Long-Term Administration of Queen Bee Acid (QBA) to Rodents Reduces Anxiety-Like Behavior, Promotes Neuronal Health and Improves Body Composition

Abstract

Background: Queen bee acid (QBA; 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid) is the predominant fatty acid in royal jelly (RJ) and has activity at estrogen receptors, which affect brain function and body composition. However, few, long-term studies have assessed QBA effects in brain health and body composition. Methods: Primary hippocampal neurons were treated with QBA (0–30 µM) and challenged with glutamate or hypoxia. QBA was fed to aged, male Sprague-Dawley rats (12–24 mg/kg/day) and to adult male and female Balb/C mice (30–60 mg/kg/day) for ≥3.5 months. Rats were evaluated in a behavioral test battery of brain function. Mice were measured for fat and muscle composition, as well as bone density. Results: QBA increased neuron growth and protected against glutamate challenge and hypoxia challenge. Rats receiving QBA had reduced anxiety-like behavior, increased body weight, and better maintenance of body weight with age. Mice receiving QBA exhibited increased body weight, muscle mass, and adiposity in males, and increased bone density, but decreased adiposity, in females. Conclusions: QBA is an active component of RJ that promotes the growth and protection of neurons, reduces anxiety-like phenotypes, and benefits bone, muscle and adipose tissues in a sex-dependent manner, which further implicates estrogen receptors in the effects of QBA.

Apitherapy for Age-Related Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction (Sarcopenia): A Review on the Effects of Royal Jelly, Propolis, and Bee Pollen

“…The vast majority of royal jelly fat content (80–85%) consists of short hydroxyl fatty acids such as trans-10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), which exists only in royal jelly; and therefore, it is known as royal jelly acid or queen bee acid [ 28 , 49 , 51 ]. 10-HDA is one of the most potent bioactive elements in royal jelly expressing strong anti-aging, neuroprotective, antiproliferative, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and epigenetic effects [ 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ]. In addition, the lipid fraction of royal jelly contains phenolic acids (4–10%), wax (5–6%), steroids (3–4%), and phospholipids (0.4–0.8%) [ 49 ].…”

“…The muscle mass-accelerating effects of 10-HDA, a key fatty acid in royal jelly, were more pronounced in male animals than in females. However, 10-HDA mitigated the accumulation of adipose tissue in female mice [ 54 ]. It is note-worthy that pRJ had no effect on muscle strength and physical performance in humans aged 70 years and above [ 59 ].…”

Apitherapy for Parkinson’s Disease: A Focus on the Effects of Propolis and Royal Jelly

“…RJ and its fatty acids demonstrate an estrogenic activity as they bind estrogen receptors β and α to stimulate the release of BDNF, GDNF, and NGF. These neurotrophins modulate cell proliferation and regulate the expression of various genes that counteract inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain neurons [ 61 , 66 , 105 – 107 ].…”

Study of the Royal Jelly Free Fatty Acids by Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS)

“…As described in the introduction, the unusual free fatty acids of RJ have been shown to exhibit a variety of bioactivities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and growth promoting activities [5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. However, no attention has been paid so far on the potential interactions of RJ fatty acids with free fatty acid receptors.…”

“…More recently, the in vitro anti-inflammatory effects of these RJ fatty acids as well as sebacic acid (decanedioic acid) was evaluated and compared in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages [9], while the bactericide and anti-inflammatory activity of 10-HDA in human colon cancer cells was studied [10]. Another interesting report demonstrated that 10-HDA promotes the growth and protection of neurons, reduces anxiety-like phenotypes, and benefits bone, muscle and adipose tissues in a sex-dependent manner [11].…”