What Is Royal Jelly? Other Names: Bee Saliva, Bee Spit, Gelée Royale
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What is Royal Jelly?
This post was written with Consensus AI Academic Search Engine – please read our Disclaimer at the end of this article. Royal jelly is a creamy, milky secretion produced by worker honeybees. It is primarily known for its role in the development of queen bees, but it has also garnered attention for its potential health benefits in humans. This article explores the composition, health benefits, and scientific evidence supporting the use of royal jelly. Other names include: Bee Saliva, Bee Spit, Gelée Royale, Honey Bee Milk, Honey Bee’s Milk, Jalea Real, Lait des Abeilles, Royal Bee Jelly.
Composition of Royal Jelly
Royal jelly is rich in proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals. It contains significant amounts of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), a fatty acid unique to royal jelly, which is believed to contribute to its biological activities. Additionally, it includes various bioactive compounds such as peptides, flavonoids, and phenolic acids.
Health Benefits of Royal Jelly
Antioxidant Properties
Royal jelly has been shown to possess strong antioxidant properties. Studies indicate that it can enhance the body’s antioxidant defense system, reducing oxidative stress and improving overall health. For instance, royal jelly supplementation significantly increased erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities while decreasing malondialdehyde levels in diabetic females, indicating reduced oxidative stress2.
Glycemic Control
Royal jelly may also play a role in managing blood sugar levels. Research has demonstrated that it can improve glycemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes. In one study, royal jelly supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels, along with an increase in insulin concentration2. Another study found that royal jelly intake significantly decreased serum glucose levels and improved apolipoprotein profiles in diabetic patients6.
Cardiovascular Health
Royal jelly has potential benefits for cardiovascular health. It has been shown to improve vascular endothelial function, which is crucial for preventing atherosclerosis. A study involving healthy volunteers found that royal jelly significantly enhanced the reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry index, indicating improved vascular function3. Additionally, it was observed to lower alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels, suggesting a positive effect on liver function3.
Anti-Cancer Properties
Research on animal models has highlighted the potential anticancer properties of royal jelly. In a study on colorectal cancer in rats, royal jelly treatment significantly reduced oxidative stress and increased total antioxidant capacity. It also decreased the expression of cancer-related proteins and improved pathological outcomes in the colon tissue4.
Reproductive Health
Royal jelly has been found to improve reproductive health in both animals and humans. In aged laying hens, royal jelly administration enhanced the morphology of the reproductive tract, increased egg production, and improved internal egg quality5. In postmenopausal women, royal jelly supplementation alleviated menopausal symptoms, improving their quality of life8.
Hepatoprotective Effects
Royal jelly exhibits hepatoprotective properties, protecting the liver from damage caused by toxins. In a study on mice, royal jelly significantly ameliorated cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation, and upregulating the expression of nuclear-related factor-2 (Nrf2)7. Another study demonstrated its protective effect against cisplatin-induced renal oxidative stress in rats, further supporting its role in organ protection9.
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Adverse Effects of Royal Jelly
Oxidative Stress and Toxicity Mitigation
Royal jelly has been shown to mitigate oxidative stress and toxicity induced by various chemicals, such as malathion, sodium fluoride, cadmium chloride, and cyclophosphamide. It reduces malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increases antioxidant enzyme activities like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)1 2 3 5.
Hepatoprotective Effects
Studies indicate that royal jelly can protect against liver toxicity induced by cadmium chloride and anti-tuberculosis drugs (isoniazid and rifampicin). It normalizes liver enzyme levels and reduces histological liver damage3 8.
Protective Effects Against Chemotherapy-Induced Toxicity
Royal jelly has been found to alleviate the toxic effects of chemotherapy drugs like cyclophosphamide and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). It reduces fatigue, anorexia, and the need for dose reduction or discontinuation of TKIs in renal cell carcinoma patients5 7.
Biochemical and Histological Improvements
In cases of exposure to toxic substances like lambda-cyhalothrin, royal jelly has shown to improve biochemical parameters and reduce histopathological alterations in liver and kidney tissues9.
