In Vitro Investigation of Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Properties of Phenolic-Rich Extract from Stingless Bee Honey (Heterotrigona itama)

@#Introduction: The increase of Type 2 diabetes mellitus has prompted numerous research toward finding an alternative to manage the disease through the oxidant-antioxidant balance, mainly through bioactive compounds in natural products. This study explored the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of phenolic-rich extract (PRE) from Stingless bee honey (SBH) (Heterotrigona itama) as therapeutic agent to restore the redox balance. Methods: The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and antioxidant assays of PRE and SBH, were determined to provide preliminary insight into the sample’s antioxidant properties, followed by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of PRE. The antidiabetic potential of PRE and SBH were determined based on their inhibition against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. The cytotoxicity analysis of PRE was conducted on 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 muscle cells before the glucose uptake and cellular antioxidant analyses were performed on both cell lines, respectively. Results: PRE yielded higher TPC, TFC and antioxidant activities than SBH. The phytochemical profile of PRE comprises gallic acid, myricetin, kaempferol, epicatechin, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, syringic acid, and cinnamic acid. The results from carbohydrate enzymatic inhibitory assays collectively suggested that PRE exhibited more robust antidiabetic activities than SBH. PRE showed good glucose uptake stimulating and reactive oxygen species scavenging effects in those cell lines. Conclusion: Overall, PRE from SBH showed higher carbohydrate enzymatic inhibition, glucose uptake, and protection against intracellular oxidative stress, primarily due to its high antioxidant content and may serve as an alternative therapeutic agent for managing T2DM.

Composición química de la miel de abeja y su relación con los beneficios a la salud

RESUMEN En la actualidad existe un incremento en la tendencia al consumo de alimentos saludables. Uno de ellos es la miel de abeja, reconocida desde la antigüedad por sus propiedades medicinales. Resulta importante profundizar en la información relativa a la composición química de la miel y cómo la misma influye en sus propiedades biológicas. Para ello se realizó esta revisión, que ofrece información y análisis de las características fisicoquímicas de la miel, sus componentes bioactivos y los mecanismos de acción. Fueron utilizados valores de los estándares de calidad y de otros componentes, como vitaminas, minerales, enzimas, ácidos orgánicos, proteínas, flavonoides y ácidos fenólicos con alta actividad antioxidante. Se resumen aspectos principales de las características funcionales de la miel, que le aportan su potencial biológico, energético, antioxidante, antiséptico y modulador de la respuesta inmune, para la acción contra determinadas enfermedades y, fundamentalmente, en la actividad preventiva. Elementos de esta naturaleza brindan información que puede ser utilizada en la promoción de una buena salud y en el desarrollo de nuevas investigaciones.

ABSTRACT Currently there is an increase in the tendency of the healthy food consumption. One of them is bee honey, recognized since ancient times for its medicinal properties. It is important to deepen in information regarding to chemical composition of honey and how it influences on its biological properties. For that was carried out this review that offers information and analyzes physicochemical characteristics of bee honey, its bioactive components and action mechanisms. Values of quality standards and of other components, as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, organic acids, proteins, flavonoids and phenolic acids with high antioxidant activity were used. Main aspects of the honey functional characteristics are summarized. They give it their biological, energetic, antioxidant, antiseptic and immune response modulating potential for the action against certain diseases and, mainly, in the preventive activity. Elements of this nature provide information that can be used in the promotion of good health and in the development of new research.

Comparison of Sugar Content, Mineral Elements and Antioxidant Properties of Heterotrigona Itama Honey from Suburban and Forest in Malaysia

@#Introduction: In Malaysia, Heterotrigona itama sp. (stingless bee) industries start to grow rapidly since 2015 but the study on its health benefit is still lacking. This study was aimed to analyse and compare the sugar content, minerals and antioxidant properties of stingless bee honey collected from forest and suburban area in Malaysia. Methods: Sugar content was determined by HPLC, minerals and heavy metals was determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) and Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS), total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride colorimetry method, respectively. For determining the antioxidant activity of the samples, 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-trinitrophenyl) hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were used. Results: Fructose, glucose and sucrose are found in all samples in range of 16.03-33.13 g/100g, 8.63-20.72 g/100g and 2.68-34.04 g/100g, respectively. Potassium and sodium were major minerals in all stingless bee honey with an average of 622.36 and 496.01 mg/kg, respectively. Sample from the forest (Sibu, F2) has the highest TPC and TFC with value 520.663±8.119µg GAE/g and 443.25±18.194µg RE/g, respectively. The higher antioxidant activities (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP) also found in samples collected from the forest (F2) with 602.15±12.7 µg TE/g, 575.18±9.38 µg TE/g and 641.36±42.11µg TE/g, respectively. Conclusion: All stingless bee honey studied shown a significant amount of important minerals and antioxidant properties with samples from forest clearly shown significantly higher TPC and TFC as well as the antioxidant activity than samples collected from the suburban area.

