Bee Pollen, Propolis & Royal Jelly

The common honey bee is a fascinating insect that offers humans valuable superfoods—including bee pollen, royal jelly and propolis—with health-promoting benefits.

Bee pollen is pollen gathered from plants by honeybees and brought back to their hives . Bee pollen contains five-to seven-times more the amount of essential amino acids found in equal weights of traditional high protein foods. It also contains vitamins A, D, E, K and C, plus bioflavonoids, as well as the complete B-complex. It has especially high levels of niacin and pantothenic acid (B5), which is particularly beneficial for the adrenal glands. Bee pollen has been traditionally used as an antiaging food and an energy enhancer.

Part of bee pollen’s anti-aging benefits may come from its antioxidant activity. One animal study demonstrated bee pollen was able to abolish the effects of harmful ionizing radiation on the brain.¹ It has also been shown to normalize the activity of the endogenous antioxidant glutathione enzymes in the liver² and decrease lipoperoxide levels in animals fed a limited diet.³ Free radicals can also contribute toward lipofuscin accumulation in the liver and brain; internal toxic accumulation of lipofuscin can manifestas “ liver spots.” Animal research has shown bee pollen markedly reduces lipofuscin in the heart, and significantly inhibits the increase of lipofuscin in cardiac, liver, brain and adrenal gland cells.⁴

Bee pollen has al so be en found to increase energy levels. One possible explanation for this—bee pollen helps to increase red blood cells and the hemoglobin component of red blood cells, thereby increasing the red blood cells’ oxygen-carrying capacity. For example, in one animal study, bee pollen resulted in increases in hemoglobin and serum iron.⁵ In a study on humans, bee pollen and several other Chinese herbs were found to increase the number of red blood cells, as well.⁶

Propolis, often referred to as “bee glue,” is a resinous substance used in the construction and repair of the bee hive. It is a mixture of resin, essential oils and waxes, and also contains amino acids , minerals, ethanol, vitamins A, B-complex and E, and flavonoids.⁷ In addition to its adhesive application, propolis also has ant imicrobial proper ties, which prevents micro-organisms from entering the hive.

In vitro research has demonstrated propolis has significant antibacterial activity, and also helps to reduce oxidationpotential.⁸ Additional research has shown propolis inhibits the growth of bacteria, particularly gram-positive bacteria.^9,10,11 Propolis has also been noted to have specific antibacterial activity against strains associated with upper respiratory tract infections in humans.¹² In addition, propolis has shown to possess antifungal effects against Candida albicans.¹³

Propolis’ antibacterial properties may also support oral health. In one study, propolis was found to inhibit certain enzymes and bacteria that are chief culprits in the formation of dental cavities.¹⁴ Other research demonstrated a similar antibacterial effect, including a reduction of bacteria in saliva.¹⁵ Propolis also has desensitizing properties for teeth. In one study, propolis was administered to 26 women with sensitive teeth over a period of four weeks.¹⁶ Eighty-five percent of the subjects were highly satisfied with the reduction in sensitivity to cold air and experienced reduced pain measures.

Propolis has significant antiviral properties, particularly where cold viruses are concerned. In one study, preschool and school children were treated with propolis during the cold season.¹⁷ Favorable effects of propolis treatment were observed, including a lower number of common cold cases with acute or chronic symptoms, and a decrease and suppression of the viruses and other microbes in the upper airways. Other research demonstrated propolis was effective in shortening the duration of a cold.¹⁸ Regression of symptoms occurred in the first day of propolis therapy and complete recovery followed in one to two days for the majority of patients, compared to almost five days for the placebo group.

Propolis also has promising antiviral properties against herpes viruses.¹⁹ In vitro research has shown propolis responded to the herpes simplex virus type 1, reducing viral activity and replication.²⁰ Other in vitro research indicated that the flavonoids found in propolis caused a reduction of intracellular replication of herpes virus strains.²¹ In vitro work also found propolis could suppress the replication of the HIV 1 virus.²²

Royal jelly is a substance produced by worker honeybees. If fed to an ordinary female bee in the larval stage, royal jelly will transform her into the queen bee. As a queen, she will grow 1.5 times more than normal size, become extremely fertile and lay over a thousand eggs each day. Incredibly, she may live more than five years, while most bees live only a few weeks. The only difference is she receives royal jelly and the others do not.

Royal jelly is a complex mixture of proteins (12 percent), sugar (12 percent), fats (6 percent) and variable amounts of minerals vitamins and pheromones. About 15 percent of royal jelly is 10-hydroxy-trans-(2)-decanoic acid (HDA), which could be the substance that causes the queen bee to grow so large. Royal jelly is particularly rich in B vitamins.

Traditionally used as a skin tonic and hair growth stimulant, royal jelly has been considered a tonic with a general systemic action. Scientific research has revealed royal jelly possesses anti-tumor activity in experimental mouseleukemia.²³ Additional research demonstrated royal jelly has antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria, but not against gram negative bacteria.²⁴ Furthermore, research with chronically diabetic rats demonstrated royal jelly possesses anti-inflammatory activity and is able to augment wound healing.²⁵ It has also been shown to prevent the cholesterol-elevating effect of nicotine,²⁶ and has lowered serum cholesterol in animal studies.²⁷ Some research has also demonstrated royal jelly can lower cholesterol levels in humans.^28,29

References

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