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Bee Product Chemistry: Identification and Characterization of Natural Compounds, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 4868

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Simona Sagona

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: honeybees; bee products; diet; biochemistry; proteomic; enzymes; immune system; animals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over recent decades, there has been growing consumer interest in natural products, with a particular focus on their nutritional composition and use as drug substitutes.

Bee products have been used since time immemorial as nutritious foods and food supplements, but also as cosmetics and for human healthcare. Honey, royal jelly, bee pollen, venom, propolis, wax, and bee larvae are all bee products, some used as food and others in non-traditional medicine. A large aspect of the health-promoting properties of bee products is the presence of biologically active compounds. The determination of their content, biological availability, and physiological impact is very important. The development of more robust, efficient, and sensitive analytical methodologies to guarantee the quality and safety of bee products is continually required.

This Special Issue will cover a wide range of topics related to the analysis of the nutritional properties of bee products, including their toxicology, pharmaceutical properties, contaminants, chemical compositions, inorganic compounds, nutraceutical compounds, antioxidant compounds, enzymes, peptides, macromolecules, etc. This Special Issue also includes recent developments and applications of modern instrumental analytical techniques with which to detect compounds. Research articles and reviews on various aspects of bee products are invited for submission.

Dr. Simona Sagona
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • honey
  • wax
  • bee pollen
  • venom
  • propolis
  • royal jelly
  • bee larvae

