Natural Bee Research Articles

Propolis Extract Attenuates NF-κB Activation and Chronic Kidney Disease Progression in a Rat Model: Potential Surgical Adjuvant?

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health concern often complicated by cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis. Both conditions share an inflammatory pathogenesis, with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) playing a central role. Propolis, a natural bee product with anti-inflammatory properties, has shown potential in mitigating CKD progression. This study aimed to investigate the effects of propolis extract on NF-κB activation in a rat model of CKD, exploring its potential benefits as a surgical adjuvant. Methods: Male white rats (Rattus norvegicus) were divided into three groups: a control group, a CKD group, and a CKD+Propolis group receiving propolis extract (200 mg/kg body weight) daily for 20 days. CKD was induced using the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) method. NF-κB levels were measured weekly using ELISA. Results: Propolis extract significantly reduced NF-κB levels in the CKD+Propolis group compared to the CKD group (p<0.05). This effect was consistently observed across all time points, indicating a sustained reduction in NF-κB activation with propolis treatment. Conclusion: Propolis extract effectively attenuates NF-κB activation in a rat model of CKD, suggesting its potential as an adjunctive therapy for CKD management, particularly in the context of surgical interventions. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and evaluate its efficacy in human subjects.

Investigation of Antimicrobial and Antiviral Effects of Türkiye Propolis Water Extracts: An In Vitro Study

Propolis is a natural bee product that has been used as a therapeutic agent for centuries. Propolis extracts are natural resources that attract the attention of scientists looking for new components due to the insufficiency of existing drugs. In the current study, the antiviral and antimicrobial activity of propolis water extracts prepared from three different raw propolis samples were investigated. The total flavonoid contents (TFC) and total phenolic content (TPC) of the extracts were measured. It was determined that the TPC and TFC ranged from 5.87±0.36 to 20.47±1.46 mg GAE g-1, and 0.48±0.04 to 2.10±0.22 mg QUE g-1, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts against 14 microorganisms and their effect against the Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm were investigated. Additionally, anti-quorum sensing and anti-swarming activities of the extracts were tested. The antiviral activity of the extracts was examined by MTT and qRT-PCR methods. The water extracts of propolis samples included in the study did not show antimicrobial, anti-swarming, anti-quorum sensing, and anti-viral activities. However, the extracts were found to have strong anti-biofilm activities. The results show that aquatic propolis extracts can be evaluated in the treatment of biofilms.

Changes in the Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Linden, Buckwheat and Sunflower Honey Stored at Low Temperatures

Natural bee honey can change its physicochemical and biological properties during storage. Literature data on long-term storage of honey at low temperatures (from 0 to -20 °C) indicate that this ensures the stability of some physicochemical parameters. Despite the potential benefits of these temperature regimes for practical use, it is important to consider their potential negative effects on honey quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of various temperature conditions on the physicochemical and biochemical parameters of linden, buckwheat, and sunflower honeys during storage for 12 months. For the first time, a wide range of physicochemical parameters of honey samples was analyzed before and during storage for 12 months at temperatures of 18, 10, 5, 0, -5, -10 and -18 (±2) °C. The evaluation of the physicochemical parameters before storage demonstrated that the samples fully complied with the Interstate Standards. Throughout the storage period, the HMF level remained stable at -18 °C, whereas it significantly increased at higher temperatures; for example, after 12 months at 18 °C, the increase ranged from 472.5% to 488.1%, depending on the botanical origin of the honey. However, maximum permissible concentration – MPC (25 mg/kg) was not exceeded. A decrease in the activity of diastase, D-glucose-1-oxidase and catalase was observed at all temperature conditions already during the first month of storage. Minimal changes were observed at 0 and 5 °C. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) remained stable in this temperature range. Moisture content, total mass fraction of reducing sugars, and acidity did not change significantly in all samples. An antimicrobial study using test cultures found that honey stored at 5 and 0 °C had the greatest inhibitory effect. The data obtained demonstrates that the optimal temperature range for 12-month storage of honey is between 5 and 0 °C. These findings can be used as supplementary guidance when making amendments to regulatory documents governing storage requirements for this product.

The Therapeutic Mechanisms of Honey in Mitigating Toxicity from Anticancer Chemotherapy Toxicity: A Review.

