The use of natural honey (NH) as a nutraceutical agent is associated with nutritional benefits and therapeutic promises. NH is widely accepted as food and medicine by all generations, traditions and civilizations, both ancient and modern. The nutritional profiles, including its use in infant and children feeding reported in different literatures as well as health indices and biomarkers observed by various researchers are illustrated in this manuscript. The review documents folk medicine, experimentation with animal models, and orthodox medical practices shown by clinical trials. This covers virtually all human organs and body systems extensively studied by different workers. The sources and adverse effects of NH contamination, as well as the preventive methods are identified. This could promote the availability of residue free honey and a wholesome natural product for domestic consumption and international market. This could also help to prevent health problems associated with NH poisoning. In addition, apicultural practices and the economic importance of honey are well documented. This report also includes information about a relatively unknown and uncommon South American stingless bee species. We concluded this review by identifying important roles for Ethno-entomologists, other Scientists and Apiculturists in the development of stingless bees to boost honey production, consumption and economic earnings.

The fat body in invertebrates was shown to participate in energy storage and homeostasis, apart from its other roles in immune mediation and protein synthesis to mention a few. Thus, sharing similar characteristics with the liver and adipose tissues in vertebrates. However, vertebrate adipose tissue or fat has been incriminated in the pathophysiology of metabolic disorders due to its role in production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This has not been reported in the insect fat body. The link between the fat body and adipose tissue was examined in this review with the aim of determining the principal factors responsible for resistance to inflammation in the insect fat body. This could be the missing link in the prevention of metabolic disorders in vertebrates, occasioned by obesity.

In this study we report measurements of the intracellular sodium concentration ([Na+]i) in cardiac myocytes isolated from sub-endocardial and sub-epicardial regions of the rabbit left ventricle. These measurements show that [Na+]i is significantly higher in sub-epicardial than in sub-endocardial myocytes both at rest and during steady-state stimulation at 0.5 Hz. During a 10-min rest the rate of fall of [Na+]i was identical in cells from the two regions but during post-rest recovery [Na+]i rose significantly faster in sub-endocardial cells. The effect that this difference in sodium regulation may have on the rate of recovery of the calcium transient post-rest is discussed. The steady-state differences in [Na+]i do not appear to have the effect on contraction we would expect i.e. steady-state contraction is larger in sub-endocardial cells where [Na+]i is lower. Changes in [Na+]i brought about by altering the frequency of stimulation are associated with the expected changes of contraction. Action potentials were found to be significantly longer in sub-endocardial cells and following rest action potential duration was shortened although regional differences were maintained. No regional differences in this effect of rest or in recovery of the action potential post-rest were found.