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Peptides with a similar antioxidant and ACE-inhibitory activity of royal jelly (RJ) generated from Alcalase hydrolysated pollen (AHP) were predicted by Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Later, AHP was prepared and deproteinised to be further analysed using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). After SEC separation, fractions 49-57, 64-66 and 52-54 of AHP and fractions 43-55 of RJ that showed the highest ACE-inhibitory, DPPH radical scavenging and ferric-reducing power activities, were purified by RP-HPLC. After the separation of fractions 49-57 of AHP, fractions eluting at 3, 4, 5, 37 and 60 min and fractions eluting at 12 to 33 min showed ACE-inhibitory activity higher than 80% whereas fraction eluting at 34 min showed the highest DPPH scavenging activity. 195 peptide sequences were identified by nano-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry in tandem (nLC-MS/MS). The origins of all identified peptides were herbal proteins and certain similarities with previously described bioactive sequences were discussed.

Royal jelly (RJ) has been known for centuries, but in the last 5-6 decades its systematic production and consumption has increased. RJ is secreted by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of worker honeybees (Apis mellifera). This thick and milky substance contains water, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, vitamins and such bio-active compounds as acetylcholine, peptides, the hormones testosterone, progesterone, prolactin, estradiol, (hydroxydecanoic acid) (HAD), adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-N1Oxide, polyphenols, flavonoids and adenosine. Because of its bioactive compounds, RJ can be considered as a functional and nutraceutical food. The main goal of this review is to summarize and update its physicochemical properties, bio-active ingredients, storage stability and shelf life. The functional properties are antioxidative activity, insulin-like action, improvement against diabetes, liver protection, antitumoral action, neurotrophic action, antibiotic effect, anti-inflammatory action and wound healing, hypotensive effect and blood regulatory actions, anti-aging effect and skin protection, effects on the reproductive system and fertility and also fortifying, tonic action and immunomodulating and anti-alergic activity. RJ may cause allergic reactions, asthma and even fatal anaphylaxis in some humans. Therefore, RJ should be orally ingested as nutreaceutical agent or food-ingredient only after an allergy test.

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This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different dietary inclusion of eucalyptus essential oil ( EEO ) on growth performance, relative organ weight, cecal microflora, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical parameters, and thigh muscle fatty acid profile in broiler chickens. A total of six hundred 1-day-old male broiler chickens were randomly allocated into 5 treatment groups with 8 replicate pens, and each pen contained 15 birds. The experiment lasted for 42 d. Dietary treatments included corn–soybean meal-based diet supplemented with 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 mg/kg EEO. The results indicated that dietary treatments had no effect on growth performance parameters in the 1 to 10 d period. From day 11 to 24, dietary supplementation of EEO showed a linear decrease in feed conversion ratio ( FCR , P < 0.05). From day 25 to 42 and the overall period (1–42 d), broilers fed with different levels of EEO showed a linear increase in body weight gain ( BWG ) and reduction in feed conversion ratio (linear, P < 0.05). The relative organ weight were unaffected by any of the dietary treatments. With increasing levels of EEO, the cecal Escherichia coli (linear, P = 0.085) count showed a trend in reduction, and the cecal lactic acid bacteria population tended to increase (linear, P = 0.063). The apparent ileal digestibility of ether extract and organic matter were linearly and quadratically increased in response to increasing dietary EEO supplementation ( P < 0.05). A trend of linear decrease in total cholesterol in the serum of birds fed with different levels of EEO was recorded ( P = 0.074). Eucalyptus essential oil's inclusion increased serum superoxide dismutase linearly but reduced serum malondialdehyde linearly ( P < 0.05). Dietary supplementation of EEO affected the fatty acid profile of thigh muscle so that increased the concentrations of total polyunsaturated fatty acids (linear, P < 0.05) and reduced total saturated fatty acid contents (linear, P < 0.05). Taken together, the inclusion of EEO increased BWG and decreased FCR during day 25 to 42 and day 1 to 42, and partially improved cecal microflora balance, nutrient digestibility, antioxidant activity, and thigh muscle fatty acid profile in broiler chickens.

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