Improving Reproductive Performance and Health of Mammals Using Honeybee Products

Abstract

Honeybee products have positive effects on the reproductive performance of mammals. Many honeybee product constituents are biologically active, with antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antifungal, wound-healing, and cardio-protective properties. Honeybee products also improve male and female fertility rates by enhancing gamete cryopreservation, in vitro maturation and fertilization, and embryo development. Previously published studies confirmed their efficacy for alleviating reproductive toxicity caused by contaminants and lifestyle habits that impair overall health and well-being. However, high-dose oral administration of honeybee products may adversely affect the reproductive system, and unfavorable effects were alleviated by treatment cessation. For this reason, this review proposes that bioactive components from bee products can be used as a strategy for improving the reproductive performance and health of mammals.

Pharmaceutical Prospects of Bee Products: Special Focus on Anticancer, Antibacterial, Antiviral, and Antiparasitic Properties

“…Typically, raw propolis consists of resins and balms (50-60%), fatty acids and waxes (30-40%), essential oils (5-10%), and other components (5%) such as enzymes (acid phosphatase, adenosine triphosphatase, glucose-6-phosphatase, and succinic dehydrogenase), vitamins (B1, B2, B6, C, and E), minerals (Mg, Cu, F, Ca, K, Na, Mn, and Zn) [50,51]. Propolis must be purified and dewaxed via solvent extraction to remove inert materials and preserve the phenolic fractions for commercialization [52].…”

“…The pH value of bee bread is 4.2, mainly due to the formation of lactic acid [86]. Bee bread was reported to have biological activities including antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumor, antihypertensive, neuroprotective, and antiseptic [52,[89][90][91]. Royal jelly consists of flavanones (pinobaskin, pinocembrin, hesperidin, naringin, and naringenin), flavones (acacetin, apigenin, chrysin, and luteolin), flavonols (fisetin, galangin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, quercetin, and rutin), phenolic acids (caffeic acid, gallic acid, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylethanol, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid-methyl ester, 4hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxyhydrocinnamic acid, octanoic acids, 2-hexenedioic acid and its esters, dodecanoic acid and its ester, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, and benzoic acid) and other phenolic compounds such as hydroquinone, methyl salicylate, 2-methoxyp-cresol, 2-methoxyphenol, and pyrocatechol [48,76].…”

“…The pH value of bee bread is 4.2, mainly due to the formation of lactic acid [86]. Bee bread was reported to have biological activities including antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumor, antihypertensive, neuroprotective, and antiseptic [52,[89][90][91].…”

“…Vitamins (A, B1, B4, B6 and P) and minerals (Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mn, Na, P, and Zn) are also present in beeswax. Beeswax is used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries as an additive [31,52]. In addition, beeswax exhibits antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger [31].…”

The Cryoprotective Potential of Propolis Supplemented in Frozen-Thawed Bull Semen: Biochemical and Physiological Findings

“…One of the natural products that have various pharmaceutical and antioxidant properties due to its rich natural bioactive components is propolis (P; bee glue), a honey bee product (Hashem et al 2013). P is a dark resinous substance produced by honey bees with salivary gland secretions from various parts of plants to close the crevices and cracks of the hive in order to prevent microbial contamination (Hashem et al 2021).…”