Search Results (38)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and advanced disease continues to show poor prognosis due to therapeutic limitations and drug resistance. Royal jelly (RJ), a natural functional food and dietary supplement, contains 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), a bioactive fatty acid unique to RJ with demonstrated anticancer potential. This study evaluated the anti-CRC effects and underlying mechanisms of 10-HDA through cellular, animal, and transcriptomic approaches. 10-HDA markedly suppressed CRC cell viability with IC₅₀ of 2.07 mM and 3.49 mM against HCT 116 and HT-29 cells, respectively, reduced gap closure by 29.30%, elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and attenuated xenograft tumor growth dose-dependently. Preliminary safety evaluation suggested that 10-HDA was well tolerated under the tested conditions, with no significant changes in body weight, serum AST, ALT, or ALP levels, or organ histology. Transcriptomic analysis showed significant enrichment of apoptosis and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. Molecular assessments indicated that 10-HDA was associated with alterations in apoptosis-related features, including increased caspase-3 activity, changes in Bcl-2 family proteins, and elevated ROS levels, as well as with modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These changes were consistent with enhanced β-catenin degradation and reduced nuclear translocation. It suggests that Wnt/β-catenin may be involved in the anti-CRC effects of 10-HDA. This study mechanistically clarifies the anti-CRC activity of 10-HDA as a natural food-derived bioactive compound, suggesting its therapeutic potential for Wnt/β-catenin dysregulated CRC. Full article

Royal jelly, a high-value natural product rich in bioactive compounds, is highly susceptible to quality deterioration during storage and processing. However, current quality standards rely predominantly on basic physicochemical parameters and measuring the content of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), which fail to capture the comprehensive and dynamic nature of its freshness. This significant knowledge gap hinders the accurate assessment, prediction, and control of royal jelly quality throughout its supply chain. To address this limitation, this review systematically elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying the deterioration of royal jelly freshness, including key pathways such as protein denaturation, Maillard reactions, enzymatic inactivation, and lipid oxidation, and analyzes the combined effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on its quality stability. It highlights the potential applications of novel biochemical markers—including major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), Maillard reaction products, enzymatic activity indicators, and energy metabolites—while comparing the advantages and limitations of traditional chromatographic techniques with modern rapid sensing and spectroscopic analysis methods. Regarding preservation, a critical yet inadequately summarized area, this review systematically evaluates the applicability and limitations of various approaches, including low-temperature storage, drying treatments, non-thermal sterilization, microencapsulation, and modified atmosphere packaging. Future directions for integrated quality control are outlined, providing a theoretical basis for holistic quality management of royal jelly. Full article

The fields of healthcare and pharmaceutical science are increasingly focused on developing innovative and effective treatments. This trend is driven by a growing consumer demand for natural, sustainable, and highly functional polymer-based products. This study focuses on two biomaterials: chitosan and royal jelly. Chitosan, a linear polysaccharide derived from chitin, is well-regarded for its hemostatic and antimicrobial properties, making it an excellent candidate for wound healing applications. Royal jelly, a nutrient-rich secretion from honeybees, represents a complex mixture of proteins, lipids, vitamins, and antioxidants, notably 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-H2DA). It is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and regenerative effects on the skin. While the individual benefits of chitosan and royal jelly are well-documented, there is a significant research gap concerning their synergistic application in various treatments such as topical formulations, wound healing, regenerative medicine, and delivery transport processes. Ultimately, this review concludes that the synergistic effects of chitosan and royal jelly could provide a material platform with a superior dual-action profile, integrating the structural and antimicrobial benefits of chitosan with the powerful regenerative and anti-inflammatory effects of royal jelly. This synergy strongly supports their utility in developing next-generation, high-performance natural bioproducts for wound healing, bone regeneration, agriculture, or aquaculture applications. Full article

Royal jelly (RJ), a secretion from nurse bees, is a key factor in honeybee caste differentiation and a high-value product in apitherapy. Despite its economic and biological importance, factors affecting its yield and composition remain insufficient. This study investigated the impact of grafted larval age and sex and the collection day of RJ on its yield and physicochemical characteristics. Three independent experiments were conducted using strong Apis mellifera L. colonies. Larvae of different ages (first, second, and third) were grafted, and RJ was harvested 24, 48, and 72 h post grafting. Additionally, worker and drone larvae were used to assess the effect of larval sex. RJ was analyzed for moisture, protein, sugar, and 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-had) content. Results showed that RJ yield significantly increased with collection day, with the third day being optimal. Protein content declined over time, while moisture content rose, although sugar levels and 10-HDA remained stable. Second-day larvae yielded the highest RJ volume without affecting composition. Larval sex did not significantly influence either RJ yield or composition. The results of this study may provide valuable insights into the quality determinants of royal jelly, enabling beekeepers to optimize production for both enhanced royal jelly yield and the rearing of higher-quality queen bees. Full article

