Propolis Effective in Mastitis Relief for Dairy Cattle

The antibacterial effects of propolis are more concentrated when used in an ethanol extract and should be incorporated into the cattle's treatment protocol. What's odd is that they didn't apply the EEP directly on the cows udder but chose to go "downstream" and treat the milk... 

Bactericidal Activity of Ethanolic Extracts of Propolis Against Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Mastitic Cows

World JMicrobiol Biotechnol, 2012 Feb 28

Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen for both humans and animals, and it has been an ubiquitous etiological agent of bovine mastitis in dairy farms worldwide.

Elimination of S. aureus with classic antibiotics is difficult, and the current study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEP) against S. aureus cultivated in complex media or milk. EEP (0-0.5 mg ml(-1)) decreased growth of S. aureus in BHI media and 1 mg ml(-1) was bactericidal against washed cell suspensions (10(7) CFU ml(-1)). Propolis extracts also killed S. aureus cells resuspended in milk, but the bactericidal dose was at least 20-fold greater. Cultures that were transferred for at least 60 generations with sub-lethal doses of propolis did not change much their sensibility to EEP. Atomic force microscopy images revealed changes in morphology and cell size of S. aureus cells exposed to EEP (0.5 mg ml(-1)).

Our results indicate that propolis extracts might be effective against mastitis-causing S. aureus strains in vivo, but milk constituents affect the inhibitory activity of propolis.

Considering that propolis-resistance appears to be a phenotype not easily selected, the use of EEP combined or not with other antimicrobial agents might be useful for mastitis control in vivo. 

Honey - the Natural Cancer Vaccine?

By simply incorporating honey into your daily intake of consumable food, you could maintain a healthier lifestyle. Double the effects by including propolis into your diet for the synergistic complementary anti-cancer protection naturally provided by propolis. This may explain the exceptionally low cancer rate found among beekeepers. Click the link for the entire article...

Honey and Cancer: Sustainable Inverse Relationship Particularly for Developing Nations-A Review

Evid BasedComplement Alternat Med, 2012 Jun 17

Abstract: 

Honey and cancer has a sustainable inverse relationship. Carcinogenesis is a multistep process and has multifactorial causes. Among these are low immune status, chronic infection, chronic inflammation, chronic non healing ulcers, obesity, and so forth.

There is now a sizeable evidence that honey is a natural immune booster, natural anti-inflammatory agent, natural antimicrobial agent, natural cancer "vaccine," and natural promoter for healing chronic ulcers and wounds.

Though honey has substances of which the most predominant is a mixture of sugars, which itself is thought to be carcinogenic, it is understandable that its beneficial effect as anticancer agent raises skeptics. The positive scientific evidence for anticancer properties of honey is growing. The mechanism on how honey has anticancer effect is an area of great interest. Among the mechanisms suggested are inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and cell-cycle arrest. 

Honey and cancer has sustainable inverse relationship in the setting of developing nations where resources for cancer prevention and treatment are limited...

Royal Jelly, Bee Pollen Decrease Bone Loss from Osteoporosis

Since Royal Jelly is produced by honey bees when they eat pollen, it's not surprising to see both these products provide advantages. Bee Pollen is good food, containing all the amino acids necessary for humans, not to mention the full spectrum of vitamins, minerals and trace elements not usually found in foods... 

Royal Jelly and Bee Pollen Decrease Bone Loss Due to Osteoporosis in an Oophorectomized Rat Model

EklemHastalik Cerrahisi, 2012 Aug 23

Objectives:

In this study, we aimed to investigate whether royal jelly and bee pollen reduce the bone loss due to osteoporosis in oophorectomized rat model.

Materials and Methods:

Thirty-two female Sprague-Dawley mature rats at six-month-old, weighing 180-260 g were used in the study. The rats were divided into four groups: Sham-operation group, only oophorectomy group, oophorectomy in combination with royal jelly group, and oophorectomy and bee pollen group. The rats were sacrified within 12 weeks following surgery. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured and blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis before sacrification. Following sacrification, uterine weights were measured and tissue samples were taken to determine bone calcium and phosphate level with imaging through scanning electron microscope.

