Background:
Juniperus procera and Majra honey are well-known as a folk medicine in many countries.
Objectives:
This work aimed to study the immunomodulatory effects after mixing Majra honey, J. procera
water leaves extract and silver Nanoparticles (AgNPs) on immune or cancer cells.
Methods:
Juniperus procera water leaves extract and 20% Majra honey were prepared. Both the extract and
honey were used separately to synthesize AgNPs. AgNPs were characterized using UV/Vis spectrophotometry
and electron microscopy. Bioactive molecules in honey and the extract were explored using Fourier Transform
Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Protein profile of honey was explored using Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-
Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and honey sugar content was determined using High-
Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Biological activities of honey and the extract were tested.
Results:
The results demonstrated the ability of the extract/honey to produce AgNPs in a spherical shape. The
extract/honey contained many functional groups. SDS-PAGE of Majra honey showed many protein bands.
HPLC revealed honey is of good quality and no external additives are added to it. The extract and extract+
AgNPs inhibited the growth of normal rat splenic cells while honey stimulated it. The extract+honey
turned stimulatory to the splenic cells’ growth and significantly diminished the inhibitory potential of the extract
containing AgNPs. Both the extract and honey have antimicrobial activities, this potential increased in the presence
of AgNPs. Honey and Honey+AgNPs inhibited HepG2 cancer cell proliferation while Hela cell growth
inhibited only with honey+AgNPs.
Conclusion:
Both honey and the extract have antibacterial and immunomodulatory potentials as well as the
power to produce AgNPs. Majra honey alone showed anticancer activity against HepGe2 cells, but not against
Hela cells, and when contained AgNPs had anticancer activity on both cell lines. Mixing of Majra honey with J.
procera extract showed characterized immunomodulatory potentials that can be described as immunostimulant.
Historical droughts recorded in extended Juniperus procera ring-width chronologies from the Ethiopian Highlands