Since ancient times, Royal Jelly (RJ) has been known for its remarkable properties in traditional medicine, and it is still widely recommended for mental and physical well-being. RJ consists of a unique and complex mixture of multiple constituents in different concentrations, and some of its biological activities are directly associated with specific components not found elsewhere in nature, such as (E)-10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) and its precursor 10-hydroxydecanoic acid (10-HDAA), two medium-chain fatty acids. Together, 10-HAD and 10-HDAA represent the major constituents of the total lipid fraction in RJ, but despite their structural similarity, the former has been extensively investigated over the years, while the latter has been only marginally reported. This review focuses on the promising effects of 10-HDAA that have emerged in a series of recent in vitro, in vivo, and docking simulation studies. Important bioactivities were observed for 10-HDAA, tested both as an individual compound, especially for immunoregulatory, estrogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities, and in synergic combination with other molecules. Specific anti-infective effects against endemic diseases, as well as the structural modification to synthesize biocompatible and biodegradable 10-HDAA-based amphiphiles, are also reported. Full article

10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), a major fatty acid (FA) component of royal jelly, is synthesized in the mandibular glands (MGs) of worker honeybees. Despite its well-documented nutritional and therapeutic significance, the biosynthetic pathway and regulatory mechanisms of 10-HDA production remain largely unresolved. In this study, the molecular basis of 10-HDA biosynthesis and regulation in the MGs of newly emerged bees (NEBs), nurse bees (NBs), and forager bees (FBs) were investigated using RNA sequencing and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). A five-step biosynthetic pathway for 10-HDA was proposed, and cross-species analysis of Apis mellifera and A. cerana revealed the conserved expression patterns of 15 key enzymes involved. Functional validation via RNA interference (RNAi) demonstrated that knockdown of acyl-CoA Delta(11) desaturase (d11ds, LOC551527), a key enzyme in FA desaturation, led to a 50% reduction in 10-HDA levels. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis further identified transcriptional regulators Kay and Drep-2 as potential modulators of 10-HDA metabolism. This study provides the first comprehensive mechanistic model of 10-HDA biosynthesis in honeybee MGs and highlights the labor-specific regulation of FA metabolism. These findings offer promising genetic targets for improving the royal jelly quality through genetic technology. Full article

Queen bee acid (10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, QBA) is a biologically active compound known for its anti-aging effects, though its molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. This study employed network pharmacology and molecular docking to explore QBA’s anti-aging mechanisms. Target proteins of QBA were identified via PharmMapper, SwissTarget Prediction, and PubChem, while aging-related target genes were sourced from GeneCards, DisGeNET, and OMIM databases. Venny 2.1 identified 58 common target genes, and a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING database. Ten core target genes, including TNF, AKT1, INS, and STAT3, were analyzed for GO and KEGG pathway enrichment using DAVID. GO analysis yielded 154 entries, encompassing biological processes, molecular functions, and cellular components. KEGG pathway analysis identified 73 signaling pathways, including the FOXO signaling pathway and the lifespan regulation pathway. Molecular docking confirmed QBA’s strong binding to core target proteins via hydrogen bonds to at least three sites. Full article

10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), which is a unique bioactive fatty acid of royal jelly synthesized by nurse bees for larvae and adult queen bees, is recognized for its dual utility in medicinal and nutritional applications. Previous research has indicated that 10-HDA exerts antitumor effects on numerous tumor cell lines, including colon cancer cells, A549 human lung cancer cells, and human hepatoma cells. The present study extends this inquiry to lymphoma, specifically evaluating the impact of 10-HDA on the SU-DHL-2 cell line. Our findings revealed dose-dependent suppression of SU-DHL-2 cell survival, with an IC₅₀ of 496.8 μg/mL at a density of 3 × 10⁶ cells/well after 24 h. For normal liver LO2 cells and human fibroblasts (HSFs), the IC₅₀ values were approximately 1000 μg/mL and over 1000 μg/mL, respectively. The results of label-free proteomics revealed 147 upregulated and 347 downregulated differentially expressed proteins that were significantly enriched in the complement and coagulation cascades pathway (adjusted p-value = 0.012), including the differentially expressed proteins prothrombin, plasminogen, plasminogen, carboxypeptidase B2, fibrinogen beta chain, fibrinogen gamma chain, and coagulation factor V. The top three hub proteins, ribosomal protein L5, tumor protein p53, and ribosomal protein L24, were identified via protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis. This result showed that the complement and coagulation cascade pathways might play a key role in the antitumor process of 10-HDA, suggesting a potential therapeutic avenue for lymphoma treatment. However, the specificity of the effect of 10-HDA on SU-DHL-2 cells warrants further investigation. Full article