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1251 KB  
Article
Chemical Profiling of Latvian Propolis: Regional Variations and Botanical Origins
by Freideriki Papakosta, Konstantia Graikou, Evgenia Panou, Fani Hatjina, Leonidas Charistos, Valters Brusbardis, Josef J. M. van der Steen and Ioanna Chinou
Molecules 2025, 30(23), 4533; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30234533 - 24 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 702
Abstract
Propolis is a resinous natural product produced by honeybees from plant exudates and beeswax. Its complex chemical composition varies significantly with geographical origin and seasonal factors. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of propolis samples collected from different regions of Latvia [...] Read more.
Propolis is a resinous natural product produced by honeybees from plant exudates and beeswax. Its complex chemical composition varies significantly with geographical origin and seasonal factors. This study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of propolis samples collected from different regions of Latvia using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In total, 47 metabolites were identified, with chemical profiles dominated by phenolic acids and their esters—compounds typical of European propolis. Regional variations reflected differences in local vegetation, and two samples exhibited flavonoid constituents indicative of poplar-type botanical sources. The Daugavpils sample, which showed a particularly rich chemical profile, was further fractionated chromatographically, leading to the isolation of twelve metabolites: 2’,4’,6’-trihydroxy-4-methoxy dihydrochalcone, 2’,6’,4-trihydroxy-4’-methoxy dihydrochalcone, 2’,6’-dihydroxy-4,4’-dimethoxy dihydrochalcone, 2’,6’-dihydroxy-4’-methoxy dihydrochalcone, 2’,4’,6’-trihydroxy dihydrochalcone, palmitic acid, benzyl benzoate, cinnamyl cinnamate, pinostrobin, pinostrobin chalcone, pinocembrin, and pinobanksin. Given the limited prior research on Latvian propolis, this study provides valuable insights into its chemical diversity and the influence of regional flora on its composition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bee Product Chemistry: Identification and Characterization of Natural Compounds, 2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 18259 KB  
Article
Bee Venom Melittin Modulates In Vivo Water Permeability of Red Blood Cells: Microscopic and 1H-NMR Data
by Ștefana Bâlici, Adrian Florea, Ameen Ibrahim Al-Hajaj, Alin-Dan Chiorean and Gheorghe Zsolt Nicula
Molecules 2025, 30(22), 4419; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30224419 - 15 Nov 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 784
Abstract
Bee venom (BV) molecules, including melittin (Mlt), are known to modify the permeability of membranes. This paper assessed red blood cell (RBC) shape (by phase contrast microscopy) in relation to some of the parameters (haematology data) and calculated the RBC membranes’ water diffusional [...] Read more.
Bee venom (BV) molecules, including melittin (Mlt), are known to modify the permeability of membranes. This paper assessed red blood cell (RBC) shape (by phase contrast microscopy) in relation to some of the parameters (haematology data) and calculated the RBC membranes’ water diffusional permeability (Pd) with 1H-NMR spectroscopy. Rats were injected for 30 days with either small daily doses of BV (VST) or Mlt (MST) or with high single doses of BV (VSLT) or Mlt (MSLT). The RBCs displayed aberrant shapes, all of the analysed parameters significantly changed, and the values of Pd were higher (and increased with temperature) in all of the treated groups compared to the control group. The RBCs in the venom-treated groups had the highest mean values (expressed in cm × s−1 × 103) of Pd at 37 °C—8.95 in the VSLT group and 8.69 in the VST group—which were followed by the MST and MSLT groups and the control group. Our results demonstrated the ability of Mlt to retain the ability to interact with the RBC membrane in vivo and proved that Mlt is the most important BV molecule involved in this process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bee Product Chemistry: Identification and Characterization of Natural Compounds, 2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 1229 KB  
Article
Pro-Apoptotic and Cytotoxic Effects of Melittin on HL-60 Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Cells: Implications for Retinoid-Independent Therapy
by Maksymilian Stela, Michał Ceremuga, Natalia Cichon, Tomasz Poplawski, Marcin Podogrocki, Leslaw Gorniak and Michał Bijak
Molecules 2025, 30(20), 4093; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30204093 - 15 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1364
Abstract
Background: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia driven by the PML/RARα fusion protein. Standard treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) combined with chemotherapy is effective, but resistance and adverse effects remain significant challenges. Melittin, the primary peptide component [...] Read more.
Background: Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia driven by the PML/RARα fusion protein. Standard treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) combined with chemotherapy is effective, but resistance and adverse effects remain significant challenges. Melittin, the primary peptide component of bee venom, has demonstrated potent anticancer activity across multiple leukemia subtypes through mitochondrial-dependent mechanisms. Building upon this established evidence, we investigated melittin’s therapeutic potential in APL to address the specific clinical challenge of ATRA resistance. Methods: The cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects of melittin were studied on the human APL cell line HL-60. Cell viability was assessed using MTT and trypan blue assays. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was measured with JC-1 staining. Apoptosis was quantified using Annexin V/propidium iodide flow cytometry, caspase-3/7 activity assays, and real-time PCR analysis of apoptosis-related genes (BCL-2, BAX, APAF-1, CASP-3, CASP-8, CASP-9). Results: Melittin reduced HL-60 cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with significant decreases after 24 and 48 h. MMP analysis revealed mitochondrial depolarization, and Annexin V staining confirmed the induction of apoptosis. Caspase-3/7 activity increased markedly, supporting activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Gene expression profiling revealed downregulation of the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 and upregulation of the pro-apoptotic BAX, APAF1, and CASP3. At the same time, CASP8 and CASP9 showed no significant changes, suggesting a predominant involvement of the intrinsic pathway. Conclusions: These findings confirm and extend established evidence by demonstrating that melittin’s mitochondrial apoptotic mechanism is consistently active in promyelocytic HL-60 model (PML/RARα-negative). This retinoid-independent mechanism suggests potential therapeutic utility for ATRA-resistant cases or as a complementary strategy in APL treatment. However, selectivity validation in non-cancerous hematopoietic cells represents an important future research priority. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bee Product Chemistry: Identification and Characterization of Natural Compounds, 2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 2055 KB  
Article
Natural Biological Properties Inherited from Native Endemic Flora in Honeys from Lake Ranco Area of Southern Chile: A Botanical and Physicochemical Approach
by Enrique Mejías, Carlos Gómez, Pablo Díaz and Tatiana Garrido
Molecules 2025, 30(19), 3984; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30193984 - 4 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1247
Abstract
Chile boasts a rich variety of native endemic melliferous flora, recognized internationally for the excellent taste and biological properties of its honeys. While honey production occurs across various regions, the southern zone, particularly near native rainforests, yields highly valued honeys that often lack [...] Read more.
Chile boasts a rich variety of native endemic melliferous flora, recognized internationally for the excellent taste and biological properties of its honeys. While honey production occurs across various regions, the southern zone, particularly near native rainforests, yields highly valued honeys that often lack comprehensive analytical characterization. This study was focused on seven apiaries near Lake Ranco in the Los Rios Region, collecting two honey samples from each location over two consecutive harvesting seasons, totaling 20 samples. Key parameters analyzed included botanical origin, total carbohydrates, glucose/fructose ratio, total phenolic compounds, antioxidant/antiradical activity and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content. The results indicated a significant influence of three native species, Eucryphia cordifolia, Caldcluvia paniculata, and Weinmannia trichosperma, on the antioxidant activity of the honeys. The physicochemical parameters measured, along with the concentration and activity of the compounds responsible for this activity, establish a very characteristic pattern for the monofloral honeys of these three species. This information could serve as a foundation for constructing a map to help differentiate Chilean honeys based on their natural biological attributes helpful for consumer health, generating distinctive profiles that would contribute to accurately guaranteeing their geographical origin and, consequently, increase their specific value. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bee Product Chemistry: Identification and Characterization of Natural Compounds, 2nd Edition)
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