Melipona scutellaris Geopropolis: Chemical Composition and Bioactivity.

Geopropolis has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. In this study, the botanical origin, physicochemical profile, and biological activities of geopropolis from Melipona scutellaris harvested during rainy and dry seasons were investigated. Palynological analysis identified over 50 pollen types, with Schinus terebinthifolius and Cecropia being the predominant types. The analytical results were in line with those reported in the literature. Rainy-season geopropolis exhibited higher total phenol and flavonoid content (determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography-25.13% and 3.92%, respectively) compared to the dry season (19.30% and 2.09%); the major peaks (naringin, gallic acid, and catechin) were similar among samples. Antioxidant capacity was assessed via DPPH, reducing power, and ß-carotene/linoleic acid discoloration assays. Rainy-season samples displayed superior antioxidant activity across methods. Antimicrobial effects were determined using microdilution, while the impact on the cholinesterase enzyme was quantified using 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoic acid accumulation. Anti-inflammatory and antimutagenic activities were assessed through hyaluronidase enzyme inhibition and by utilizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC-20113 cells. Both samples exhibited anti-inflammatory and antimutagenic properties. Moreover, a significant inhibition of acetylcholinesterase was observed, with IC50 values of 0.35 µg/mL during the rainy season and 0.28 µg/mL during the dry season. Additionally, the geopropolis displayed antimicrobial activity, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of M. scutellaris geopropolis in the context of inflammatory, oxidative, and infectious diseases.

Analysis of honey bee exposure to multiple pesticide residues in the hive environment.

Since the loss of honeybees in hives could have a greater impact on colony health than those of their foraging bees, it is imperative to know beehives' pesticide exposure via oral ingestion of contaminated in-hive matrices. Here, a 4-year monitoring survey of 64 pesticide residues in pollen, nectar and related beehive matrices (beebread and honey) from China's main honey producing areas was carried out using a modified version of the QuEChERS multi-residue method. The results showed that 93.6% of pollen, 81.5% of nectar, 96.6% of beebread, and 49.3% of honey containing at least one target pesticide were detected either at or above the method detection limits (MDLs), respectively, with up to 19 pesticides found per sample. Carbendazim was the most frequently detected pesticide (present in >85% of the samples), and pyrethroids were also abundant (median concentration = 134.3-279.0 µg/kg). The transfer of pesticides from the environment into the beehive was shown, but the pesticide transference ratio may be affected by complex factors. Although the overall risk to colony health from pesticides appears to be at an acceptable level, the hazard quotient/hazard index (HQ/HI) value revealed that pyrethroids were clearly the most influential contributor, accounting for up to 45% of HI. Collectively, these empirical findings provide further insights into the extent of contamination caused by agricultural pesticide use on honeybee colonies.

An Analytical Method for the Biomonitoring of Mercury in Bees and Beehive Products by Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry.

Bees and their products are useful bioindicators of anthropogenic activities and could overcome the deficiencies of air quality networks. Among the environmental contaminants, mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal that can accumulate in living organisms. The first aim of this study was to develop a simple analytical method to determine Hg in small mass samples of bees and beehive products by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The proposed method was optimized for about 0.02 g bee, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly, 0.05 g beeswax and honey, or 0.1 g honeydew with 0.5 mL HCl, 0.2 mL HNO3, and 0.1 mL H2O2 in a water bath (95 °C, 30 min); samples were made up to a final volume of 5 mL deionized water. The method limits sample manipulation and the reagent mixture volume used. Detection limits were lower than 3 µg kg-1 for a sample mass of 0.02 g, and recoveries and precision were within 20% of the expected value and less than 10%, respectively, for many matrices. The second aim of the present study was to evaluate the proposed method's performances on real samples collected in six areas of the Lazio region in Italy.

Mining the Royal Jelly Proteins: Combinatorial Hexapeptide Ligand Library Significantly Improves the MS-Based Proteomic Identification in Complex Biological Samples.

Royal jelly (RJ) is a complex, creamy secretion produced by the glands of worker bees. Due to its health-promoting properties, it is used by humans as a dietary supplement. However, RJ compounds are not fully characterized yet. Hence, in this research, we aimed to broaden the knowledge of the proteomic composition of fresh RJ. Water extracts of the samples were pre-treated using combinatorial hexapeptide ligand libraries (ProteoMinerTM kit), trypsin-digested, and analyzed by a nanoLC-MALDI-TOF/TOF MS system. To check the ProteoMinerTM performance in the MS-based protein identification, we also examined RJ extracts that were not prepared with the ProteoMinerTM kit. We identified a total of 86 proteins taxonomically classified to Apis spp. (bees). Among them, 74 proteins were detected in RJ extracts pre-treated with ProteoMinerTM kit, and only 50 proteins were found in extracts non-enriched with this technique. Ten of the identified features were hypothetical proteins whose existence has been predicted, but any experimental evidence proves their in vivo expression. Additionally, we detected four uncharacterized proteins of unknown functions. The results of this research indicate that the ProteoMinerTM strategy improves proteomic identification in complex biological samples. Broadening the knowledge of RJ composition may contribute to the development of standards and regulations, enhancing the quality of RJ, and consequently, the safety of its supplementation.