Royal jelly is a substance secreted by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of nurse honey bees, serving as crucial nutritional source for young larvae, queen honey bees, and also valuable product for humans. In this study, the effect of the feed supplements on the nutritional composition and qualities of royal jelly was investigated. Two types of royal jelly samples were acquired: one from honey bees fed with sugar syrup as a feed supplement and the other from honey bees fed with honey. The production, harvesting, and storage of all royal jelly samples followed standard procedures. Parameters for quality assessment and nutritional value, including stable carbon isotopic ratio, moisture content, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) level, carbohydrate composition, amino acid composition, and mineral contents, were analyzed. The results revealed that despite variability in moisture content and carbohydrate composition, fructose was lower (2.6 and 4.1 g/100 g as is for sugar-fed and honey-fed royal jelly, respectively) and sucrose was higher (7.5 and 2.7 g/100 g as is for sugar-fed and honey-fed royal jelly, respectively) in the sugar-fed group. The stable isotope ratio (−16.4608‰ for sugar-fed and −21.9304‰ for honey-fed royal jelly) clearly distinguished the two groups. 10-HDA, amino acid composition, and total protein levels were not significantly different. Certain minerals, such as potassium, iron, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus were higher in the honey-fed group. Hierarchical analysis based on moisture, sugar composition, 10-HDA, and stable carbon isotopes categorized the samples into two distinct groups. This study demonstrated that the feed source could affect the nutritional quality of royal jelly. Full article

Royal jelly (RJ) is a highly nutritious natural product with great potential for use in medicine, cosmetics, and as a health-promoting food. This bee product is a mixture of important compounds, such as proteins, vitamins, lipids, minerals, hormones, neurotransmitters, flavonoids, and polyphenols, that underlie the remarkable biological and therapeutic activities of RJ. Various bioactive molecules like 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), antibacterial protein, apisin, the major royal jelly proteins, and specific peptides such as apisimin, royalisin, royalactin, apidaecin, defensin-1, and jelleins are characteristic ingredients of RJ. RJ shows numerous physiological and pharmacological properties, including vasodilatory, hypotensive, antihypercholesterolaemic, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, estrogenic, anti-allergic, anti-osteoporotic, and anti-tumor effects. Moreover, RJ may reduce menopause symptoms and improve the health of the reproductive system, liver, and kidneys, and promote wound healing. This article provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of RJ in various diseases, aging, and aging-related complications, with special emphasis on the bioactive components of RJ and their health-promoting properties. The data presented should be an incentive for future clinical studies that hopefully will advance our knowledge about the therapeutic potential of RJ and facilitate the development of novel RJ-based therapeutic opportunities for improving human health and well-being. Full article

Beekeeping provides products with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical characteristics. These products are characterized by abundance of bioactive compounds. For different reasons, honey, royal jelly, propolis, venom, and pollen are beneficial to humans and animals and could be used as therapeutics. The pharmacological action of these products is related to many of their constituents. The main bioactive components of honey include oligosaccharides, methylglyoxal, royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), and phenolics compounds. Royal jelly contains jelleins, royalisin peptides, MRJPs, and derivatives of hydroxy-decenoic acid, particularly 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), which possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuromodulatory, metabolic syndrome-preventing, and anti-aging properties. Propolis has a plethora of activities that are referable to compounds such as caffeic acid phenethyl ester. Peptides found in bee venom include phospholipase A2, apamin, and melittin. In addition to being vitamin-rich, bee pollen also includes unsaturated fatty acids, sterols, and phenolics compounds that express antiatherosclerotic, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, the constituents of hive products are particular and different. All of these constituents have been investigated for their properties in numerous research studies. This review aims to provide a thorough screening of the bioactive chemicals found in honeybee products and their beneficial biological effects. The manuscript may provide impetus to the branch of unconventional medicine that goes by the name of apitherapy. Full article

