Honey‐bee products in prevention and/or therapy of murine transplantable tumours

Abstract

We investigated the effects of water-soluble derivative of propolis (WSDP), caffeic acid, honey, royal jelly and bee venom on tumour development and metastasis in murine tumour models. Transplantable murine tumours were used: a spontaneous mammary carcinoma (MCa) and a methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma (FS) of CBA mouse. Metastases in the lung were generated by injecting 10 5 or 2 × 10 5 viable tumour cells intravenously. Tumours in the hind leg were generated by subcutaneous injection of 10 4 or 10 5 mammary carcinoma cells. Oral application of WSDP or caffeic acid significantly reduced subcutaneous tumour growth and prolonged survival of mice. Honey also exerted a pronounced antimetastatic effect (p < 0.01 or p < 0.001) when applied before tumour cell inoculation (2 g kg −1 orally once a day for 10 consecutive days). Royal jelly did not affect the formation of metastases when given intraperitoneally or subcutaneously. However, synchronous application of tumour cells and royal jelly intravenously significantly (p < 0.001) inhibited the formation of metastases. When bee venom was injected intratumourally, tumours decreased in size. These findings demonstrated that honey-bee products given orally or systemically may have an important role controlling tumour growth and metastasis.

Effects of Local Administration of Propolis and Its Polyphenolic Compounds on Tumor Formation and Growth

“…The life span of mice treated with WSDP and CA before tumor cell inoculation was significantly prolonged compared with controls. 35) To determine direct effects on tumor growth, we injected the test compounds locally and immediately thereafter at the site of tumor cell inoculation. The data shown in Table 2 and Fig.…”

Activities of alkaline phosphatase, glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase in liver and serum of <I>Trypanosoma brucei</I>-infected rats treated with honey

“…It is well documented that honey has antimicrobial and therapeutic properties [12][13][14][15] . The composition and physicochemical properties of honey may be responsible for its therapeutic properties 9,10,15 . Honey is known to contain some level of hydrogen peroxide 21 , a factor which may not be unconnected with its ability to maintain low parasitaemia in trypanosome-infected rats ( Fig.…”

“…It has been reported as having antimicrobial properties 12 as well as therapeutic effects on internal and external ailments [13][14][15] .…”

The effect of royal jelly on the growth of breast cancer in mice

“…RJP30, a substance obtained from RJ crude protein, which was extracted by precipitation with 30% ammonium sulfate, was demonstrated to be cytotoxic for HeLa human cervicouterine carcinoma cells, and diminish cell density to 50% of the original carcinoma cell after 7 days of treatment (10). RJ exhibited no significant effects on the formation of metastases in spontaneous mammary carcinoma of CBA mice when it was given intraperitoneally or subcutaneously (11). However, when RJ and tumor cells were injected synchronously into mice, RJ was able to inhibit the formation of metastases in the lung (11).…”

“…However, when RJ and tumor cells were injected synchronously into mice, RJ was able to inhibit the formation of metastases in the lung (11). The therapeutic properties of RJ have been examined in various cells, including MCF-7 (mouse macrophages), spontaneous mammary carcinoma cells and methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma CBA mouse cells (9,11,12).…”