Apitherapy for Osteoarthritis: Perspectives from Basic Research.

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common rheumatic disease in the world and one of the leading causes of disability in the elderly. There is still no curative management for the disease, so the search for new therapeutic alternatives continues. -Apitherapy is a therapeutic tool based on the use of beehive products used since ancient times and, at present, their mechanism of action begins to be known. Many of the mechanisms of action of the beehive products are useful for chronic articular pathophysiological processes such as those described in osteoarthritis. This article presents a review of the current state of understanding of the mechanisms through which bee venom, propolis, honey, pollen, and royal jelly may act on osteoarthritis.

Acceptability of beehive products as ingredients in quinoa bars.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to develop a puffed quinoa bar with beehive products of high content of phenolic compounds, based on acceptability and perception of consumers. A rotational central composite design of three variables (honey, pollen and propolis) was used for food product formulation. The responses to optimize were sensorial acceptability and polyphenol content. Next to acceptability a check-all-that-apply (CATA) test was performed with 115 consumers. Preference maps were used to relate acceptability and sensorial attributes of bars that cause rejection or acceptance. RESULTS: The experimental design determined that pollen and propolis significantly increased phenolic content but decreased acceptability of formulations. Preference maps established that attributes like astringency, bitter flavor, pungency and intense yellow color were associated with the low acceptability while attributes of sweetness and weak astringency were related to high acceptance of products. Range of polyphenol content determined in the widely accepted formulations was 2.15-2.91 g kg-1 , significantly higher than commercial products. CONCLUSION: The incorporation of beehive products, in quinoa bars, increased the total polyphenol content and the functional properties, but at the same time reduced the consumer acceptability. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Neonicotinoids transference from the field to the hive by honey bees: Towards a pesticide residues biomonitor.

The beehive as a quantitative monitor of pesticide residues applied over a soybean crop was studied through a semi field experiment of controlled exposure of honey bees to pesticides in macro tunnels. The distribution within exposed beehives of pesticides commonly used in soybean plantation, was assessed. Residue levels of insecticides in soybean leaves, honey bees, wax, honey and pollen were analyzed. The transference from pesticides present in the environment into the beehive was evidenced. The obtained results allow relating pesticide concentrations present in the environment with traces found in foraging bees. Therefore, pesticide transference ratios could be calculated for each detected compound (acetamiprid, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam) which showed a linear inverse trend with their 1-octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow). The least transferred pesticide to the hive (acetamiprid) has the highest vapor pressure (Vp). This study gives new insights on the usefulness of monitoring the environment through beehives aiming to evaluate if agroecosystems remain sustainable. It also contributes to generate valuable information for model building aiming to predict environmental quality through beehive's analysis.

A colmeia e o ser humano / The beehive and the human being

A abordagem antroposófica baseada na contribuição fundadora de Rudolf Steiner permite atualizar e diferenciar aquilo que as tradições religiosas e a mitologia, como a medicina popular, reconhecem desde milênios: a manifestação nas abelhas de processos cósmico-espirituais que têm íntima relação com a constituição do ser humano. As forças de estruturação tornadas visíveis na conformação hexagonal dos favos, tanto como na organização social e comportamental das abelhas, são da mesma natureza que as forças de estruturação ativas no sistema neurossensorial humano ligadas à dinâmica de cristalização da sílica responsável pela forma hexagonal dos cristais de quartzo. Elas fornecem à colmeia a rede no âmbito da qual ela pode desenvolver sua organização calórica regulada com uma precisão só atingida por seres homeotérmicos. Estas forças de estruturação em relação com o calor são mais particularmente relacionadas no organismo humano com a metamorfose do sistema neurossensorial no domínio do metabolismo e da locomoção, isto é, os tecidos conjuntivos e particularmente o mais estruturado entre eles, o esqueleto ósseo, responsáveis pela forma do corpo humano. Examinar estas correspondências permite compreender melhor o potencial terapêutico dos produtos da colmeia e a relação não só do veneno de abelha com a força calórica do eu, mas também da cera e do mel com a forma humana entendida ao mesmo tempo como diferenciada pela organização do eu ativa no sistema neurossensorial e como condição da manifestação da atividade do eu no calor. Estas considerações podem fornecer uma base, além da simbólica superficial ou tradicional, para relacionar fisiologia humana e forças morais. (AU)

