The effects of royal jelly on liver damage induced by paracetamol in mice.
Kanbur M, Eraslan G, Beyaz L, Silici S, Liman BC, Altinordulu S, Atasever A.
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Erciyes, Kayseri, Turkey.
The present study was undertaken to investigate the protective effect of royal jelly against paracetamol-induced liver damage. The study was conducted in 90 female Swiss Albino mice, and six groups were established. While the first group was maintained as control, Groups 2-6 were administered 200mg/kg RJ for 1 day, 200mg/kg RJ for 7 days, 400mg/kg PAR for 1 day, 200mg/kg RJ plus 400mg/kg PAR for 1 day and 200mg/kg RJ for 7 days and then second 400mg/kg PAR on the 7th day, orally, respectively. It was shown that PAR significantly increased serum ALT, AST, ALP, liver MDA levels and significantly decreased liver GSH-Px activity, when compared to the control group (Group 1). On the other hand, meaningful changes were observed in the biochemical parameters of the group which was administered long-term RJ (Group 6). The aforementioned parameters which were statistically significant were determined to have drawn closer to values of the control group, and among these, the existing statistical differences for MDA level and GSH-Px activity between the trial group (Group 6) and the control group disappeared (Group 1). Compared to the pathological changes observed in the liver parenchyma, remark cords, sinusoids and hepatocytes in the group which was administered paracetamol alone (Group 4), lesions were determined to be less severe particularly in the group (Group 6) which received royal jelly for 7 days prior to paracetamol. In conclusion, the administration of royal jelly as a hepatoprotective agent for 7 days against paracetamol-induced liver damage was determined to exhibit marked protective effect on liver tissue.
Evaluation of the immunomodulatory activities of royal jelly components in vitro.
Gasic S, Vucevic D, Vasilijic S, Antunovic M, Chinou I, Colic M.
Institute of Medical Research, MMA, Belgrade, Crnotravska, Belgrade, Serbia.
In this work the effect of different components isolated from royal jelly (RJ) was studied using an in vitro rat T-cell proliferation assay. We found that lower concentrations of MEL 174 (final water extract of RJ) and MEL 147 (3-10-dihydroxydecanoic acid) stimulated T-cell proliferation, triggered by concanavalin A (Con-A) and the process was followed by an increase in the production of interleukin-2 (IL-2). Higher concentrations of MEL 174, MEL 247 (dry powder of RJ) and MEL 138 (trans-10-hydroxydec-2-enoic acid) inhibited T-cell proliferation. The inhibition of T-cell proliferation in the presence of MEL 174 was followed by a decrease in IL-2 production, which was partly abrogated by exogenous IL-2, a decrease in nitric oxide (NO) production and increased apoptosis. In conclusion, our results showed the complexity of biological activity of RJ and suggest that its water extract possesses the most potent immunomodulatory activity in vitro.
1: Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2007;29(3-4):521-36
Functional Properties of Honey, Propolis, and Royal Jelly
M. VIUDA-MARTOS, Y. RUIZ-NAVAJAS, J. FERN´ANDEZ-L´OPEZ, AND J.A. P´EREZ-´ALVAREZ
Propolis and its derivates have the capacity to inhibit virus propagation. Several in vitro studies have shown the effect of propolis on the DNA and RNA of different viruses, among them Herpes simplex type 1, Herpes simplex type 2, adenovirus type 2, vesicular estomatitis virus, and poliovirus type 2. The effects observed involve a reduction in viral multiplication and even a virucidal action (Amoros and others 1992a).