Results:

The uterine weights of the rats were found higher in Sham-operation group than the other groups. The difference among the groups was statistically significant (p=0.001). Total body BMD results were similar in all groups and there was not statistically significant difference (p=0.19). The lumbar spine and proximal femur BMD results were statistically significantly higher in the royal jelly and bee pollen groups, compared to only oophorectomy group (p=0.001). Bone tissue calcium and phosphate levels were higher in royal jelly and bee pollen groups.

Conclusion:

Royal jelly and bee pollen decrease the bone loss due to osteoporosis in oophorectomized rat model. These results may contribute to the clinical practice...

Royal Jelly also contains a male hormone testosterone. Because of this feature it may also be effective in men’s osteoporosis that could be induced by a decrease of androgen. Considering all these features, RJ and BP may be very beneficial in the treatment of osteoporosis. 

Bee Products Symposium in Portugal Sept 9-12

The latest global research on all the products from the beehive, even mead, will be presented in Portugal. These symposiums are important in validating the regional significance of honey, propolis and other products, just as it has been established in New Zealand...

II International Symposium on Bee Products
IPB 2012, June
click for program guide

Beekeeping has always been considered a prominent economic activity in the northeastern corner of Portugal, known as the “Trás-os-Montes” region. In November 11th of 1514, the royal charter granted to Bragança by King Manoel, already pointed out some economic privileges of honey bee products "wax, honey (...) above nine coins per batch and for those who buy it for personal use, above one coin, will be tax-free”. At the time, the wax was used mostly for manufacturing candles, which were used in religious ceremonials as a testimony of miracles and graces received. Some dioceses applied a tithe in wax and honey to local beekeepers.

In the early nineteenth century, honey bee products had a considerable commercial value. The wax, for example, was more valued than cereals, while honey was used in direct exchange for olive oil. It is common to find local villages and places that retain ancient names associated with the bees activity, as "Torre da colmeia” (Tower of the hive), “Colmeais” (Apiaries), "Abelheira" (Bee nest), among others...

The production of reddish honeydew honeys, with high conductivity and low levels of sugar, is another valuable resource of the “Trás-os-Montes” region, where the dense oak forests of the natural parks provide food to the honey bees when flowers are scarce. Quality label honey from “Trás-os-Montes” is one of the strengths of this economic activity and the ideal tool to compete in the global market with products from other regions of the world. The guarantee of this quality requires deep and continuous research in the characteristics and properties together with the innovation in equipment and methodologies suitable to perform the analytical control. Those are the key challenges of the IHC in the search for new knowledge, new approaches and overleap of old and new challenges in the science of bee products. The symposium will be a great opportunity to bring together bee product researchers and to promote the interchange of information, experience and new ideas.

Propolis Provides Radiation Protection

Propolis protects blood cells from radiation exposure, adding to the body of evidence that proves propolis has impressive properties which protects the body. This continues to boggle the scientific community, which aren't accustomed to having natural products offer so many protective properties without causing harm. So you can rest assured when taking a daily dose of 120-500mg of propolis that it will do your body good for more than just radiation poisoning... 

Study Represents Starting Point for Future Clinical Applications Using Propolis

News-Medical, 2012, July

A team of researchers from the University of Valencia, the Universitat Politècnica de València, the University Hospital La Fe and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona conducted in vitro studies of cytotoxicity (cellular affection) to assess the optimal concentration level of propolis in which this natural substance extracted from bee resin would offer the maximum protection against ionised radiation and not be toxic for blood cells.

According to the results of the research, this optimal concentration level is between 120-500 micrograms/mL. "Within this range can be found maximum protection against radiation-induced damage and the substance does not reveal neither a cytotoxicity nor a genotoxicity effect on non-irradiated human lymphocytes", says Alegria Montoro, head of the Laboratory of Biological Dosimetry at the University Hospital La Fe and lecturer of the Master in Radiological Protection in Radioactive and Nuclear Facilities offered by the UPV.

The conclusions of this study, which receives funding from the Spanish Nuclear Security Council (CSN), represent a starting point for future clinical applications using propolis. The results were published in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology; in August a full revision of the study will be presented at the Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society EMBC12, which will be held in San Diego, California.

