Friday, March 20, 2015

Honey Effective as Antiprotozoal Agent

Protective properties of honey are frequently understated. This study found Ziziphus honey  outperformed a leading antibiotic in eliminating a common parasite. A very important result, especially in developing countries where water supplies aren't reliable. In fact, Giardiasis is the most common pathogenic parasitic infection in humans worldwide.

Antigiardial activity of glycoproteins and glycopeptides from Ziziphus honey
Nat Prod Res. 2015 Jan 14:1-3

Natural honey contains an array of glycoproteins, proteoglycans and glycopeptides. Size-exclusion chromatography fractionated Ziziphus honey proteins into five peaks with molecular masses in the range from 10 to >200 kDa. The fractionated proteins exhibited in vitro activities against Giardia lamblia with IC50 values ≤ 25 μg/mL. 


Results indicated that honey proteins were more active as antiprotozoal agents than metronidazole. This study indicated the potential of honey proteins and peptides as novel antigiardial agents.


Monday, March 16, 2015

Adjuvant Cancer Treatment Improves with Propolis

Interest in propolis is mounting rapidly and its role as an adjuvant is a consistent finding in complementary and alternative therapies. Moreover, its ability to cause cell death or apoptosis in tumor cells is irreproachable, especially considering that it has no negative side effects.

Emerging Adjuvant Therapy for Cancer: Propolis and its Constituents
J Diet Suppl. 2015 Feb 27. [Epub ahead of print]

Propolis is a bee-metabolized resinous substance (bee glue) from plant sap and gums. It has been in usage as a healing agent since antiquity, yet has not garnered global popularity as a health promoter. Its biological effects, which range from antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, dermatoprotective, anti-allergic, laxative and immunomodulatory to anticancer, have been validated.

Propolis has shown efficacy against brain, head and neck, skin, breast, liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder, prostate, colon and blood cancers.

The inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases, anti-angiogenesis, prevention of metastasis, cell-cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis and moderation of the chemotherapy-induced deleterious side effects have been deduced as the key mechanisms of cancer manipulation. The components conferring antitumor potentials have been identified as caffeic acid phenethyl ester, chrysin, artepillin C, nemorosone, galangin, cardanol, etc. These compounds target various genetic and biochemical pathways of cancer progression. Depending on the botanical sources and the geographical origin, biological activities of propolis vary. Despite phenomenal development in cancer research, conventional therapy falls short in complete malignancy management.

The findings obtained so far build hope that propolis as a complementary medicine may address the lacunae. This review documents the recent advances and scope of amendement in cancer remediation with adequate emphasis on the mechanistic aspect of propolis.




Thursday, March 12, 2015

Honey: A Realistic Antimicrobial for Skin Disorders

A reassuring assessment of the antimicrobial properties of honey without singling out any particular nectar source. More importantly, it reinforces honey's value in reversing antimicrobial resistance...

Honey: A realistic antimicrobial for disorders of the skin

Resistance of pathogenic microorganisms to antibiotics is a serious global health concern. In this review, research investigating the antimicrobial properties of honeys from around the world against skin relevant microbes is evaluated.

A plethora of in vitro studies have revealed that honeys from all over the world have potent microbicidal activity against dermatologically important microbes. Moreover, in vitro studies have shown that honey can reduce microbial pathogenicity as well as reverse antimicrobial resistance. Studies investigating the antimicrobial properties of honey in vivo have been more controversial.

It is evident that innovative research is required to exploit the antimicrobial properties of honey for clinical use and to determine the efficacy of honey in the treatment of a range of skin disorders with a microbiological etiology.