It has also been claimed that various propolis fractions affect the replication of viruses such as vaccinia virus and the virus responsible forNewcastle disease (Maksimova and others 1985). Substances isolated from propolis have also been seen to have antiviral activity. For example, isopentyl ferulate inhibits the infectious activity of Hong Kong virus A (Serkedjieva and others 1992). In studies by Critchfield and others (1996), it was seen that characteristic honey flavonoids, like chrysin, acacetin, and apigenin, inhibit the activation of HIV-1 in latent models of infection through a mechanism that probably includes inhibition of viral transcription. Two of the flavonoids present in propolis (chrysin and campherol) have
also been studied and were seen to be very active in the inhibition of replications of several herpes viruses, adenovirus, and rotavirus (Cheng and Wong 1996), while other flavonoids, which are responsible
for antioxidant activity (galangin and acacentin) had no effect on these viruses (Debiaggi and others 1990; Amoros and others 1992b). However, other studies have pointed to the antiviral effect of galangin on herpes simple virus (HSV) and Coxsackie b virus (Meyer and others 1997). Flavonoids such as quercetin and rutin, which are found in both honey and propolis (Yao and others 2004; Orsolic and Basic 2005), show antiviral activity against HSV, syncytial virus, poliovirus, and Sindbis virus (Selway 1986;Middleton and Chithan 1993). The action mechanisms proposed for these compounds are related with the inhibition of viral polymerase and the binding of viral nucleic acid or viral capsid proteins (Selway 1986). Up to now,we have referred to the separate actions of the phenolic compounds present in honey or propolis and howthe flavonoids show antiviral activity. However, the individual components may also act synergistically. Indeed, some studies have pointed to such synergism. For example, Amor´os and others (1992b) and Cushine and Lamb (2005) mention the synergistic effect of apigenin and campherol on SV, which would explain why honey and propolis present greater antiviral activity than their individual components.
Propolis and the immune system: a review.Sforcin JM.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, UNESP, 18618-000 Botucatu, SP, Brazil. [email protected]
Propolis has been used empirically for centuries and it was always mentioned as an immunomodulatory agent. In recent years, in vitro and in vivo assays provided new information concerning its mechanisms of action, thus a review dealing with propolis and the immune system became imperative. This review compiles data from our laboratory as well as from other researchers, focusing on its chemical composition and botanical sources, the seasonal effect on its composition and biological properties, its immunomodulatory and antitumor properties, considering its effects on antibody production and on different cells of the immune system, involving the innate and adaptive immune response. In vitro and in vivo assays demonstrated the modulatory action of propolis on murine peritoneal macrophages, increasing their microbicidal activity. Its stimulant action on the lytic activity of natural killer cells against tumor cells, and on antibody production was demonstrated. Propolis inhibitory effects on lymphoproliferation may be associated to its anti-inflammatory property. In immunological assays, the best results were observed when propolis was administered over a short-term to animals. Propolis antitumor property and its anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic potential are discussed. Since humans have used propolis for different purposes and propolis-containing products have been marketed, the knowledge of its properties with scientific basis is not only of academic interest but also of those who use propolis as well. This review opens a new perspective on the investigation of propolis biological properties, mainly with respect to the immune system.作者: lemonades 时间: 2009-9-23 00:55
Propolis and Herba Epimedii extracts enhance the non-specific immune response and disease resistance of Chinese sucker, Myxocyprinus asiaticus.Zhang G, Gong S, Yu D, Yuan H.
College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
The effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulated from propolis and Herba Epimedii extracts at the ratio of 3:1 (w/w) on non-specific immune response of Chinese sucker (Myxocyprinus asiaticus) was investigated. Fish were fed diets containing 0 (control), 0.1%, 0.5% or 1.0% TCM extracts for five weeks. The respiratory burst and phagocytic activities of blood leukocytes, lysozyme and natural haemolytic complement activities in plasma were measured weekly. After five weeks of feeding, fish were infected with Aeromonas hydrophila and mortalities were recorded. Results of this study showed that feeding Chinese sucker with different dosage of TCM extracts stimulated respiratory burst activity, phagocytosis of phagocytic cells in blood and lysozyme activity in plasma. They had no effect on plasma natural haemolytic complement activity. All dosage of treated groups showed reduced mortality following A. hydrophila infection. Feed containing 0.5% TCM extracts was the most effective with the mortality of the fish significantly reduced by 35% compared to the control. The results indicate that propolis and Herba Epimedii extracts in combination enhances the non-specific immune response and disease resistance of Chinese sucker against A. hydrophila.作者: lemonades 时间: 2009-9-23 01:11