In the study, the team of researchers used four genetic biomarkers, including the mytotic index and the cell proliferation kinetics, with the aim of determining whether propolis has cytotoxic effects on cells. "Using these biomarkers makes it possible to discover how a substance affects cell division: a substance which is cytotoxic and modifies the cell division stage would do so by accelerating, slowing down or even stopping the process, and all three effects are negative", explains Alegria Montoro...

UAB lecturer Francesc Barquinero, currently on leave to work at the Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) headquarters in Fontenay aux Roses, France, participated in the original planning of the study and its design, as well as the interpretation of the results and posterior contextualisation of other studies published.

In 2008, researchers at the Institute for Industrial, Radiophysical and Environmental Safety (ISIRyM) of the Universitat Politècnica de València and the University Hospital La Fe demonstrated that propolis can reduce by half the damage inflicted on chromosomes by ionised radiations, thus protecting the DNA from these effects. The new study is fundamental in discovering the range of concentrations in which this substance can have a toxic effect on non-irradiated cells.

Why Royal Jelly Benefits Human Health

Royal Jelly is worthy of its name - a product fit for royalty. Professor Eberhard Bengsch has written and studied royal jelly for many years and confirms that within this complex product, honey bees produce proteins very important to human health, such as its antiviral properties and Pantothenic acid, an important ingredient in collagen production. There's more to discover about this rich substance... 

Towards Posttranslational Modification Proteome of Royal Jelly

JProteomics, 2012 June 20

Abstract:

Royal jelly (RJ) is a secretory protein from the hypopharyngeal glands of nurse honeybee workers, which contains a variety of proteins of which major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) are some of the most important. It plays important roles both for honeybee and human.

Each family of MRJP 1-5 displays a string of modified protein spots in the RJ proteome profile, which may be caused by posttranslational modifications (PTMs) of MRJPs. However, information on the RJ PTMs is still limited. Therefore, the PTM status of RJ was identified by using complementary proteome strategies of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), shotgun analysis in combination with high performance liquid chromatography-chip/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight/tandem mass spectrometry and bioinformatics. Phosphorylation was characterized in MRJP 1, MRJP 2 and apolipophorin-III-like protein for the first time and a new site was localized in venom protein 2 precursor. Methylation and deamidation were also identified in most of the MRJPs.

The results indicate that methylation is the most important PTM of MRJPs that triggers the polymorphism of MRJP 1-5 in the RJ proteome. Our data provide a comprehensive catalog of several important PTMs in RJ and add valuable information towards assessing both the biological roles of these PTMs and deciphering the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of RJ for human health...

Anti-Cancer Properties Identified in Propolis

Propolis has many therapeutic applications. The phenolic compounds are numerous as are their effects, from anti-inflammatory and antifungal, to antimicrobial and antiviral. Best of all, propolis is complementary with traditional and alternative practices...

The Immunomodulatory and Anticancer Properties of Propolis

Clin RevAllergy Immunol, 2012 Jun 17

Propolis, a waxy substance produced by the honeybee, has been adopted as a form of folk medicine since ancient times. It has a wide spectrum of alleged applications including potential anti-infection and anticancer effects. Many of the therapeutic effects can be attributed to its immunomodulatory functions.

The composition of propolis can vary according to the geographic locations from where the bees obtained the ingredients. Two main immunopotent chemicals have been identified as caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and artepillin C. Propolis, CAPE, and artepillin C have been shown to exert summative immunosuppressive function on T lymphocyte subsets but paradoxically activate macrophage function. On the other hand, they also have potential antitumor properties by different postulated mechanisms such as suppressing cancer cells proliferation via its anti-inflammatory effects; decreasing the cancer stem cell populations; blocking specific oncogene signaling pathways; exerting antiangiogenic effects; and modulating the tumor microenvironment.

 
The good bioavailability by the oral route and good historical safety profile makes propolis an ideal adjuvant agent for future immunomodulatory or anticancer regimens. However, standardized quality controls and good design clinical trials are essential before either propolis or its active ingredients can be adopted routinely in our future therapeutic armamentarium.