Propolis Found to be Natural Anti-Protozoal Agent

Propolis, the natural protector extraordinaire...

Activity of Cuban Propolis Extracts on Leishmania amazonensis and Trichomonas vaginalis
Natural Product Communications, 2011 Jul;6(7):973-6

In this paper we analyzed the antiprotozoal effects of eighteen Cuban propolis extracts (brown, red and yellow type) collected in different geographic areas, using Leishmania amazonensis (as a model of intracellular protozoa) and Trichomonas vaginalis (as a model of extracellular protozoa).

All evaluated propolis extracts caused inhibitory effect on intracellular amastigotes of L. amazonensis. However, cytotoxicity on peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice was observed. Only five samples decreased the viability of T. vaginalis trophozoites at concentrations lower than 10 microg/mL. No correlation between the type of propolis and antiprotozoal activity was found.
Cuban propolis extracts demonstrated activity against both intracellular and extracellular protozoa model, as well as the potentialities of propolis as a natural source to obtain new antiprotozoal agents...

Diverse pharmacological activities of propolis have been explored, such as: anti-inflammatory and anti-tumoral effect [2a]. Up to now, antimicrobial properties have been widely investigated; including antibacterial [2b], antiviral [2c] and antifungal activity [2d]. Antiparasitic activities have also been reported against  Trypanosoma cruzi  [2e] and Giardia duodenalis [2f]. However, only a few studies have been carried out for the antileishmanial [3a-3c] and antitrichomonocidal activity [4a]. In Cuba, propolis has displayed therapeutic potentialities as antipsoriatic, antiinflamatory, analgesic [4b], antibacterial [4c] and antitumoral [4d]. Scarce reports can be found about its antiparasitic activity. Thus, its biological potentiality has not been explored totally...  

Leishmania are protozoa that cause leishmaniasis [5a]. The disease is endemic in 88 countries throughout Latin America, Africa, Asia and Southern Europe. Approximately 350 million people are thought to be at risk with a worldwide prevalence  of 12 million and annual incidence of 2 million new cases [5b]...

Honey Helps Treat Inflammation & Infection of Cornea

We've used honey to heal a scratched eye (cornea) and results were quick with no scarring... 

The Use of Topical Honey in the Treatment of Corneal Abrasions and Endotoxin-Induced Keratitis in an Animal Model
Current Eye Research, 2011 Aug 3

Purpose: To investigate the effect of topically applied honey on intact corneas, surgically induced corneal abrasions and endotoxin induced keratitis.

Materials and Methods: The effect of honey on the cornea was investigated by application of honey on intact corneas, wounded corneas and endotoxin-induced keratitis in Lewis rats. The corneas were wounded by creating an epithelial defect using a surgical blade, and the keratitis was induced by topically applying Pseudomonas aeruginosa endotoxin to scarified corneas.

After treatment rats were sacrificed and cornea harvested in each case. Corneas were processed for paraffin embedding for histological and immuno-fluorescence staining. Corneas were also harvested and processed for total ribonucleic acid (RNA) isolation for reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis for various growth factors and inflammatory chemokines/cytokines).

Results: Histological analysis revealed that no inflammation or morphological changes occurred after honey treatment in naive intact corneas. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were also not altered after honey treatment. Topical application of honey to injured corneas resulted in faster epithelial healing and decreased expression of VEGF, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin 12 (IL-12) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in injured corneas.

Our results also established that honey treatment reduced the inflammation in endotoxin-induced keratitis by reducing the levels of angiogenic factors (VEGF and TGF-β), inflammatory cytokines (IL-12) and chemokines (CC chemokine receptor 5(CCR-5)).

Conclusion: Short term use of honey on intact corneas can be safe. Honey has anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory properties that can be explored in several corneal inflammatory and infectious conditions.

Algerian Propolis Extract Protects Against Kidney Damage

Another plus from the powerhouse of protection - Propolis!

Polyphenolic fraction of Algerian propolis protects rat kidney against acute oxidative stress induced by doxorubicin

Indian Journal of Nephrology, June 28, 2011

Introduction
Propolis is a complex resinous hive product, a mixture of wax, sugars and plant exudates collected by bees from plants sources. [1],[2],[3],[4] Its chemical and constituents composition depends on its floral origin, and varies according to climatic and geographical conditions. [5],[6] Flavonoids and phenolic compounds appear to be the principal components responsible for the biological activities. [6] By their antioxidant activity, flavonoids are able to attenuate the development of cancer and inflammatory diseases. [7] Indeed, one of the most exciting recent findings about propolis is its efficacy in cancer prevention and treatment. [8],[9] Propolis inhibits cancer cell growth by increasing the process of apoptosis by a pro-oxidant effect inducing apoptosis in human melanoma cells or by oxygen species production. In addition, propolis can prevent drug side-effects and reduce drug resistance.

