N-Chromosome Royal Jelly, Propolis and Bee Pollen Supplementation Improve the Clinical Conditions of COVID-19 Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Royal jelly, propolis, and bee pollen are used for different purposes all around the world according to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. Given that Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral condition accompanied by a dysregulated inflammatory response in the body, we intend to evaluate the effects of natural supplementations on the disease course. A randomized, open-label, controlled trial was conducted among 50 definitive cases of COVID-19. These patients were randomly assigned into control and intervention groups. Royal Jelly, propolis, and bee pollen were prescribed to patients in the intervention group (n = 24) in addition to conventional treatment; while the control group only received the standard treatment (n = 26). At the end of the study, functional class improved in both groups, but this change was more pronounced in the intervention group (p < 0.05). Moreover, total symptoms duration and the time to return to work were significantly reduced in the intervention group (p < 0.05). Although royal jelly, propolis, and bee pollen are not definitive treatments in COVID-19 patients, they can be used as an adjuvant treatment to limit disease symptoms and virus propagation.

First report of fatty acids in Mimosadiplotricha bee pollen with in vitro lipase inhibitory activity

Bee pollen (BP) is full of nutrients and phytochemicals, and so it is widely used as a health food and alternative medicine. Its composition and bioactivity mainly depend on the floral pollens. In this work, BP collected by Apis mellifera with different monoculture flowering crops (BP1-6) were used. The types of floral pollen in each BP were initially identified by morphology, and subsequently confirmed using molecular phylogenetic analysis. Data from both approaches were consistent and revealed each BP to be monofloral and derived from the flowers of Camellia sinensis L., Helianthus annuus L., Mimosa diplotricha, Nelumbo nucifera, Xyris complanata, and Ageratum conyzoides for BP1 to BP6, respectively. The crude extracts of all six BPs were prepared by sequential partition with methanol, dichloromethane (DCM), and hexane. The crude extracts were then tested for the in vitro (i) α-amylase inhibitory, (ii) acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChEI), and (iii) porcine pancreatic lipase inhibitory (PPLI) activities in terms of the percentage enzyme inhibition and half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50). The DCM partitioned extract of X. complanata BP (DCMXBP) had the highest active α-amylase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 1,792.48 ± 50.56 µg/mL. The DCM partitioned extracts of C. sinensis L. BP (DCMCBP) and M. diplotricha BP (DCMMBP) had the highest PPLI activities with an IC50 value of 458.5 ± 13.4 and 500.8 ± 24.8 µg/mL, respectively), while no crude extract showed any marked AChEI activity. Here, the in vitro PPLI activity was focused on. Unlike C. sinensis L. BP, there has been no previous report of M. diplotricha BP having PPLI activity. Hence, DCMMBP was further fractionated by silica gel 60 column chromatography, pooling fractions with the same thin layer chromatography profile. The pooled fraction of DCMMBP2-1 was found to be the most active (IC50 of 52.6 ± 3.5 µg/mL), while nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed the presence of unsaturated free fatty acids. Gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection analysis revealed the major fatty acids included one saturated acid (palmitic acid) and two polyunsaturated acids (linoleic and linolenic acids). In contrast, the pooled fraction of DCMMBP2-2 was inactive but pure, and was identified as naringenin, which has previously been reported to be present in M. pigra L. Thus, it can be concluded that naringenin was compound marker for Mimosa BP. The fatty acids in BP are nutritional and pose potent PPLI activity.

THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROCESS OF GRINDING AND COMPACTION OF THE BEE POLLEN BY WORKING BEES DURING BEE BREAD PREPARATION

Установлено особливості поведінки медоносних бджіл під час перероблення обніжжя на пергу. Дослідження проводилися на бджолиних сім’ях української степової породи, які відповідали вимогам стандарту. Установлено, що споживають бджоли обніжжя в основному до п’ятнадцятиденного віку, а перероблюють його для зберігання переважно у шістнадцяти - двадцяти п’ятиденному віці. Робочою частиною, яка бере участь в ущільненні обніжжя, є верхні щелепи, верхня губа й частина кліпеуса. В середньому тривалість споживання та ущільнення обніжжя, майже однакова. Для відкладання бджолами обніжжя на стільнику необхідні: наявність різновікових бджіл на стільнику; відповідна щільність бджіл на одиниці площі; наявність різновікового розплоду та кормових запасів на стільнику або поряд з ним на сусідньому стільнику. Ключові слова: бджолина сім’я, українська степова порода бджіл, бджолине обніжжя, перга, щелепи бджіл, вік бджоли, стільник, бджолиний розплід, комірки.