General Health Improvements
Long-term ingestion of royal jelly in healthy volunteers has been associated with improved erythropoiesis, glucose tolerance, and mental health, without significant adverse effects reported4.
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How has Royal Jelly Improved Patient Outcomes?
Glycemic Control and Diabetes Management
Royal jelly supplementation significantly reduces fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels, and increases insulin concentration in type 2 diabetic patients1 10.
Oxidative Stress and Antioxidant Activity
Royal jelly enhances antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) and reduces oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde) in diabetic patients1 7.
Quality of Life in Chronic Conditions
Royal jelly improves the quality of life and daily activity scores in patients with multiple sclerosis2.
It also enhances mental health and overall quality of life in postmenopausal women9.
Neurological Benefits
Royal jelly improves the level of consciousness in patients with traumatic brain injury, as measured by the Glasgow Coma Scale and Full Outline of Unresponsiveness score3.
Vascular and Metabolic Health
Royal jelly augments vascular endothelial function, indicating potential antiatherogenic properties4.
Long-term ingestion improves erythropoiesis, glucose tolerance, and mental health in healthy volunteers5.
Cancer Therapy Support
Royal jelly enhances the efficacy and safety of molecular targeted therapy in renal cell carcinoma patients by modulating serum levels of TNF-α and TGF-β, reducing tumor size, and alleviating side effects like anorexia and fatigue6.
Protective Effects Against Chemotherapy
Royal jelly mitigates the toxic effects of cyclophosphamide on prostatic tissue by reducing oxidative damage and apoptosis7.
COVID-19 Management
While royal jelly did not significantly improve blood sugar levels or clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients on corticosteroids, it did alleviate symptoms like headache, cough, and dyspnea8.
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Royal Jelly Mechanisms of Action
Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Effects
RJ inhibits oxidative stress and inflammation by upregulating nuclear-related factor-2 (Nrf2) and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, which helps in preventing hepatic injury and oxidative stress1 4 6.
RJ enhances antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), reducing oxidative damage in liver and heart tissues2 6 8.
Modulation of Signaling Pathways
RJ activates the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, which is crucial for its protective effects against high-fat-diet-induced hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)2.
RJ modulates the P38-MAPK/NF-κB-p65/TNF-α signaling pathways, reducing inflammation and improving liver function in ischemia/reperfusion injury4.
Vasodilation and Hypotensive Effects
RJ induces vasodilation and hypotension by increasing nitric oxide (NO) production and activating the NO/cGMP pathway, which helps in reducing blood pressure3.
Anti-androgenic and Reproductive Health
RJ exhibits anti-androgenic effects, improving reproductive parameters in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) models by modulating estrogenic activity and enhancing antioxidant capacity5.
Protective Effects Against Toxicity
RJ mitigates the toxic effects of substances like cadmium chloride and cisplatin by reducing oxidative stress and improving antioxidant enzyme levels, thereby protecting liver and kidney functions1 8.
Anti-cancer Properties
RJ shows potential anticancer properties by reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting the expression of cancer-related proteins, which helps in preventing and treating colorectal cancer10.
Improvement of Vascular Endothelial Function
RJ improves vascular endothelial function, which may reflect its antiatherogenic properties, by enhancing the reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) index7.
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Common Complaints Associated with Royal Jelly Use
Effectiveness in Alleviating Symptoms: Royal jelly has been shown to significantly reduce menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women when taken daily at a dose of 1000 mg for eight weeks1.
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Disclaimer
The content presented in this blog is generated by Consensus, an AI-powered academic search engine, and is based on publicly available scientific literature. While every effort is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and well-researched information, the content is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medical conditions, treatments, or medications. The AI system’s analysis may not cover all perspectives, emerging research, or individual cases, and it is not a substitute for professional expertise. Neither the blog publisher nor the developers of the AI-powered search engine are responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided in this content. Use of this information is at your own risk. Citations to the original scientific studies are included for reference, but these studies should be reviewed in full and interpreted with the guidance of a healthcare or research professional.
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please seek immediate attention from a healthcare provider.
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