Bee products belong to the natural products which over the years have proven their effectiveness as a therapeutic agent in different areas of application. Honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly and beeswax: although the medical properties of these by-products have been recognized for millennia, in modern times they have had limited use. However, several scientific studies have shown that beehive products are excellent sources of bioactive, macro and micronutrient compounds, conferring multiple biological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating functions.
They also stimulate the immune response and the antibody production, inhibiting the replication activities of viruses and creating a protective barrier. Thus, they directly support the immune system, being involved in the antibody production.
Bee products and immune system: honey
Among the bee products, since ever honey is the most known and used. In addition to its promising antimicrobial activity, honey also stimulates the immune system and improves its immunocompetence. The antiviral activity of some types of honey has been attributed to various properties including its osmotic effect, naturally low pH, and the presence of many natural compounds (e.g. hydrogen peroxide, phenolic acids, flavonoids and lysozyme), making it an excellent ally to face the winter.
Bee products and immune system: propolis
Propolis is a resinous substance produced by honey bees from materials collected from different parts of plants, such as leaves, flowers, buds and exudates.
Since it is used as an antimicrobial agent against bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms which attack hives, several studies have studied its activity against the most relevant human pathogens. Its composition (50% resins, 30% waxes, 10% essential oils, 5% pollen and 5% of various organic compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, amino acids, minerals, vitamin A, and vitamin E) helps stimulate the response adaptive immune system.
Bee products and immune system: royal jelly
Among other things, the intake of royal jelly supports the reproductive health, helps against neurological diseases and has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. In spite of a lot of clinical evidence on the use of royal jelly all over the world, its use is more concentrated in Asian countries and its mechanisms of action are still being investigated.
CARLO SESSA S.p.A. has been the first Italian company to import fresh and freeze-dried Royal Jelly from Chinese beekeepers since 1973.
Bee products and the immune system: beeswax and pollen
Beeswax is a mixture of over 300 compounds, including esters of fatty acids, hydrocarbons, free fatty acids, diesters, and exogenous substances, such as propolis residues, pollen and small fragments of floral components. Pollen, on the other hand, has a sort of different fingerprinting for each type of flower. Since bees, during their normal foraging activity, collect pollen from a great variety of flowers, it is not possible to know the exact chemical composition from the start, as it is influenced by environmental conditions. Although both compounds have been shown to have antibacterial and antiviral properties, only a few studies have been conducted so far.