The effect of propolis supplementation on inflammatory factors and oxidative status in women with rheumatoid arthritis: Design and research protocol of a double-blind, randomized controlled

A Combination of Anatolian Propolis and Curcumin Protects Fibroblasts Against Beclomethasone (Nazal Steroid)-Induced Oxidative Stress by Modulating IL-25, MMP-2, VEGF, and FGF-2 Expressions

Background: Nasal steroids are commonly prescribed in ear, nose, and throat clinics. It is observed that the use of nasal steroids is increasing due to the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. Because beclomethasone (BCM) toxicity is low, it is highly preferred in allergic rhinitis. The rate of toxicity increases with the increase in the duration and dose of BCM use. However, the protective mechanism of Anatolian propolis (AP) and curcumin (Cur) against BCM toxicity has not been fully explained. Aim: The study evaluates the potential BCM-induced toxicity effect on VEGF, MMP-2, IL-25, and IL-10 parameters after Cur and AP treatment. Materials and Methods: Cell viability, oxidative stress, and gene expression were used for toxicity evaluation. Results: AP 2.5 mg/mL and Cur 16 µg/mL show high viability and antioxidant capacity. BCM increased the levels of IL-25, IL-10, and MMP-2, and a decrease was detected in the expression levels of FGF-2 and VEGF. Conclusions: AP and Cur show effective healing, and AP has been shown to improve inflammation more effectively than Cur. However, the combination of AP and Cur significantly improved the induced toxicity effects.

The effect of propolis supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in women with rheumatoid arthritis: A double-blind, placebo, controlled randomized clinical trial

Propolis has gained popularity in recent years because of its beneficial properties, which make it a possible preventative and therapeutic agent as well as a valuable food and cosmetic ingredient. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of propolis supplementation on cardiovascular risk factors in women with rheumatoid arthritis. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed among 48 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Subjects were randomly assigned to placebo and intervention groups, supplemented with 1000 mg/day of propolis for 12 weeks. Cardiovascular risk factors including, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), Nitric oxide, blood pressure, and lipid profile were assessed pre-and post-intervention. The atherogenic index of plasma value, as well as total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride/HDL-C, and non-HDL-C/HDL-C ratios, were significantly reduced in the intervention group, compared with the placebo group post-intervention (p < 0.05). Moreover, there was a significant reduction in the serum level of hs-CRP in the intervention group when compared with the placebo group (p = 0.001). Furthermore, propolis supplementation could marginally reduce MCP-1 (p = 0.051). These data indicate that propolis supplementation may be a promising treatment strategy for cardiovascular complications among rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Molecular Insights into Royal Jelly Anti-Inflammatory Properties and Related Diseases

Royal jelly (RJ), a highly nutritious natural product, has gained recognition for its remarkable health-promoting properties, leading to its widespread use in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. Extensive investigations have revealed that RJ possesses a broad spectrum of therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-aging, and antibacterial activities. Distinctive among bee products, RJ exhibits a significantly higher water and relatively lower sugar content. It is characterized by its substantial protein content, making it a valuable source of this essential macronutrient. Moreover, RJ contains a diverse array of bioactive substances, such as lipids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, organic acids, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and hormones. This review aims to provide an overview of current research on the bioactive components present in RJ and their associated health-promoting qualities. According to existing literature, these bioactive substances hold great potential as alternative approaches to enhancing human health. Notably, this review emphasizes the anti-inflammatory properties of RJ, particularly in relation to inflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Furthermore, we delve into the antitumor and antioxidant activities of RJ, aiming to deepen our understanding of its biological functions. By shedding light on the multifaceted benefits of RJ, this review seeks to encourage its utilization and inspire further investigation in this field.

Propolis and Their Active Constituents for Chronic Diseases

Propolis is a mass of chemically diverse phytoconstituents with gummy textures that are naturally produced by honeybees upon collection of plant resins for utilization in various life processes in beehives. Since ancient times, propolis has been a unique traditional remedy globally utilized for several purposes, and it has secured value in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical areas in recent years. The chemical composition of propolis comprises diverse constituents and deviations in the precise composition of the honeybee species, plant source used for propolis production by bees, climate conditions and harvesting season. Over 300 molecular structures have been discovered from propolis, and important classes include phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, benzofurans, benzopyrene and chalcones. Propolis has also been reported to have diverse pharmacological activities, such as antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, immunomodulatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anticaries. As chronic diseases have risen as a global health threat, abundant research has been conducted to track propolis and its constituents as alternative therapies for chronic diseases. Several clinical trials have also revealed the potency of propolis and its constituents for preventing and curing some chronic diseases. This review explores the beneficial effect of propolis and its active constituents with credible mechanisms and computational studies on chronic diseases.

Does propolis have any effect on rheumatoid arthritis? A review study

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which inflammation and oxidative stress play a key role in its pathophysiology. Complementary therapies along with medications may be effective in the control of RA. Propolis is a natural substance extracted from beehives, which have confirmed anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The present study aimed to review the possible effects of propolis on inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid profile in patients with RA. English articles in online databases such as PubMed‑Medline, AMED, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched. Pieces of evidence show that supplementation with propolis may have therapeutic effects on RA patients. Due to increased inflammation and oxidative stress in the affected joints of RA patients, propolis could inhibit the inflammatory cascades by inhibiting the nuclear factor kappa B pathway and reducing reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and interleukin-17 by increasing some antioxidants. Therefore, inflammation and pain reduce, helping improve and control RA in patients. Further investigations are required with larger sample sizes and different doses of propolis to demonstrate the definite effects of propolis on various aspects of RA.