Forest Honey Can Prevent Ulcers

Recognized world wide that honey is more than a food but also medicine, this new study finds these monofloral honeys to possess specialized healing properties, in particular concerning gastric ulcers. In fact, oak and chestnut honeys inhibit enzymes which cause gout, gastritis, cardiovascular disease and peptic ulcers.

Honey as an apitherapic product: its inhibitory effect on urease and xanthine oxidase

J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2015 May 

The aim of this study was to evaluate new natural inhibitor sources for the enzymes urease and xanthine oxidase (XO). Chestnut, oak and polyfloral honey extracts were used to determine inhibition effects of both enzymes.

In addition to investigate inhibition, the antioxidant capacities of these honeys were determined using total phenolic content (TPC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and DPPH radical scavenging activity assays.

Due to their high phenolic content, chestnut and oak honeys are found to be a powerful source for inhibition of both enzymes. Especially, oak honeys were efficient for urease inhibition with 0.012-0.021 g/mL IC50 values, and also chestnut honeys were powerful for XO inhibition with 0.028-0.039 g/mL IC50 values.

Regular daily consumption of these honeys can prevent gastric ulcers deriving from Helicobacter pylori and pathological disorders mediated by reactive oxygen species.

Antioxidant Content in Propolis Protects Liver

Propolis provides a very good quantity of antioxidants and has important protective effects on internal organs, in particular the liver. This study confirms propolis reduced hypertension by preventing blood vessels from restricting blood flow even when under the influence of a drug that induces vasorestriction. A commonly found trait in propolis is its ability to protect and heal, along with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, it's an important adjuvant agent. 

Antioxidant Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Propolis in Liver of L-NAME Treated Rats

Adv Clin Exp Med. 2015 Mar-Apr

BACKGROUND:

The blocking of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity may cause vasoconstriction with formation of reactive oxygen species. Propolis is a natural product collected from plants by honeybees. Propolis has biological and pharmacological properties.

OBJECTIVES:

This study was designed to investigate the effects of propolis on catalase (CAT) activity, nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the liver tissues of NOS inhibited rats by Nω-Nitro-L-argininemethyl ester (L-NAME).

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Rats were given a NOS inhibitor (L-NAME, 40 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) for 15 days to provoke hypertension and propolis (200 mg/kg, by gavage) the last 5 of the 15 days.

RESULTS:

Nitric oxide levels in the liver tissue of the rats given L-NAME significantly

decreased (p < 0.01). That parameter did not significantly alter in the liver of rats treated with propolis compared to the control group. CAT activity and MDA levels in the liver of the rats administrated L-NAME significantly increased compared to the control group (p < 0.01). These parameters significantly decreased in the liver of the rats given L-NAME + propolis compared to the L-NAME group (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS:

The present data shows that L-NAME in the liver may enhance oxidative stress via inhibited nitric oxide synthase. Our results also suggest that this effect is suppressed by the antioxidant properties of propolis in the liver tissue of NOS inhibited rats.

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