Propolis has many anti-oxidant and antiapoptotic properties. Phenolic compounds (flavonoids and phenolic acid derivatives) are the most important pharmacologically active constituents in propolis. However, the constituents of propolis vary widely with climate and location. The major flavonoids detected from the extracts in our study were, pinostrobin chalcone, tectochrysin. We observed some similarities in the qualitative composition between the Algerian and Turkish propolis...

We evaluated the effects of propolis extract on renal oxidative stress induced by doxorubicin throughout an analytical and pharmacological study of the eastern Algerian propolis using thin layer chromatography, ultra-violet-high-performance liquid chromatography) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.


Materials and Methods
The pharmacological study was carried out in vivo on Wistar rat pre-treated with propolis extract 100 mg/kg/day for seven days. Doxorubicin at 10 mg/kg of body weight was administered intravenously on Day 7. Serum creatinine concentration, scavenging effect of flavonoids, lipid peroxidation and glutathione concentration were measured. Chemical analysis allowed identification and quantification of the phenolic compounds including pinostrombin chalcone (38.91%), galangin (18.95%), naringenin (14.27%), tectochrysin (25.09%), methoxychrysin (1.14%) and a prenylated coumarin compound suberosin (1.65%). The total flavonoid concentration in the propolis extract was 370 mg (quercetin equivalents QE) /g dry weight (QE/g DWPE)...


Conclusions
Propolis extract (EEP) restored the renal functions and reduced the toxic effect of doxorubicin. These data show a protective effect of Algerian propolis extract (EEP) against doxorubicin-induced oxidative stress. 

Honey May Help Prevent, Treat Cancer

A spoon of honey a day, keeps the doctor away! Honey, it's a natural antioxidant! 

Chrysin Reduces Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in the Human Prostate Cancer Cell Line PC-3
Clinics (Sao Paulo), 2011;66(6):1073-1079

INTRODUCTION: Honey is a common household product with many medicinal uses described in traditional medicine. Only recently has its antioxidant properties and preventive effects against disease been highlighted. Chrysin is a natural flavone commonly found in honey that has been shown to be an antioxidant agent. In this study, we investigated the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of honey and chrysin on cultured human prostate cancer cells.

METHODS: Cells were cultured in RPMI medium and treated with different concentrations of honey and chrysin for three consecutive days. Cell viability was quantitated by the 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The percentage of apoptotic cells was determined by flow cytometry using Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate.

RESULTS: The MTT assay revealed that both compounds had an antiproliferative effect on PC-3 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The IC50 values for honey and chrysin against PC-3 cells were 2.5% and 24.5% after 48 h and 1.8% and 8.5% after 72 h, respectively. Chrysin induced apoptosis in PC-3 cells, as determined by flow cytometry.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that honey has anti-proliferative effects on prostate cancer cells and the effects are mainly due to chrysin. Therefore, chrysin may be a potential compound for both cancer prevention and treatment. Further in vivo investigation is needed to support the use of chrysin in cancer therapy.

Royal Jelly May Help Treat Depression and Anxiety

This research confirms what has been noted before of Royal Jelly's overall positive tonic effect ...

Antidepressant-Like Activity of 10-hydroxy-trans-2-decenoic acid, a Unique Unsaturated Fatty Acid of Royal Jelly, in Stress-Inducible Depression-Like Mouse Model
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2012;2012:139140. Epub 2011 Jul 24

Royal jelly (RJ), which is fed to the queen honeybee, has a variety of biological activities towards various types of cells. For instance, RJ exhibits immunomodulatory properties [1–3] and inhibits the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions [4]....


Symptoms of depression and anxiety appeared in mice after they had been subjected to a combination of forced swimming for 15 min followed by being kept in cages that were sequentially subjected to leaning, drenching, and rotation within 1-2 days for a total of 3 weeks. 

The animals were then evaluated by the tail-suspension test, elevated plus-maze test, and open-field test at 1 day after the end of stress exposure. Using these experimental systems, we found that 10-hydroxy-trans-2-decenoic acid (HDEA), an unsaturated fatty acid unique to royal jelly (RJ), protected against the depression and anxiety when intraperitoneally administered once a day for 3 weeks simultaneously with the stress loading. Intraperitoneally administered RJ, a rich source of HDEA, was also protective against the depression, but RJ given by the oral route was less effective...


