PROPOLIS AND BEE VENOM IN DIABETIC WOUNDS; A POTENTIAL APPROACH THAT WARRANTS CLINICAL INVESTIGATION

Background: Wound healing in diabetes mellitus is a complex multi-stage process that requires the proper function of multiple systems. The mechanisms of impaired wound healing of diabetic wounds are still poorly understood. Therefore, various interventions are being used for wound management without great success. Bee products have various properties that make them an important addition to the diabetic wound management. Methods: This review summarized previous and recently published papers of the effects of two bee products, propolis and bee venom, on the wound healing. The main results were obtained from preclinical experimentation. Results: Diabetes mellitus compromises immune system, increases infections, impairs wound healing, and affects cells and factors involved in the wound healing. There is an increasing interest in natural products in modern medicine as part of disease management. Bee products are natural substances that others and we have explored some of their biological activities and applications in the treatment of various diseases. Some of these products are bee venom and propolis. These products have analgesic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, both propolis and bee venom contain considerable amounts of antioxidants that have a great role in accelerating wound healing. Conclusion: There is sound rationality and scientific data for using propolis and bee venom in diabetic wound healing. We believe that topical application of propolis in addition to bee venom might have a place in repairing damaged tissues and accelerating the healing of diabetic wounds

Antimicrobial activity of Dracaena cinnabari resin from Soqotra Island on multi drug resistant human pathogens

Background: Few studies showed that Dracaena cinnabari resin, collected from Soqotra Island,  Yemen,  has antimicrobial activity. This study is the first to investigate antimicrobial activity of the resin on both antibiotic multi-resistant human pathogens and on poly-microbial culture.Material and Methods: Antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of Dracaena cinnabari resin from  Soqotra Island on multidrug resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative human ATCC standard pathogens  and Ascosphaera apis, the causal organism of chalkbrood disease of honeybee was studied using the agar disc diffusion method. The minimal inhibitory concentration of extracts was carried out by  the broth micro dilution method.Results: Ethanolic extract of Dracaena cinnabari resin showed a considerable antimicrobial activity  against all the pathogens tested. The zone of inhibition were between 4.9-11.5 mm. The most sensitive  microbe was Staphylococcus aureus and least sensitive was Aspergillus nidulans. The minimal inhibitory concentration of the extract against Escherichia. coli ATCC 10402, Klebsiella pneumonia ATCC 10031, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29212 was 1.25 μg/mL (w/v) and for the other pathogens (Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Salmonella typhimurum ATCC 3311 and Pseudomonos aeruginosa ATCC 2785) was 2.5 μg/mL (w/v).Conclusion: Ethanolic extract of Dracaena cinnabari resin has a considerable antimicrobial activity  against Gram-positive and Gram-negative human pathogens and fungi. This extract might possess a role in the management of microbial infections in human and honeybee disease.Key words: Antimicrobial Activity, Dracaena cinnabari, Human pathogens, Minimum Inhibitory Concentratio

Survey and molecular detection of Melissococcus plutonius, the causative agent of European Foulbrood in honeybees in Saudi Arabia

AbstractA large-scale field survey was conducted to screen major Saudi Arabian beekeeping locations for infection by Melissococcus plutonius. M. plutonius is one of the major bacterial pathogens of honeybee broods and is the causative agent of European Foulbrood disease (EFB). Larvae from samples suspected of infection were collected from different apiaries and homogenized in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Bacteria were isolated on MYPGP agar medium. Two bacterial isolates, ksuMP7 and ksuMP9 (16S rRNA GenBank accession numbers, KX417565 and KX417566, respectively), were subjected to molecular identification using M. plutonius -specific primers, a BLAST sequence analysis revealed that the two isolates were M. plutonius with more than 98% sequence identity. The molecular detection of M. plutonius from honeybee is the first recorded incidence of this pathogen in Saudi Arabia. This study emphasizes the need for official authorities to take immediate steps toward treating and limiting the spread of this disease throughout the country

DIURETIC ACTIVITY OF CAROB (CERATONIA SILIQUA L.) HONEY: COMPARISON WITH FUROSEMIDE

Background: Honey has wide range of biological activities. It has effect on renal function, and urinary nitric oxide and prostaglandins level. The present study was conducted to evaluate diuretic potential of carob honey, collected from Morocco, in normal rats and the results were compared with use of furosemide. Materials and methods: Adult male Wister rats weighing between 230 and 278 g were used. The animals were divided into three groups; group 1 received oral administration of distilled water (10 ml/kg BW), and served as control group, group 2 received oral administration of furosemide (10 mg/kg BW), and group 3 was treated with oral administration of carob honey (100 mg/kg BW). Urine volume, and urine and plasma sodium and potassium were measured after single dose of the interventions and after daily administrations of the interventions. Results: After the single dose of carob honey, urine output was significantly increased at all time intervals (1-6 hrs and at 24 hrs after administration). The daily dose of carob honey for nine days significantly increased urine volume as compared to control group. Carob honey increased urinary levels of sodium and potassium, and did not cause hypokalemia, while furosemide increased urinary sodium and potassium and caused hypokalemia. Conclusion: Carob honey has diuretic, natriuretic and kaliuretic activity without side effects of hypokalemia that was observed with use of furosemide

Arbutus unedo honey and propolis ameliorate acute kidney injury, acute liver injury, and proteinuria via hypoglycemic and antioxidant activity in streptozotocin-treated rats

Background/Aims: Honey and propolis have biological and therapeutic effects in various pathological and clinical conditions such as hyperglycemia and diabetes. However, the combined use of honey and propolis has not been reported. The study evaluated the protective effect of Arbutus unedo honey, propolis and their combination in streptozotocin (STR)- induced hyperglycemia, acute kidney injury (AKI), liver injury, dyslipidemia, and proteinuria in male Wistar rats. Methods: The study identified physicochemical characteristics, mineral and antioxidant content, and antioxidant activity in honey and propolis. Rats were assigned to five groups, with five rats in each group; control, STR-treated, STR-treated + honey (1g/kg/ day), STR-treated + propolis (100 mg/day), and STR-treated + honey and propolis. On day 15, blood glucose, insulin, HBA1c, kidney function tests, liver enzymes, lipid profile, hemoglobin, and urine protein, creatinine, glucose, and electrolytes were analyzed. Liver, pancreas, and kidney tissues were studied histologically. The mineral component in honey and propolis was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Honey analysis was performed by HPLC. Chemical characterization of propolis was performed by LC/DAD/ESI-MSn . Measurement of blood and urine parameters was carried out with an automated analyzer (Architect c8000) and XT-1800i Automated Hematology Analyzer. Insulin concentration was determined by Elisa and insulin resistance was estimated by using HOMA-IR. Results: Honey and propolis contain a high quantity of antioxidants and exhibit in vitro antioxidant activity. In STR-treated rats, blood glucose, HBA1c, creatinine, blood urea, liver enzymes, and urine protein significantly increased compared to the control group (P<0.05), while insulin, hemoglobin, and body weight significantly decreased. Histological changes were evident in the pancreas, kidney, and liver tissues. These results indicated AKI, liver injury, and pancreatic injury, which was evident with reducing the number of the island of Langerhans and marked hyperglycemia. The use of honey and propolis significantly (P<0.05) attenuated liver and kidney injury, and proteinuria, and improved level of hemoglobin, HBA1c, and insulin toward the normal range. The combination of honey and propolis was more effective than honey or propolis individually (P<0.05). Conclusion: the combination of propolis and honey can prevent STR-induced AKI, liver injury, proteinuria, dyslipidemia, anemia, hyperglycemia, and body weight loss, most likely by their hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio