MyMedR

Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 121 in total

Abstract:

Sort:

Fulltext Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Streptococcus Pyogenes Exposed to Malaysian Trigona Honey In Vitro Demonstrated Downregulation of Virulence Factor

A Al-Kafaween M, Mohd Hilmi AB, A Nagi Al-Jamal H, A Elsahoryi N, Jaffar N, Khairi Zahri M

Iran J Biotechnol, 2020 Oct;18(4):e2542.
PMID: 34056021 DOI: 10.30498/IJB.2020.2542

Background: Honey has been known as a traditional medicine for centuries with its antibacterial properties. It is considered one of the most enduring substances used in wound management.
Objectives: This study aimed to: (i) evaluate the effects of Malaysian Trigona honey on bacterial structure and (ii) assess the anti-virulence potential of this honey by examining their impacts on the expression of selected genes (involved in stress survival and biofilm formation) in a test organism.
Materials and Methods: Trigona honey's impacts on the bacterial structure (cell morphology) and the expression profiles of select Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and Streptococcus Pyogenes genes were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis, respectively.
Results: SEM showed that the decreased cell density deformed, disrupted, and damaged cells for both bacteria. RT-qPCR showed that the expression of fleN, fleQ, and fleR genes of P.aeruginosa were decreased, 4.26-fold, 3.80-fold and 2.66- fold respectively. In addition, scpA, ftsY, and emm13 of S.pyogenes were decreased, 2.87-fold, 3.24-fold, and 4.65-fold respectively.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that Trigona honey may be an effective inhibitor and virulence modulator of P. aeruginosa and S. pyogenes via multiple molecular targets. This deduction needs to be investigated in vivo.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees
Fulltext Stingless Bee Honey, the Natural Wound Healer: A Review

Abd Jalil MA, Kasmuri AR, Hadi H

Skin Pharmacol Physiol, 2017;30(2):66-75.
PMID: 28291965 DOI: 10.1159/000458416

BACKGROUND: The stingless bee is a natural type of bee that exists in almost every continent. The honey produced by this bee has been widely used across time and space. The distinctive feature of this honey is that it is stored naturally in the pot (cerumen), thus contributing to its beneficial properties, especially in the wound healing process.
METHODS: In this article, several studies on stingless bee honey that pointed out the numerous therapeutic profiles of this honey in terms of its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, as well as moisturizing properties are reviewed. All of these therapeutic properties are related to wound healing properties.
RESULTS: Antioxidant in stingless bee honey could break the chain of free radicals that cause a detrimental effect to the wounded area. Furthermore, the antimicrobial properties of stingless bee honey could overcome the bacterial contamination and thus improve the healing rate. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory attribute in this honey could protect the tissue from highly toxic inflammatory mediators. The moisturizing properties of the honey could improve wound healing by promoting angiogenesis and oxygen circulation.
CONCLUSION: The application of honey to the wound has been widely used since ancient times. As a result, it is essential to understand the pharmacological mechanism of the honey towards the physiology of the wounded skin in order to optimize the healing rate in the future.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees
In vitro modulation of extracellular matrix genes by stingless bee honey in cellular aging of human dermal fibroblast cells

Abdul Malik N, Mohamed M, Mustafa MZ, Zainuddin A

J Food Biochem, 2020 01;44(1):e13098.
PMID: 31746481 DOI: 10.1111/jfbc.13098

This study determined the antiaging effect of stingless bee honey on the expression of extracellular matrix genes. MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt) assay was performed for determination of optimum concentration and incubation time of stingless bee honey. Gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and collagen type Ⅰ (COL1A1) were analyzed using real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction technique. Incubation with stingless bee honey at concentration of 0.02% for 72 hr showed significant increase in the viability of human fibroblast cells. Stingless bee honey significantly downregulates metalloproteinase-1 gene expression in both pre-senescence and senescence fibroblast cells and upregulates collagen type Ⅰ gene expression in senescence fibroblast cells. In conclusion, stingless bee honey potentially delayed skin aging through modulation of extracellular matrix genes. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Changes of the extracellular matrix regulation promote skin aging. Stingless bee honey is a good source of natural antioxidant which potentially delays skin aging. This study demonstrated that stingless bee honey beneficially increases collagen type Ⅰ expression and decreases MMP-1 expression during cellular aging of human dermal fibroblast cells.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees/genetics
Fulltext A modified active appearance model based on an adaptive artificial bee colony