 These results demonstrate that HDEA and RJ, a natural source of it, are effective in ameliorating the stress-inducible symptoms of depression and anxiety and suggest that they may become a promising tool as a new antidepressant.

Irradiation of Honey Enhances Antioxidant Activity

Honey posseses antioxidant properties, so does propolis and royal jelly.... what a curious trend...

Antioxidant Capacities and Total Phenolic Contents Increase with Gamma Irradiation in Two Types of Malaysian Honey

Molecules, 2011 Jul 27;16(8):6378-95

Two types of monofloral Malaysian honey (Gelam and Nenas) were analyzed to determine their antioxidant activities and total phenolic and flavonoid contents, with and without gamma irradiation.

Our results showed that both types of honey can scavenge free radicals and exhibit high antioxidant-reducing power; however, Gelam honey exhibited higher antioxidant activity than Nenas honey, which is in good correlation with its phenolic contents.

Interestingly, we also noted that both irradiated honeys have higher antioxidant activities and total phenolic and flavonoid contents compared to nonirradiated honeys by Folin-Ciocalteu and UV-spectrophotometry methods, respectively. However, HPLC analysis for phenolic compounds showed insignificant increase between irradiated and nonirradiated honeys. The phenolic compounds such as: caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, ellagic acid, p- coumaric acid, quercetin and hesperetin as indicated by HPLC method were found to be higher in Gelam honey versus Nenas honey.

In conclusion, irradiation of honey causes enhanced antioxidant activities and flavonoid compounds.

Royal Jelly Powder Acts as a Brain Food

It's not called royal for nothing... Royal Jelly is good for the brain and the body...

(NaturalNews, Sunday, July 24, 2011 by: Alex Malinsky aka RawGuru)

An interesting product, to say the least, royal jelly is the food that turns regular bee larvae into queen bees - it's the substance that elevates the physical capabilities of certain bees to allow them to become leaders of their own hives. Secreted by the nurse bees that look after the larvae in a hive, royal jelly causes some of the baby bees to grow faster and stronger than the rest. Claims have been made that when consumed by humans royal jelly can act as a "brain food," providing the boost the brain needs to grow faster and more efficient.

This claim is made because royal jelly contains a rare fatty acid, 10-HDA, that is said to enhance the cognitive capabilities of individuals. Due to a high concentration of phospholipids, people that consume royal jelly are able to improve their motor function, short-term memory, learning abilities, and overall awareness. Studies have shown that royal jelly has even been able to improve the conditions of individuals that suffer from Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The availability of a natural therapy for such illnesses is certainly important, as the market's current medications are laden with harsh chemicals that often provide serious side effects.

Despite the fact that royal jelly is recognized as a brain food, it remains that this natural remedy has much more to offer than increased brain function. As a substance that contains many B vitamins (especially Vitamin B5, pantothenic acid), trace minerals, and antibacterial proteins, royal jelly provides a natural boost of overall well-being. Some of its many other health benefits are:

* Efficient regeneration of tissue, especially that involving DNA.

* Increase in the strength of white blood cells, which boosts the immune system.

* Reduction of oxygen supplied to tumors, allowing the body to fight several types of cancer.

* Regulations of blood sugar, which can improve the health of individuals with diabetes.

* DHEA, a hormone that has anti-aging and adrenal-regulating properties.

* Restoration of the function of both the adrenal and kidney systems.

* Faster hair growth that also improves shine and color, due to para-aminobenzoic acid.

* Younger looking skin, a result of collagen and zinc.

* Rest and renewal after being overworked or excessively tired.

* Relief from asthenia, anxiety, insomnia, asthma, arthritis, gout, skin problems, and even broken bones.

* Lower cholesterol.

* Increased anti-inflammatory and antibiotic capabilities.

The use of royal jelly powder has been deemed safe for the majority of individuals; however, people that suffer from allergies or are allergic to royal jelly may suffer from an allergic reaction that could be fatal. Therefore, knowing all allergies before taking the supplement is crucial to achieving success when incorporating royal jelly into a diet.

Individuals who choose to add royal jelly powder can expect to experience an overall boost in their health. These many benefits will provide a well-rounded increase in well-being, allowing users to feel more alert and more comfortable. Though it is advertised as a "brain food," and does contain substances that can boost the activity of the brain and nervous system, royal jelly also provides many other highly valuable health benefits that make it an important supplement in the lives of people who are seeking natural remedies.