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 medicine. Bee 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

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

Non-Toxic Effect from Mega Propolis Consumption

An important study looking towards the lethal dose of Propolis. Fortunately,  massive consumption of Propolis is not a health concern and what could be better for human health than a therapeutically active product to aid the body to heal and prevent disease and illness? The recommended daily dose is about 350 for an average adult but when there's an illness or disease to treat, that dosage should be doubled and consumed 3 times per day...

Apimondia Apimedica-Apiquality International Forum

Acute Toxicological Test of Propolis

2012, Oct. 22-25 Zhenjiang, China

ZHUO Bi-rong, SHI Pei-ying, WU Zhen-hong*

(Bee Science College of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, State and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Natural Biotoxi, Fuzhou 350002, China )

This project used Fixed-dose procedure to study acute toxicity reaction of mice to ethanol extract of propolis. The result showed that mice, which have been lavaged with ethanol extract of propolis were all live during 0~14 days. In addition, the tested mice shown no-affected locomotor activity and had no abnormal symptoms. The mice showed no abnormal secretion in mouths, noses and ears. Also the mice showed other normal symptoms such as eyelid without prolapse, clear eye pupil, normal excretions, and smooth hair. Autopsy results showed no obvious abnormity characterization of the organs. The organs index has no obvious difference with control group (The max dose is 2000mg/kg).

In conclusion, mice had no acute toxicity reaction to ethanol extract of propolis. Since 2000mg/kg is 100 times of the human body recommended dose, people can also use propolis with this dose.

*Corresponding author, E-mail:wzh516@126.com

Initiation à l'Apithérapie et Phytothérapie

Une formation très enrichissante pour tous ceux qui veulent prendre soin d'eux grâce à une médecine ancienne et à la mode ...

Initiation à l’Apithérapie et Phytothérapie

Une formation proposée par l’Association Francophone d’Api-phytothérapie

Ouverte:

• A toute personne désireuse de compléter ses connaissances sur les plantes médicinales et les produits de la ruche, dans un but préventif et thérapeutique
• Aux docteurs en médecine humaine et vétérinaire, infirmières, thérapeutes, pharmaciens...
• Aux apiculteurs, conseillers en produits naturels…

Deux semaines au choix, en 2013 :

• Du 5 mai au 11 mai à Auterive (31)
• Du 1° septembre au 7 septembre à Plan d’Hotonnes (01)

D’autres stages peuvent être organisés selon la demande.

Tarif : 680€ + adhésion 20€

Consultez le programme complet sur le site : www.api-phytotherapie.fr

Inscription : afap@api-phytotherapie.fr

Tél : +336 18 91 18 05

Honey May Help Prevent, Treat Leukemia

Thanks to reviews such as this one which bring to light the significance of phenolic compounds found in honey and propolis. These naturally-occurring compounds will prove important in reversing the negative effects of antibiotics and so called, 'Super Bugs'. Likewise, beekeepers worldwide need to protect these compounds during the processing of their honey, avoiding heat, sunlight and ultrafiltration...

A Review of Molecular Mechanisms of the Anti-Leukemic Effects of Phenolic Compounds in Honey

Int J Mol Sci, 2012 Nov 15

Hematologic malignancies constitute about 9% of all new cases of cancers as reported via the GLOBOCAN series by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 2008. So far, the conventional therapeutic and surgical approaches to cancer therapy have not been able to curtail the rising incidence of cancers, including hematological malignancies, worldwide. The last decade has witnessed great research interest in biological activities of phenolic compounds that include anticancer, anti-oxidation and anti-inflammation, among other things.

A large number of anticancer agents combat cancer through cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis and differentiation, as well as through inhibition of cell growth and proliferation, or a combination of two or more of these mechanisms. Various phenolic compounds from different sources have been reported to be promising anticancer agents by acting through one of these mechanisms.

Honey, which has a long history of human consumption both for medicinal and nutritional uses, contains a variety of phenolic compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins and tannins.