Within the domain of conventional oncochemotherapeutics, anticancer chemotherapy (AC) has emerged as a potent strategy for the treatment of cancers. AC is the mainstay strategy for solid and non-solid cancer treatment. Its mechanistic action targets the blockage of DNA transcription and the dysregulation of cell cycle machinery in cancer cells, leading to the activation of death pathways. However, the attendant side effect of toxicity inflicted by AC on healthy tissues presents a formidable challenge. The crucial culprit in the AC side effect of toxicity is unknown, although oxidative stress, mitochondrial impairment, inflammatory cascades, autophagy dysregulation, apoptosis, and certain aberrant signaling have been implicated. Honey is a natural bee product with significant health benefits and pharmacological properties. Interestingly, the literature reports that honey may proffer a protection mechanism for delicate tissue/organs against the side effect of toxicity from AC. Thus, this review delves into the prospective role of honey as an alleviator of the AC side effect of toxicity; it provides an elucidation of the mechanisms of AC toxicity and honey's molecular mechanisms of mitigation. The review endeavors to unravel the specific molecular cascades by which honey orchestrates its mitigating effects, with the overarching objective of refining its application as an adjuvant natural product. Honey supplementation prevents AC toxicity via the inhibition of oxidative stress, NF-κB-mediated inflammation, and caspase-dependent apoptosis cascades. Although there is a need for increased mechanistic studies, honey is a natural product that could mitigate the various toxicities induced by AC.

Analysis and evaluation of quality parameters of commercial propolis products using a new high Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method and Comparison of antimicrobial properties

Propolis, which has an important place in functional foods, is a natural bee product with high biological active value and is consumed in different formulations and packages worldwide. Thanks to the active compounds it contains, propolis shows biological properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoal, antitumoral, antiulcer and anti-inflammatory. However, it is seen that propolis supplements are prepared unconsciously in the market.Such commercial products need to be standardized. Within the scope of this study, characteristic compounds of Turkish propolis were initially determined with support from the literature. Subsequently, bioactive components of 23 commercial propolis products were analyzed using the new HPLC method. Then, the flavonoid content and antimicrobial activity of the samples were determined.According to the results of these analyses, the amounts of Caffeic Acid (2,16–1620,57 ppm, Quercetin (0,19–203,99 ppm), Apigenin (0,30–319,08 ppm), Kaempferol (0,56–251,15 ppm), Chrysin (3,97–2830,93 ppm), and Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (13,08–9666,48 ppm) were found to be quite different. The highest flavonoid content was measured as P2: 20847,43 mg/L and the lowest was 00003,10 mg/L in sample P13. Samples prepared for children were found to be highly diluted in terms of content. Again, it was determined that the samples with high preservation of active ingredients were products with production certificates based on laboratory analyzes. The samples were generally found to have inhibition activity against Gram (+) bacteria. Propolis samples P6 and P22 showed high activity against Gram (+) and Gram (−) bacteria and even fungi. When we evaluated some products that are insufficient in terms of content and antimicrobial activity, it was observed that antimicrobial activity increased depending on the other auxiliary chemicals used in the products. In this context, propolis products, which are very valuable in terms of health, may lose their real activity due to uncontrolled production and will gradually be devalued in the market. It is important that this valuable product should be produced and offered to the market with the necessary analysis methods without losing its effectiveness.

Food Supplement Production from Propolis, Honey, and Mulberry Molasses Its Optimization

Abstract Turkish people have been producing and consuming molasses widely for many years. Nowadays, molasses is produced not only from grapes, but also from various fruits. Mulberry molasses are rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium and have a strong antioxidant effect. It contributes to the healthy functioning of the body in terms of biological functions such as bone development, maintaining heart health, and strengthening the immune system. Honey is a natural sweetener and nutritional source. While it provides energy with its components such as fructose and glucose, organic acids, and polyphenols, it is also a real source of healing. Propolis, instead, is a natural bee product obtained by bees from plant buds and other plant materials. It has antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune system supporting properties. In this study, 12 different mixtures were created by adding different amounts of honey (15-78.5%) and propolis (1.5-5%) to mulberry molasses to increase their antioxidant, nutritional, and mineral values, and these mixtures were compared with mulberry molasses by performing analysis for pH value, electrical conductivity, water-soluble dry matter, ash content, HMF (Hydroxymethylfurfural), water activity, sugar profile, antioxidant content by the FRAP method, mineral content, total phenolic substance by the gallic acid method, aflatoxin, total acidity, and color (L, a, b). It was determined that the amount of antioxidant and phenolic substances increased as the percentage of propolis in the mixtures increased, thus providing the product with antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune system supporting properties. It was observed that the nutritional content was enriched due to the increase in the amounts of fructose and glucose with the increase in the percentage of honey. As a result, it is thought that the products obtained by adding propolis and honey to mulberry molasses can be used as natural antioxidant functional food or functional food additives.