Screening of Plant Pollen Sources, Polyphenolic Compounds, Fatty Acids and Antioxidant/Antimicrobial Activity from Bee Pollen

In this study, the botanical origin, total flavonoid and phenolic content, antioxidant activity, phenolic profile and fatty acid composition of mixed bee pollen loads collected in Bayburt, Turkey, were determined. In addition to these assays, antibacterial activity of bee-collected pollen extract (BCPE) against a variety of food-borne pathogenic bacteria was determined in vitro. Pollen loads were classified into five botanical families based on their color: Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Campanulaceae, Cistaceae and Rosaceae. Total flavonoid, total phenolic, CUPRAC and CERAC concentrations were 173.52 mg GAE/g, 79.21 mg QE/g, 85.59 mg Trolox/g and 118.13 mg Trolox/g, respectively. Twenty-three phenolic compounds were scanned in bee pollen extract by LC-MS/MS, with rutin being the most abundant. Cis-4,7,10,13,16,19 docosahexaenoic acid was the predominant fatty acid, followed by cis-11-eicosenoic acid, palmitic acid, and alfa linolenic acid. In addition, the agar well diffusion (AWD) and micro-broth dilution methods were used to determine of the antibacterial activity of the BCPE sample. MIC values were observed to vary between 2.5–5 mg/mL for Gram-positive bacteria and 5–10 mg/mL for Gram-negative bacteria. These findings indicate that bee pollen could be a potential source of antioxidants and antimicrobials.

Protective Effect of Bee Pollen In Acute Kidney Injury, Proteinuria, And Crystalluria Induced By Ethylene Glycol Ingestion In Rats

Oxidative stress plays a role in hyperoxaluria-induced kidney injury and crystallization. Bee pollen is a hive product with a high content of antioxidants. The antioxidant content and protective effect of bee pollen extract (BPE) against ethylene glycol (EG) induced crystalluria and acute kidney injury (AKI) were investigated. Ten groups of male Wistar rats were treated with EG, cystone (500 mg/kg) or BPE at doses 100, 250, and 500 mg/ kg. On day 30, blood and urine samples were collected for analysis. Kidneys were removed for histopathological study. The antioxidant activity of BPE was assessed, and its total phenols and flavonoids were determined. EG significantly increased urine pH, volume, calcium, phosphorus, uric acid, and protein, and blood urea, creatinine, and liver enzymes (P<0.05). It decreased creatinine clearance and urine magnesium and caused crystalluria. Treatment with BPE or cystone mitigates EG's effect; BPE was more potent than cystone (P<0.05). BPE increases urine volume, sodium, and magnesium compared to the control and EG treated groups. BPE reduces proteinuria and prevents AKI, crystalluria, liver injury, and histopathological changes in the kidney tissue caused by EG. BPE might have a protective effect against EG-induced AKI, crystalluria, and proteinuria, and stone deposition, most likely by its antioxidant content and activity.

The influence of feed quality on the development and productivity of bee queens

The research aimed to study the effect of additional protein feeding of foster families with buckwheat stalks. The research was conducted during the summer period in 2020 and 2021. Ten foster families were selected for the experiment. All families are chosen by the method of analogs. Bees were kept in beehives. The uterus of the Carpathian breed took part in the investigation. Control families were fed 200 g of sugar syrup (1:1) twice daily for 8 and 21 hours. Feeding began three days before inoculation of queen cells and continued until the time of their sealing. The experimental families were fed the same amount of sugar syrup. Still, they received an additional 0.5 kg of protein feed in the form of bee pollen from buckwheat, the average protein content of which was 22.0 ± 0.32 %. Bee pollen is obtained by selection with the help of mounted on the auxiliary families of hinged pollen catchers with a diameter of the inlet of the pollen catcher lattice 5 mm. Pruning was carried out during the flowering of buckwheat in the period from morning to 13 o'clock in the afternoon. Adding bee pollination to the feed of foster families improves the growth and development of queens. Balancing the diet by nutrients increases the reproductive performance of the uterus, which is directly proportional to the level of their protein supply. When growing queens, the introduction of additional protein components of feed into the diet of foster families in the form of buckwheat leads to an increase in the maximum load of honeycomb by 11.4 %. The level of development of the pharyngeal glands in the researcher's families was 49 % higher. Balancing the diet by nutrients increases the reproductive performance of the queens of the Carpathian breed of bees by 16 % compared to the control.