Antioxidant Properties of Bee Products Derived from Medicinal Plants as Beekeeping Sources

Durazzo, Alessandra; Lucarini, Massimo; Plutino, Manuela; Pignatti, Giuseppe; Karabagias, Ioannis K.; Martinelli, Erika; Souto, Eliana B.; Santini, Antonello; Lucini, Luigi

doi:10.3390/agriculture11111136

Cited by 17 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 126 publications

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“…Thus, there is an urgent need for controlling the feeding process of bees as an effective method to enrich honey with desirable bioactive plant components, which can be achieved using natural herbs. This method is considered a creative and innovative way of producing bee products rich in bioactive compounds as reported by recent studies (e.g., [ 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]). These bioactive compounds mainly depend on the plant species, such as the coumarin in the case of using the flowers of the Melilotus officinalis herb [ 42 ], or patented herbal extract [ 44 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Yogurt Fortified with Honey Produced by Feeding Bees Natural Plant Extracts for Controlling Human Blood Sugar Level

Prokisch

El-Ramady

Daróczi³

et al. 2022

Plants

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The human blood sugar level is important and should be controlled to avoid any damage to nerves and blood vessels which could lead to heart disease and many other problems. Several market-available treatments for diabetes could be used, such as insulin therapy, synthetic drugs, herbal drugs, and transdermal patches, to help control blood sugar. In a double-blind human study, four kinds of honey from bees fed on acacia, sea buckthorn, chlorella alga, and green walnut extracts were used in fortifying yogurt for controlling human blood sugar. The impact of a previously fortified honey was investigated on blood levels and other parameters of healthy individuals in a human study with 60 participants. The participants received 150 mL of yogurt mixed with 30 g of honey every morning for 21 days. Before and after the study period, the basic blood parameters were tested, and the participants filled out standardized self-report questionnaires. Acacia honey was the traditional honey used as a control; the special honey products were produced by the patented technology. The consumption of green walnut honey had a significant effect on the morning blood sugar level, which decreased for every participant in the group (15 people). The average blood sugar level at the beginning in the walnut group was 4.81 mmol L−1, whereas the value after 21 days was 3.73 mmol L−1. The total decrease level of the individuals was about 22.45% (1.08 mmol L−1). Concerning the sea buckthorn and chlorella alga-based honey product groups, there was no significant change in the blood sugar level, which were recorded at 4.91 and 5.28 mmol L−1 before treatment and 5.28 and 5.07 mmol L−1 after, respectively. In the case of the acacia honey group, there was a slight significant decrease as well, it was 4.77 mmol L−1 at the beginning and 4.27 mmol L−1 at the end with a total decrease rate of 10.48%. It could thus be concluded that the active ingredients of green walnut can significantly decrease the blood sugar level in humans. This study, as a first report, is not only a new innovative process to add herbs or healthy active ingredients to honey but also shows how these beneficial ingredients aid the honey in controlling the human blood sugar level.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Yogurt Fortified with Honey Produced by Feeding Bees Natural Plant Extracts for Controlling Human Blood Sugar Level

Prokisch

El-Ramady

Daróczi³

et al. 2022

Plants

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“…Apitheraphy, that is, medicine employing bee products. All communities have a wealth of traditional knowledge about the curative benefits of bee products [62].…”

Section: Central Role Of Beekeepingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adoption of Modern Hive Beekeeping Technology: Evidence from Ethiopia

Bojago¹

2023

Honey - Composition and Properties

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Ethiopian farmers have a variety of livelihood alternatives, including beekeeping. This book chapter discusses the extent to which farmers have adopted modern Hive Beekeeping Technology as well as the factors that influence adoption. Better beehive technology has a significant positive impact on honey output. Farmers are encouraged to adopt or continue using the technology because the return on investment, that is productivity increases, has been realized. Because improved beehive technology adoption has multiplier effects ranging from increased beekeeping productivity to economic growth and poverty reduction, the study’s findings highlight the importance of appropriate policy implementation that promotes the adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies in general and improved beehive technology in particular. As a result, it is recommended that policies be developed to take advantage of the factors influencing farmers’ adoption of improved beehive technology. Furthermore, efforts should be made to increase access to improved beehives by introducing substitutes that can be built from locally available materials while lowering production costs, such as chefeka.

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“…The antioxidant activity of bee products can be related to the presence of bioactive molecules [ 8 ], including phenolic compounds, aromatic acids, alcohols, and sugars [ 9 ], that are capable of neutralizing oxidative stress effects [ 10 ]. Oxidative stress results from the imbalance between the production of reactive species, such as oxygen, and the number of antioxidant agents to neutralize them [ 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Components and Antioxidant Activity of Geotrigona sp. and Tetragonisca fiebrigi Stingless Bee Cerumen Reduce Juglone-Induced Oxidative Stress in Caenorhabditis elegans

et al. 2023

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Cerumen is a bee product produced exclusively by stingless bees, resulting from a mixture of beeswax and plant resins. The antioxidant activity of bee products has been investigated since oxidative stress is associated with the onset and progression of several diseases that can lead to death. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of cerumen produced by the Geotrigona sp. and Tetragonisca fiebrigi stingless bees, in vitro and in vivo. The chemical characterization of cerumen extracts was performed by HPLC, GC, and ICP OES analyses. The in vitro antioxidant potential was evaluated by DPPH• and ABTS•+ free radical scavenging methods, and in human erythrocytes subjected to oxidative stress with AAPH. In vivo, the antioxidant potential was evaluated in Caenorhabditis elegans nematodes subjected to oxidative stress with juglone. Both cerumen extracts presented phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and metallic minerals in their chemical constitution. The cerumen extracts showed antioxidant activity by capturing free radicals, reducing lipid peroxidation in human erythrocytes, and reducing oxidative stress in C. elegans, observed by the increase in viability. The results obtained indicate that cerumen extracts from Geotrigona sp. and Tetragonisca fiebrigi stingless bees may be promising against oxidative stress and associated diseases.

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Antioxidant Properties of Bee Products Derived from Medicinal Plants as Beekeeping Sources

Cited by 17 publications

References 126 publications

Functional Yogurt Fortified with Honey Produced by Feeding Bees Natural Plant Extracts for Controlling Human Blood Sugar Level

Functional Yogurt Fortified with Honey Produced by Feeding Bees Natural Plant Extracts for Controlling Human Blood Sugar Level

Adoption of Modern Hive Beekeeping Technology: Evidence from Ethiopia

Chemical Components and Antioxidant Activity of Geotrigona sp. and Tetragonisca fiebrigi Stingless Bee Cerumen Reduce Juglone-Induced Oxidative Stress in Caenorhabditis elegans

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