Bee Bread as a Functional Product: Phenolic Compounds, Amino Acid, Sugar, and Organic Acid Profiles.

Bee bread (perga) is a natural bee product formed by the fermentation of the pollen collected by bees via lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. This study aims to determine the bioactive compounds, amino acid, sugar, and organic acid profile of bee bread samples collected from the Ardahan province of Türkiye. The highest total phenolic, total flavonoid, and DPPH values in bee bread samples were determined as 18.35 mg GAE/g, 2.82 mg QE/g, and 3.90 mg TEAC/g, respectively. Among phenolic compounds, gallic acid had the highest value at 39.97 µ/g. While all essential amino acids except tryptophan were detected in the samples, aspartic acid was the most dominant, followed by pyrroline and glutamic acid. Among sugars, fructose was seen at the highest level. Succinic acid, among organic acids, had the highest amount at 73.63 mg/g. Finally, all the data were subjected to a principal components analysis (PCA). Bee bread samples were grouped according to the analysis results of the districts they were collected from. This study provides information about the bioactive components and some chemical properties of bee bread, a natural product that has been the subject of recent research. It also contains essential data for future functional food production.

Grassland vertical height heterogeneity predicts flower and bee diversity: an UAV photogrammetric approach

The ecosystem services offered by pollinators are vital for supporting agriculture and ecosystem functioning, with bees standing out as especially valuable contributors among these insects. Threats such as habitat fragmentation, intensive agriculture, and climate change are contributing to the decline of natural bee populations. Remote sensing could be a useful tool to identify sites of high diversity before investing into more expensive field survey. In this study, the ability of Unoccupied Aerial Vehicles (UAV) images to estimate biodiversity at a local scale has been assessed while testing the concept of the Height Variation Hypothesis (HVH). This hypothesis states that the higher the vegetation height heterogeneity (HH) measured by remote sensing information, the higher the vegetation vertical complexity and the associated species diversity. In this study, the concept has been further developed to understand if vegetation HH can also be considered a proxy for bee diversity and abundance. We tested this approach in 30 grasslands in the South of the Netherlands, where an intensive field data campaign (collection of flower and bee diversity and abundance) was carried out in 2021, along with a UAV campaign (collection of true color-RGB-images at high spatial resolution). Canopy Height Models (CHM) of the grasslands were derived using the photogrammetry technique “Structure from Motion” (SfM) with horizontal resolution (spatial) of 10 cm, 25 cm, and 50 cm. The accuracy of the CHM derived from UAV photogrammetry was assessed by comparing them through linear regression against local CHM LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data derived from an Airborne Laser Scanner campaign completed in 2020/2021, yielding an R^2 of 0.71. Subsequently, the HH assessed on the CHMs at the three spatial resolutions, using four different heterogeneity indices (Rao’s Q, Coefficient of Variation, Berger–Parker index, and Simpson’s D index), was correlated with the ground-based flower and bee diversity and bee abundance data. The Rao’s Q index was the most effective heterogeneity index, reaching high correlations with the ground-based data (0.44 for flower diversity, 0.47 for bee diversity, and 0.34 for bee abundance). Interestingly, the correlations were not significantly influenced by the spatial resolution of the CHM derived from UAV photogrammetry. Our results suggest that vegetation height heterogeneity can be used as a proxy for large-scale, standardized, and cost-effective inference of flower diversity and habitat quality for bees.

Revealing Propolis Potential Activity on Inhibiting Estrogen Receptor and Heat Shock Protein 90 Overexpressed in Breast Cancer by Bioinformatics Approaches.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer globally, with the highest incidence of breast cancer occurring in Asian countries including Indonesia. Among the types of breast cancer, the estrogen receptor (ER)-positive subtype which is prominent with estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) overexpression genes becomes the most prevalent than the others, approximately 75% of all breast cancer cases. ERα and HSP90 play a role in breast cancer activities including breast tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis mechanism. Propolis, a natural bee product, has been explored for its anticancer activity. However, there is lack of studies that evaluated the potential inhibitor from propolis compounds to the ERα and HSP90 proteins. Therefore, this article focuses on examining the correlation between ERα and HSP90's role in breast cancer and investigating the potential of 93 unique propolis compositions in inhibiting these genes in breast cancer using in silico approaches. This study revealed the positive correlation between ERα and HSP90 genes in breast cancer disease development. Furthermore, we also found novel potential bioactive compounds of propolis against breast cancer through binding with ERα and HSP90; they were 3',4',7-trihydroxyisoflavone and baicalein-7-O-β-D glucopyranoside, respectively. Further research on these compounds is needed to elucidate deeper mechanisms and activity in the real biological system to develop new breast cancer drug treatments.