Metabolic disorders, encompassing diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, etc., pose a substantial global health threat, with rising morbidity and mortality rates. Addressing these disorders is crucial, as conventional drugs often come with high costs and adverse effects. This review explores the potential of royal jelly (RJ), a natural bee product rich in bioactive components, as an alternative strategy for managing metabolic diseases. RJ exhibits diverse therapeutic properties, including antimicrobial, estrogen-like, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, anticancer, and antioxidant effects. This review’s focus is on investigating how RJ and its components impact conditions like diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and gastrointestinal illnesses. Evidence suggests that RJ serves as a complementary treatment for various health issues, notably demonstrating cholesterol- and glucose-lowering effects in diabetic rats. Specific RJ-derived metabolites, such as 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), also known as the “Queen bee acid,” show promise in reducing insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Recent research highlights RJ’s role in modulating immune responses, enhancing anti-inflammatory cytokines, and suppressing key inflammatory mediators. Despite these promising findings, further research is needed to comprehensively understand the mechanisms underlying RJ’s therapeutic effects. Full article

This study aimed to assess the impact of oleic acid (OA) supplementation on the biosynthesis of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) in Apis mellifera ligustica. In experiment 1, varying concentrations of OA (2%, 4%, 6% and 8%) were added to an artificial diet for newly emerged bees reared in cages. Analysis of 10-HDA content and gene expression in the mandibular gland (MG) revealed that the 8% OA treatment had the greatest impact on promoting the synthesis of 10-HDA. Subsequent investigations utilized RNA-seq and lipidomics to characterize the molecular signature in the MG after feeding the 8% OA diet. Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and triacylglycerol (TAG) were found to be the predominant lipids in the MG of worker bees. A total of 154 TAGs were identified, with TAG (18:1-18:1-18:1) exhibiting the highest abundance, which increased by 1.5 times. The major TAG species contained palmitic acid (16:0) and oleic acid (18:1) in their structure, which was associated with fatty acid composition of diet. The increase in abundance of main TAGs may be attributed to the upregulation of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (Gpat) and glycerol kinase (GK) gene expression at the transcriptional level. The upregulation of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to carbohydrate metabolism may contribute to meeting the heightened metabolic demands of the MGs in worker bees. Royal jelly (RJ) samples from bee colonies fed with the 8% OA diet exhibited higher 10-HDA level than RJ collected from bee colonies fed with the artificial diet. These results indicate that 8% OA addition in the diet enhanced biosynthesis of 10-HDA in the mandibular gland, which was accompanied by significant and highly species-selective remodeling of TAGs. Full article

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents a significant public health concern in modern society. Metabolic syndrome (MetS), which includes diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity, represents a modifiable risk factor for AD. MetS and AD are interconnected through various mechanisms, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, insulin resistance (IR), vascular impairment, inflammation, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Therefore, it is necessary to seek a multi-targeted and safer approach to intervention. Thus, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), a unique hydroxy fatty acid in royal jelly, has shown promising anti-neuroinflammatory, blood–brain barrier (BBB)-preserving, and neurogenesis-promoting properties. In this paper, we provide a summary of the relationship between MetS and AD, together with an introduction to 10-HDA as a potential intervention nutrient. In addition, molecular docking is performed to explore the metabolic tuning properties of 10-HDA with associated macromolecules such as GLP-1R, PPARs, GSK-3, and TREM2. In conclusion, there is a close relationship between AD and MetS, and 10-HDA shows potential as a beneficial nutritional intervention for both AD and MetS. Full article

Although previous studies have demonstrated that royal jelly (RJ) may have estrogenic properties and prevent postmenopausal bone loss, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. This animal study aimed to investigate the effects of specific fatty acids of RJ, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10H2DA) and 10-hydroxydecanoic acid (10HDAA), in ovariectomized rats. Ten-week-old female Wistar rats were divided into the Baseline, Sham, Ovx, Ovx + 10H2DA, and Ovx + 10HDAA groups. Rats in the Baseline group were sacrificed immediately, whereas those in the other groups were subjected to either a sham operation or bilateral ovariectomy. The animals in the Ovx + 10H2DA and Ovx + 10HDAA groups were fed diets containing 10H2DA and 10HDAA, respectively. Twelve weeks after surgery, the rats were sacrificed, and indices of bone mass and bone mechanics were analyzed. Femoral bone mineral density was significantly lower in the Ovx group than in the Sham group (p < 0.01). Administration of 10H2DA or 10HDAA did not ameliorate bone loss after ovariectomy. In addition, administration of these fatty acids diminished femur bone stiffness in ovariectomized rats (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). These findings suggest that the favorable effects of RJ may not be exerted solely by 10H2DA or 10HDAA. However, these effects may be exhibited in combination with other RJ constituents. Full article