatment and mild abrasion of the cheek pouch. RJ was contained in chitosan-sodium alginate film (RJ film). Films were attached to the oral mucosa and the healing process examined by measuring the area of mucositis, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, microscopic aspects, and RT-PCR for detection of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β). Furthermore, we evaluated the radical-scavenging activity of RJ and generation of keratinocyte growth factor from human periodontal ligament fibroblasts. RJ films (10%, 30%) significantly improved recovery from 5-FU-induced damage, reduced MPO activity and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Additionally, RJ showed radical-scavenging activity.

These data suggest that topical application of films that contain RJ had a healing effect on the severe oral mucositis induced by 5-FU and that the effect was caused by the anti-inflammatory or anti-oxidative activities of RJ.



Thursday, February 21, 2013

Propolis Recommended for Contemporary Dentistry

This is a terrific peer-reviewed paper, examining the wide range of benefits that Propolis has to offer for contemporary dentistry (table lists all applications). As a natural product, Propolis is proven effective in numerous studies and always found to be effective in the mucous linings of the body. IMO, the warning of a potential risk of an allergic reaction inflames fear more than it protects consumers. The low incidence of cases of allergic reactions, include contact dermatitis, a redness or inflammation of the skin with the use of raw propolis...

Does Propolis Help to Maintain Oral Health?

Propolis, known also as bee glue, is a wax-cum-resin substance which is created out of a mix of buds from some trees with the substance secreted from bee's glands. Its diverse chemical content is responsible for its many precious salubrious properties. It was used in medicine already in ancient Egypt. Its multiple applications during the centuries have been studied and described in details. The purpose of this study is to present the possible use of propolis in treatment of various diseases of oral cavity in their dental aspect. The paper presents properties and possible applications of bee glue depending on dental specialities. An overview of publications which appeared during the recent years will allow the reader to follow all the possibilities to apply propolis in contemporary dentistry.

Conclusions
Propolis-based preparations have a wide range of applications in various specialities of dentistry. Thanks to the richness of natural components in it, bee glue has antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and many other applications. Although it offers many benefits, one should remember that its use may bring in the risk of an allergy.


Click here for a PDF of this study.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Propolis Outperforms Periodontal Medication

A well-known fact, Propolis is very effective when used to treat conditions in the mucous linings of the body. From the mouth, nose, throat, lungs, intestinal tract and the organs therein, propolis exhibits a protective effect that is consistent, no matter the origin of the Propolis. So, start out with a good propolis toothpaste and continue consuming propolis daily...


Microparticles Containing Propolis and Metronidazole: in vitro Characterization, Release Study and Antimicrobial Activity Against Periodontal Pathogens
Pharm DevTechnol, 2013 Jan 28

Abstract:
Ethylcellulose microparticles containing metronidazole and propolis extractive solution were prepared and evaluated in vitro against periodontal pathogens.
Scanning electron microscopy, particle size analysis, drug entrapment efficiency and drug release of microparticles were determined. The antimicrobial activity of microparticles was evaluated against microorganisms of periodontal importance (Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli). It was obtained particles with regular morphology, mean diameter of 1.23 µm, and entrapment efficiency for propolis and metronidazole were 91.41% and 22.23%, respectively. In vitro release studies of propolis and metronidazole from microparticles showed prolonged drug release and controlled by Fickian diffusion.
Both propolis and metronidazole displayed activity against the tested strains. Moreover, the results showed that the strains of E. faecalis, S. pyogenes and S. mutans were more susceptible to the propolis and E. faecalis to the metronidazole. It was also observed that the amount of metronidazole to inhibit the microorganism strains in the physical mixture with propolis was smaller than in the metronidazole alone, suggesting potentiation effect between propolis and metronidazole.
These microparticles would be useful for developing intermediary or eventual dosage form to be administered into the periodontal pocket more easily and safely.


Friday, February 8, 2013

Royal Jelly Boosts Semen Production

The benefits of consuming Royal Jelly is getting a lot attention recently by the medical profession, reknown for centuries, and now found to contain essential nutrients for living beings. Studies have proven its effect as a 'Brain Booster', lowering cholesterol and now its capacity to boost sperm count in mammals. Royal Jelly contains life force and is a life giver...


Seminal quality and testicular morphometry of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) supplemented with royal jelly
Arq. Bras. Med.Vet. Zootec2012, Dec.  