Efficacy of Experimental Propolis‐Based Toothpastes on Dentin Hypersensitivity: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background. Propolis is a natural bee product that has garnered attention due to its harmlessness and numerous beneficial biological properties. This randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled clinical trial aimed to assess the effect of toothpastes containing different concentrations of propolis (10% and 15%) on the control of dentin hypersensitivity (DH). Methods. From adults aged 18–40 years with DH, 66 teeth were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups as follows (n = 22): control (toothpaste without active ingredient), 10% propolis toothpaste, and 15% propolis toothpaste. DH was assessed thrice (baseline and 15 and 30 days after treatment) by tactile and evaporative stimuli using the visual analog scale. Data were analyzed using Friedman and Kruskal–Wallis tests. A significance level of 5% was used in all analyses. Results. All the groups showed a reduction in DH during the study (p < 0.05). The experimental groups (10% and 15% propolis) showed significantly greater reduction in DH than the control group (p < 0.05) after 30 days of treatment; however, the experimental groups displayed similar results (p > 0.05). Conclusion. Toothpastes containing propolis at concentrations of 10% and 15% were equally effective in controlling DH, regardless of their concentration. Trial Registration. This trial is registered with NCT05083052. Date of registration: 19/10/2021.

Effect-directed profiling of bee pollen versus propolis

Natural bee products are increasingly used in cosmetics, health products, and food supplements. Bee pollen and propolis are quite different products, although the processing by the bees is for the most part very similar. Hence, the bioactive compound profiles of five different bee pollen products on the market were studied in comparison to 13 propolis products using high-performance thin-layer chromatography combined with six different effect-directed planar assays. The developed non-target profiling detected bioactive compounds active according to diverse metabolic mechanisms in both bee products. However, the bioactivity of propolis samples across all assays was substantially higher than that of bee pollen. Bioactive compound zones of interest were further characterized by online elution to high-resolution mass spectrometry. Because specific hazards are known for bee products, non-target profiling has the advantage of being able to detect also bioactive contaminants or residues. Such profiling of natural bee products is highly informative and more proactive regarding quality control, food safety, and consumer protection compared to status quo methods.

The Comparison of Honey Enriched with Laboratory Fermented Pollen vs. Natural Bee Bread in Terms of Nutritional and Antioxidant Properties, Protein In Vitro Bioaccessibility, and Its Genoprotective Effect in Yeast Cells.

The aim of the study was to compare the nutritional value and bioactivity of honey enriched with a 10% addition of natural bee bread and its substitutes obtained as a result of laboratory fermentation of bee pollen. Physicochemical parameters, antioxidant properties, as well as the bioaccessibility of proteins using an in vitro static digestion model were analyzed. The bioactivity of the obtained enriched honeys was tested using the yeast model. The research indicates the similarity of honeys with the addition of "artificial bee bread" to honey with natural ones. During in vitro digestion, good bioaccessibility of the protein from the tested products was demonstrated. The ability of the products to protect yeast cells against hydrogen superoxide-induced oxidative stress was demonstrated using a qualitative spot test, which was stronger in the case of enriched honey than in pure rapeseed control honey. Significant inhibition of the growth of both strains of yeast exposed to bee pollen-enriched honeys was also demonstrated. Furthermore, all tested samples showed significant genoprotective activity against the genotoxic effect of zeocin and the reduction of the number of DNA double-strand breaks by a minimum of 70% was observed.

The Effect of Royal Jelly on Telomere Length and Some Biochemical Parameters in Wistar Albino Rats with Liver Damage Caused by Carbon Tetrachloride.

Royal jelly (RJ) is a natural bee product that has been used for therapeutic purposes since ancient times. The therapeutic properties of this product, which has rich biological content, are still being investigated with new approaches. In this study, the effect of RJ on telomere length, some antioxidant parameters, and lipid profile was examined. This study will contribute to the literature as it is the first to evaluate the effect of RJ on the length of telomeres in damaged liver tissues. In the study, the levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), telomerase, 8'-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) were investigated with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method and telomere lengths were investigated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The increased TC, LDL-C levels, and AST and ALT activities in the serum after carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration approached the control level after RJ administration. PON1 activity decreased in groups with CCl4. PON1 activity increased after RJ administration. The level of 8-OHdG, which increased groups with CCl4, decreased after RJ administration. According to the results of telomere length analysis in liver tissues, telomere lengths in damaged tissues were significantly shortened with CCl4 application and increased with RJ application. Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that RJ may have therapeutic effects on telomere lengths and some biochemistry parameters.