Biological and therapeutic effects of honey produced by honey bees and stingless bees: a comparative review

ABSTRACT Honey is a natural product produced by both honey bees and stingless bees. Both types of honey contain unique and distinct types of phenolic and flavonoid compounds of variable biological and clinical importance. Honey is one of the most effective natural products used for wound healing. In this review, the traditional uses and clinical applications of both honey bee and stingless bee honey – such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antihyperlipidemic, and cardioprotective properties; the treatment of eye disorders, gastrointestinal tract diseases, neurological disorders, and fertility disorders and wound healing activity are described.

Bee Honey Modulates the Oxidant-Antioxidant Imbalance in Diethyl nitrosamine-Initiated Rat Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Oxidative stress reflects the mechanism that contributes to initiation and progression of hepatic injury in a variety of liver disturbance. From here, there is a great demand for the expansion of agents with a potent antioxidant effect. The aim of this work is to approximate the efficiency of bee honey as a hepatoprotective and an antioxidant agent versus diethyl nitrosamine (DEN) motivate hepatocellular damage. The single intrapritoneal (IP) management of diethyl nitrosamine (50mg/kg followed by 2ml/kg CCl4) to rats, referred for the histopathological examination of liver sections of rats after induction and before treatment with honey showed that many well differentiated tumor cells were formed in the liver of rats also, the examined sections showed disorganization of hepatic lobular architecture and obvious cellular damage. A significant lift in the enzymatic activity of liver functions (AST, ALT, ALP), and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT) which is a signal of hepatocellular damage. DEN stimulates oxidative stress, which was assured by increase lipid peroxidation level and hindrance in antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx, and GST) activities in the liver. The position of non-enzymatic antioxidants comparable reduced glutathione (GSH) was likewise set up to be slimmed down significantly in DEN inoculated rats. Also, we have studied the underlying mechanism and /or (s) of the therapeutic role of bee honey as hepatocarcinogenesis remediation through investigation the inflammatory biomarkers; α-fetoprotein (AFP) and α-fucosidase (AFU). The current results clearly showed that bee honey demonstrates good ameliorative and antioxidant capacity toward diethyl nitrosamine induced hepatocellular damage in rats.

Reduction Effect of Royal Jelly and Rape Honey Alone and in Combination Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Strains

Multidrug resistant and methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is involved in severe difficult to treat skin and soft tissue infections in humans. In the present study the antibacterial reduction effect of royal jelly (RJ), rape honey (RH), as well as in combination (RJ:RH, 1:100 w/w) against multidrug resistant MRSA strains was evaluated by means of a microbiological method "in vitro". Royal jelly and rape honey mixture possessed a higher antibacterial activity than rape honey. The concentrations of royal jelly (20 and 30% v/v) had a total inhibitory effect against tested MRSA strains. Royal jelly alone and in rape honey mix (RJ:RH, 1:100 w/w) have a potential as alternative therapeutics against MRSA strains, resistant for antibiotics.

Caracterização físico-química de méis de Apis mellifera L. da região noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul / Physicochemical characterization of Apis mellifera L. honeys from the northwest region of Rio Grande do Sul State

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a composição físico-química de méis de Apis mellifera L. produzidos em dois anos consecutivos na região noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. As características físico-químicas de 36 amostras de mel foram comparadas utilizando o teste T de Student e a adequação aos padrões da legislação brasileira da qualidade do mel foi verificada. Os resultados das análises dos méis variaram para as características analisadas conforme segue: pH (3,3-4,4), umidade (14,7-19,8 por cento), acidez total (16,9-49,2meq kg-1), hidroximetilfurfural (0,15-48,3mg kg-1), açúcares redutores (60,1-75,9 por cento), açúcares não-redutores (1,35-5,99 por cento), cinzas (0,05-0,47 por cento) e sólidos insolúveis (0,016-0,27g kg-1). A análise estatística das amostras de mel produzidas em dois anos consecutivos mostrou que houve diferença significativa na umidade, na acidez e na hidroximetilfurfural. Os méis produzidos nesta região apresentam boa qualidade e características físico-químicas compatíveis aos padrões da legislação brasileira.

The objective of this research was to determine the physicochemical composition of Apis mellifera L. honeys produced in two consecutive years in the northwest region of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The physicochemical characteristics of 36 honey samples were compared using Student's T-test and their adequacy to standards established by the Brazilian legislation for honey quality was checked. The results varied as follows: pH (3.3-4.4), moisture (14.7-19.8 percent), acidity (16.9-49.2meq kg-1), hydroxymethylfurfural content (0.15-48.3mg kg-1), reducing sugar (60.1-75.9 percent), non-reducing sugar (1.35-5.99 percent), ashes (0.05-0.47 percent) and solids non-soluble in water (0.016-0.27g kg-1). The statistical analyses of honey samples produced in two consecutive years showed that the moisture, acidity and hydroxymethylfurfural content varied significantly. The honey samples produced in this region were in accordance with the Brazilian legislation for honey quality.