ABSTRACT
A trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of royal jelly on the seminal quality and testicular morphometry of rabbits.
Fourteen mature rabbits of New Zealand breed were distributed between three groups. The first group was supplied with 1mL of water only (SG), the second group was supplied with 0.5mg of royal jelly diluted in 1mL of water (0.5G), and the third group was supplied with 1mg of royal jelly also diluted in 1mL of water (1.0G). 
The royal jelly supply started 30 days before semen collection and lasted the entire experimental period. An artificial vagina was used to collect the rabbits' semen. Physical and morphological parameters in the semen and the testicular morphometry were evaluated. Differences were found on the seminal volume in group 0.5G(0,54±0,22) in relation to SG (0,39±0,13) and 1.0G (0,30±0,09) groups (P < 0.05). For SG, 0.5G and 1.0G groups, no differences (P > 0.05) were found in sperm concentration, gross motility, individual motility and vigor. The total of primary defects in group 0.5G (8,52±3,26) was lower than in groups SG (14,09±4,2) and 1.0G (16,1±3,95) (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between secondary defects and the total defects on the semen (P > 0.05). 
Body, testicular and epididymal weights did not differ between groups, as well to the gonadosomatic index (P > 0.05). The ingestion of royal jelly produced positive results on the seminal production of males.

INTRODUCTION
Royal jelly is composed of 63% moisture, 3.5% lipids (steroids), 13% protein and 19.5% carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin and niacin) (Amoedo and Muradian, 2002) and other yet unidentified components (Kohno et al., 2004). The acid 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic (10-HDA) is the main component of its lipid fraction and is considered the most important active ingredient of royal jelly (Koshio and Muradian, 2003)...

CONCLUSIONS
The daily intake of 0.5 mg of Royal Jelly increased semen volume and decreased values ​​sperm defects in primary New Zealand rabbits, with positive effects on the morphology seminal.


Monday, February 4, 2013

Bee Products Fight Disease, Useful in Medicine

Just in time for the cold season, another scientific review validating the health benefits of bee products. Besides protecting oneself from the changing seasons, it's clear that taking honey and propolis (and other bee products) has a synergistic effect to aid even more severe chronic conditions such as allergies and autoimmune diseases... 


Immunological Properties of Bee Products
Pot-Honey 2013, pp 513-523 

Abstract:
Honey, bee pollen, propolis and royal jelly are among the main products obtained from bees. They contain many compounds that may fight disease, making them useful in medicineBee products act upon both innate and adaptive immune response. At different levels, in the human innate response, these compounds suppress DNA synthesis, decrease proinflammatory cytokine synthesis (IL-2, IL-12 and IL-4), inactivate both the classical and alternative complement pathway, and decrease superoxide anion production in rabbit neutrophils. 
In adaptive immune response, propolis and honey induce the increase of antibody production by plasma cells, enhance the secretion of TGF-β after the activation of T regulatory cells, and inhibit Con A-stimulated cell proliferation in mice. The honey bee products act mainly through anti-inflammatory action which can ameliorate allergic and autoimmune diseases where inflammation plays an important role
Based on this knowledge, clinical studies to evaluate such products could be designed to obtain a new class of drugs, with application to allergies and autoimmune disease treatment.

Within this Chapter:

Introduction
Honey Bee Products and Innate Immune Response
Action Mechanisms of Bee Products in the Adaptive Immune Response
Future Perspectives to Use Honey Bee Products in Treatment of Immune Diseases
Conclusions
References
References


Friday, February 1, 2013

Apitherapy Courses Offered All Across Europe

Worldwide interest in Apitherapy is expanding rapidly as studies continue to validate the potent use of products from the beehive with traditional and alternative medicine. What had been viewed as anecdotal evidence is now documented on a cellular level as to the functionality of propolis, honey, bee venom, bee pollen and royal jelly. Participants include physicians, therapists, pharmacists, veterinarians, accupuncturists, nurses and even beekeepers...


Central European Course on Apitherapy 
Budapest, Hungary
Feb 22 - 24, 2013
Click here for information and registration details.




French Apitherapy Course, Module 4
Lyon, France 
March 15 - 16, 2013
Click here for information and registration details





11th Annual Int'l German Apitherapy Congress and Expo
Passau, Germany
March 22 - 26, 2013
Click here for information and registration details



2nd Int'l Apitherapy Congress 
Lille, France
12 - 14 April, 2013 
Click here for information and registration details



Lithuanian Apitherapy Course for Pharmaceutical Students
Faculty of Pharmacy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences
Feb - May 2013
Click here for details from Dr Sonata Trumbeckaite





French Apitherapy and Phytotherapy Course
Plan d'Hotonne (French Alps) & Auterive (Toulouse) 
May 5-11, 2013
Sept 1-7, 2013
Click here for information and registration details