Use of propolis ethanolic extract as natural bee pollen preservative intended for human consumption

We propose to evaluate the use of propolis as a preservative of fresh bee pollen intended for human consumption. A quantitative in vitro assay was performed to determine the antimicrobial activity of a propolis ethanolic extract over culturable heterotrophic mesophilic bacteria and molds and yeasts from fresh bee pollen during 22 days. The chemical characteristics of the propolis extract were also determined. The results of the quantitative antimicrobial assay showed that neither of the control treatments showed an inhibitory effect similar to the propolis ethanolic extract. The antimicrobial activity was due to the presence of bioactive compounds of propolis and not because of the alcohol present as a solvent. This is the first work that presents the combination of both bee products, propolis and pollen, in order to improve the conservation of fresh bee pollen avoiding the drying process. The results of the in vitro assay were encouraging as the antimicrobial action of propolis ethanolic extract against bacteria and molds/yeasts from fresh bee pollen was excellent.

Chemical Composition and Bioactivity of Laboratory-Fermented Bee Pollen in Comparison with Natural Bee Bread.

Bee bread is a valuable product obtained from the hive on a relatively small scale, while bee pollen is more easily available. Therefore, an effective laboratory method of converting pollen into a bee bread substitute is desired. The aim of the research was to verify the influence of selected factors (temperature, ultrasound) on the quality of obtained product using Lactobacillus rhamnosus inoculum. The composition of the fermented pollen was analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), Raman spectroscopy, and SDS-PAGE and compared to natural bee bread and the original pollen. In vitro biological activity was assessed as antioxidant activity using a yeast model (BY4741 and sod1∆ strains). Fermentation of pollen occurred spontaneously and after inoculation, as demonstrated by lower pH and higher lactic acid content. Raman spectroscopy and ICP-OES confirmed changes in composition compared to the initial pollen. Compared to bee bread, the fermented pollen showed a higher content of polyphenols and comparable antioxidant activity; moreover, it accelerated yeast growth rate. In addition, a protective effect was observed for Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase 1 (sod1∆ yeast mutant exposed to hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress). The higher fermentation temperature (25 °C) produces a more bee-bread-like product, while the use of ultrasound and starter culture seems to have no positive effect.

Safety and quality of natural bee honey produced under different trademarks as sold in supermarkets

Against the background of the globalization of economic relations between countries, the activation of international trade is becoming urgent. In view of this, one of the main tasks for Ukraine as a member of the WTO and in connection with the prospect of its accession to the EU is the harmonization of national regulatory and legal requirements with international ones in the field of food safety and quality. The purpose of the research is to assess the safety and quality of honey of various types of individual domestic producers and to develop express, efficient methods for determining the quality of honey using the POCKET-PAL-3 refractometer and the safety of honey for establishing its adulteration with sodium hydrogen carbonate, alkaline detergents using indicators, as well as beet sugar by microscopy. The object of the study was the assessment of organoleptic, physico-chemical, microbiological parameters of natural bee honey of different botanical origins and varieties and detection of its adulteration, which was sold in supermarkets from various domestic manufacturers under the following trademarks. Analytical, organoleptic, physicochemical, microbiological, radiological, statistical methods of research were used to implement the research goal. Honey produced by different manufacturers according to organoleptic indicators: appearance, color, consistency, smell and taste, met the requirements of DSTU 4497:2005, except for sample №. 3, in which a discrepancy in taste was found. At the same time, according to physical and chemical parameters, honey samples №. 1, 2, 4 and 5 met the requirements of DSTU 4497:2005, except for sample №. 3 - by mass fraction of sucrose (to anhydrous substance) - 6.48±0.04 %, which did not meet the requirements of the current DSTU, the increase was 8.00 %. According to microbiological parameters and specific activity of Cs-137, it was established that all honey samples met the requirements of the national standard of Ukraine (DSTU 4497:2005). Tests were conducted to detect the adulteration of honey with sodium bicarbonate using the bromocresol green indicator, alkaline detergents using the chrome dark blue indicator, and beet sugar adulteration. For the express determination of the qualitative indicator - the mass fraction of honey, we used the POCKET-PAL-3 refractometer (Poland) for the first time. So, for the first time, we used the POCKET-PAL-3 refractometer (Poland) for the express determination of the mass fraction of water, which provides an opportunity to determine the mass fraction of dry matter with the subsequent calculation of the mass fraction of water, which ensures the reliability of the obtained indicators in 99.9 % compared to the indicators, established using a URL refractometer (model 1) in accordance with the requirements of DSTU 4497, and for the first time, patented methods of establishing the adulteration of honey with sodium bicarbonate, alkaline detergents were applied, the probability of the obtained indicators was 99.9 %, as well as adulteration with beet sugar by the microscopy method. Key words: natural honey, honey production capacity, organoleptic, physicochemical, microbiological parameters, safety, quality, consumer.