This paper presents a review on the molecular mechanisms of the anti-leukemic activity of various phenolic compounds on cell cycle, cell growth and proliferation and apoptosis, and it advocates that more studies should be conducted to determine the potential role of honey in both chemoprevention and chemotherapy in leukemia.

Propolis Effective in Treating Vaginal Thrush

Already recognized for its antifungal capacity, propolis is also effective in treating vaginal conditions. Propolis ovules have seen dramatic results, in and out of controlled studies. It's exciting to see this study confirm the anecdotal reports from patients and clients...

Preparation and characterization of mucoadhesive thermoresponsive systems containing propolis for the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis

J Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2013, Jan 18

Abstract

This work describes the preparation and characterization of mucoadhesive thermoresponsive systems consisted of poloxamer 407 (P407), Carbopol® 934P (C934P), and propolis to treat vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC).

Systems were obtained with different percentages of P407 and C934P to deliver propolis, a potent drug against VVC. Temperature of gelation, hardness, compressibility, adhesiveness, elasticity, cohesiveness, mucoadhesion, rheology (continuous flow and oscillatory), in vitro drug release, and antimicrobial activity were evaluated. Increasing the polymer content or temperature and the drug presence significantly increased mechanical properties of formulations. These exhibited pseudoplastic flow and low degrees of thixotropy. In most samples, increasing the C934P content significantly changed the oscillatory rheological properties. Formulations showed thermoresponsive behavior, existing as a liquid at room temperature and gel at 34°C–37°C. Propolis release from formulations was controlled by phenomenon of relaxation of polymer chains or displayed anomalous behavior, dependent of concentration of each polymer. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of preparations was evaluated against microorganisms of vaginal importance (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae), displaying activity against all yeast tested.

The data obtained for these systems indicate a potentially useful role in the treatment of VVC and suggest they are worthy of clinical evaluation.

Royal Jelly Boosts Red Blood Cells, Mental Health & Glucose Tolerance

Contrary to popular belief, consuming Royal Jelly even at elevated levels up to 10g per day is possible, in fact, even beneficial, on a case-dependent basis. Imagine what results that could produce in light of the small quantity they used in this study?

Effect of Royal Jelly Ingestion for Six Months on Healthy Volunteers

Nutrition Journal, 2012 Sep 21

BACKGROUND:

Royal jelly is a widely ingested supplement for health, but its effects on humans are not well known. The objective was to evaluate the effects of long-term royal jelly ingestion on humans.

METHODS:

We conducted a randomized placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. A total of 61 healthy volunteers aged 42-83 years were enrolled and were randomly divided into a royal jelly group (n = 31) and a control group (n = 30). Three hundred mg of royal jelly (RJ) or a placebo in 100 ml liquid/day were ingested for 6 months. The primary outcomes were changes in anthropometric measurements and biochemical indexes from baseline to 6 months after intervention.

RESULTS:

Thirty subjects in the RJ group and 26 in the control group were included in the analysis of endpoints. In an adjusted mean change of the variables from the baseline, significant differences between the two groups could be found in red blood cell counts (+0.16x106 /muL for the RJ group vs. -0.01x106 /muL for the control group, P = 0.0134), hematocrit (+0.9% vs. -0.8%, P = 0.0251), log (fasting plasma glucose) (+0.01 +/- 0.01 log mg/dL vs. +0.05 +/- 0.01 log mg/dL, P = 0.0297), log (insulinogenic index) (+0.25 vs. -0.13, P = 0.0319), log dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) (+0.08 log mug/dL vs. +0.20 log mug/dL, P = 0.0483), log testosterone (T) (+0.12 +/- 0.04 log ng/mL vs. -0.02 +/- 0.05 log ng/mL, P = 0.0416), log T/DHEA-S ratio (+0.05 +/- 0.05 vs. -0.23 +/- 0.59, P = 0.0015), and in one of the SF-36 subscale scores, mental health (MH) (+4 vs. -7, P = 0.0276).

CONCLUSIONS:

Six-month ingestion of RJ in humans improved erythropoiesis, glucose tolerance and mental health. Acceleration of conversion from DHEA-S to T by RJ may have been observed among these favorable effects.