The anthroposophic approach based on Rudolf Steiner's seminal contribution makes it possible to renew and differentiate what religious traditions and mythology, as well as traditional medicine, have known for millennia: that honey bees manifest cosmic spiritual processes intimately related to the human constitution. Structuring forces made visible in the hexagonal pattern of the honeycomb as well as in the strict social and behavioral organization of honey bees are of the same nature as those active in the human nerve-senses system, in relation with the forces of crystallization of silica resulting in the hexagonal structure of quartz crystals. These forces provide the beehive with the framework within which it can develop its thermal organization in a finely regulated way such as can otherwise only be achieved by homoeothermic beings. These structuring forces in connection with warmth are particularly related in the human organism to the metamorphosis of the nerve-senses system in the area of metabolism and locomotion, i.e., in the connective tissues, and especially the most structured of these, the ossified skeleton, responsible for the form of the human body. Examining such correspondences can lead to a better understanding of the therapeutic potential of bee products and of the relationships, not only of bee venom with the caloric force of the I, but also of beeswax and honey with the human form, understood at the same time as differentiated by the I-organization in its nerve-senses modality and as condition for the manifestation of the I in warmth. These considerations can help to form, beyond traditional or superficial symbolism, a basis for linking human physiology and forces of morality.(AU)

QuEChERS Adaptability for the Analysis of Pesticide Residues in Beehive Products Seeking the Development of an Agroecosystem Sustainability Monitor.

Beehive products could be powerful monitors of pesticide residues originating in agroecosystems during production cycles. Their ready availability provides enough samples to perform analytical determinations, but their chemical complexity makes residue analysis a real challenge. Taking advantage of the plasticity of QuEChERS coupled to LC-MS/MS, validated methodologies were developed for bees, honey, beeswax, and pollen and applied to real samples for the simultaneous determination of 19 of the most employed pesticides in intensive cropping fields. Beehives placed in Uruguayan agroecosystems accumulated the pesticides thiacloprid, imidacloprid, methomyl, carbaryl, hexythiazox, azoxystrobin, pyraclostrobin, tebuconazole, and haloxyfop-methyl at 0.0001-0.01 mg/kg levels. The oscillations on the amount and occurrence of residue findings for specific apiaries were correlated statistically with the sampling season and the agroecosystem where the beehives were located, showing the potential of bees and bee products to record relevant information to survey the chemicals applied in their surroundings.

Foreign matter contaminating ethanolic extract of propolis: a filth-test survey comparing products from small beekeeping farms and industrial producers.

Propolis is a resinous material collected by honeybees from the exudates and buds of plants. It has been widely used as a remedy by humans since ancient times, as well as for dietary supplements and cosmetics. European legislation recently focused on the quality and hygiene standards of foods, including beehive products, and extensive efforts have been made to avoid the presence of chemical contaminants, whilst in contrast few studies have investigated the magnitude of contamination by physical ones. We conducted a filth-test survey to evaluate the contamination of ethanolic extract of propolis by foreign materials. We also compared the abundance of contaminants in propolis extracts currently marketed by small beekeepers and industrial producers. We found different foreign materials in the ethanol extract of propolis. Contaminants differed in abundance, with a higher number of carbon particles (small beekeepers: 2.70 ± 0.63; industrial producers: 1.25 ± 0.49; mean (n/30 ml) ± SE) and other inorganic fragments (small beekeepers: 3.50 ± 0.31; industrial producers: 3.88 ± 1.11) than arthropod fragments (small beekeepers: 0.30 ± 0.21; industrial producers: 0.38 ± 0.26) and mammal hairs (small beekeepers: 0.10 ± 0.10; industrial producers: 0.38 ± 0.26). No differences in the abundance of foreign matter between propolis from small beekeepers and industrial producers were found, allowing us to point out an increased awareness by small producers of issues inherent in hygiene management. Contamination of propolis extracts by animal body parts, such as insect fragments, mites and rodent hairs, indicates poor management of hygiene in the production process and low effectiveness of the filtration phase. Animal-borne contaminants can act as pathogen vectors as well as introducing dangerous allergens when ingested or applied to human skin. The filth-test applied to ethanolic propolis extract quality control can be considered a promising tool, also for small beekeeper activities, since it is cheap and allows the quick interpretation of results.

Determination of nonylphenol ethoxylate and octylphenol ethoxylate surfactants in beehive samples by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.

Nonylphenol and octylphenol ethoxylates (NP(EO)n and OP(EO)n) are major toxicants in agrochemicals used around beehives. Here we developed a LC-MS method for analysis of NP(EO)3-13 and OP(EO)3-13 oligomers in bee hive matrices. Less than 2 g of honey, pollen or wax were extracted using the QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) approach. Recoveries for each oligomer in all matrices are between 75% and 111% at three spiked concentrations. The method proved to be rapid, precise and sensitive. Five honey, 10 pollen and 12 wax samples were collected and analysed. NP(EO)n was detected in every sample with concentrations ranging from 26 ppb to 10,239 ppb. Much higher NP(EO)n residues levels were found in wax followed by pollen than in honey. OP(EO)n concentrations on average were more than 10 times lower in pollen and wax. This method demonstrates a probable wide occurrence of alkylphenol ethoxylates in USA beehives.