Formulation Development and Evaluation of Indian Propolis Hydrogel for Wound Healing.

Flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds play a key role in wound healing cycle modulation. Propolis, a natural bee product, has been widely reported as an enriched source of polyphenols and flavonoids as important chemical constituents and for its wound healing potential. The goal of this study was to develop and characterize a propolis-based polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel composition with wound healing potential. To understand the impacts of critical material attributes and process parameters, formulation development was carried out using a design of experiment approach. A preliminary phytochemical analysis of Indian propolis extract showed the presence of flavonoids (23.61 ± 0.0452 mg equivalent of quercetin/g) and polyphenols (34.82 ± 0.0785 mg equivalent of gallic acid/g), both of which aid in wound healing and skin tissue regeneration. The pH, viscosity, and in vitro release of the hydrogel formulation were also studied. The burn wound healing model results revealed significant (p < 0.0001) wound contraction by propolis hydrogel (93.58 + 0.15%) with rapid re-epithelialization relative to 5% w/w povidone iodine ointment USP (Cipladine®) (95.39 + 0.16%). The excision wound healing model confirms significant (p < 0.0001) wound contraction by propolis hydrogel (91.45 + 0.29%) with accelerated re-epithelialization comparable to 5% w/w povidone iodine ointment USP (Cipladine®) (94.38 + 0.21%). The developed formulation offers promise for wound healing, which may be investigated further for clinical research.

Влияние продуктов пчеловодства на показатели гликемии у детей с сахарным диабетом 1-го типа

The article presents a clinical case demonstrating the positive result of supplementing the diet of a child with type 1 diabetes (T1D) with a natural bee product "Makoshen" as a nutritional support. As a result, not only a reduction in insulin requirement was noted, but also the achievement of a favorable psycho-emotional state in the patient due to the introduction into the diet of a pleasant, sweet product that is rare for a child with T1D. Key words: apitherapy, glycated hemoglobin, children, adolescents, insulin requirement, type 1 diabetes

Financial evaluation of the natural bee honey project and the most important factors affecting it in Qena governorate

Financial evaluation of the natural bee honey project and the most important factors affecting it in Qena governorate

Propolis nanoparticle enhances antimicrobial efficacy against Enterococcus faecalis biofilms

• Propolis is a natural bee product with wide range of biological activities. • Nanoparticles in clinical endodontics improve the stability and effectiveness of drug treatment. • Propolis nanoparticle as an endodontic irrigant was effective in inhibiting biofilm formation. • Its, was able to inhibit E. faecalis biofilm adherence in concentration of sub-MIC. Propolis is a natural product that is collected by honey bees from parts of plants, buds, and exudates. The general composition of this substance varies in different geographical locations and climates. The biological characteristics of propolis are attributed to its chemical composition especially polyphenols and flavonoids. In recent years, the current trend has been towards the identification of natural products in disinfection. In addition, Nanoparticles are able to penetrate bacteria and bacterial biofilms, so they can be a potential agent for controlling the growth of bacterial infections. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of propolis and propolis nanoparticle (PN) as an endodontic irrigant against E. faecalis biofilm in vitro . PN was prepared by the ultrasonication method. Scanning electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering were used to measure the size and morphology of the produced nanoparticles. The antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity of Iranian propolis (IP), PN and sodium hypochlorite (5.25% NaOCl) against E. faecalis (PTCC 1778) were assessed. Results indicated that PN, at a concentration 10 times lower, was more effective against E. faecalis (PTCC 1778) than IP ( p <0.001). Also, PN was able to inhibit the adhesion of E. faecalis biofilm at lower concentrations than IP ( p <0.001) which could be due to the reduced particle size, leading to better nanoparticle penetration. Further research is needed to investigate the synergistic effect of propolis and PN in combination with endodontic irrigants and to understand their mechanism of action.