Abdulameer MH, Sheikh Abdullah SN, Othman ZA

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:879031.
PMID: 25165748 DOI: 10.1155/2014/879031

Active appearance model (AAM) is one of the most popular model-based approaches that have been extensively used to extract features by highly accurate modeling of human faces under various physical and environmental circumstances. However, in such active appearance model, fitting the model with original image is a challenging task. State of the art shows that optimization method is applicable to resolve this problem. However, another common problem is applying optimization. Hence, in this paper we propose an AAM based face recognition technique, which is capable of resolving the fitting problem of AAM by introducing a new adaptive ABC algorithm. The adaptation increases the efficiency of fitting as against the conventional ABC algorithm. We have used three datasets: CASIA dataset, property 2.5D face dataset, and UBIRIS v1 images dataset in our experiments. The results have revealed that the proposed face recognition technique has performed effectively, in terms of accuracy of face recognition.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees/physiology
Fulltext Polyphenols as key players for the antileukaemic effects of propolis

Abubakar MB, Abdullah WZ, Sulaiman SA, Ang BS

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2014;2014:371730.
PMID: 24772179 DOI: 10.1155/2014/371730

Propolis (a bee product) which has a long history of medicinal use by humans has attracted a great deal of research interest in the recent time; this is due to its widely reported biological activities such as antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic properties. Crude form of propolis and its phenolic contents have both been reported to exhibit antileukaemic effects in various leukaemia cell lines. The ability of the polyphenols found in propolis to arrest cell cycle and induce apoptosis and differentiation in addition to inhibition of cell growth and proliferation makes them promising antileukaemic agents, and hence, they are believed to be a key to the antileukaemic effects of propolis in different types of leukaemia. This paper reviews the molecular bases of antileukaemic activity of both crude propolis and individual polyphenols on various leukaemia cell lines, and it indicates that propolis has the potential to be used in both treatment and prevention of leukaemia. This however needs further evaluation by in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological studies as well as clinical trials.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees
Fulltext Radioprotective Effects of Kelulut Honey in Zebrafish Model

Adenan MNH, Yazan LS, Christianus A, Md Hashim NF, Mohd Noor S, Shamsudin S, et al.

Molecules, 2021 Mar 12;26(6).
PMID: 33809054 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26061557

Large doses of ionizing radiation can damage human tissues. Therefore, there is a need to investigate the radiation effects as well as identify effective and non-toxic radioprotectors. This study evaluated the radioprotective effects of Kelulut honey (KH) from stingless bee (Trigona sp.) on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Viable zebrafish embryos at 24 hpf were dechorionated and divided into four groups, namely untreated and non-irradiated, untreated and irradiated, KH pre-treatment and amifostine pre-treatment. The embryos were first treated with KH (8 mg/mL) or amifostine (4 mM) before irradiation at doses of 11 Gy to 20 Gy using gamma ray source, caesium-137 (137Cs). Lethality and abnormality analysis were performed on all of the embryos in the study. Immunohistochemistry assay was also performed using selected proteins, namely γ-H2AX and caspase-3, to investigate DNA damages and incidences of apoptosis. KH was found to reduce coagulation effects at up to 20 Gy in the lethality analysis. The embryos developed combinations of abnormality, namely microphthalmia (M), body curvature and microphthalmia (BM), body curvature with microphthalmia and microcephaly (BMC), microphthalmia and pericardial oedema (MO), pericardial oedema (O), microphthalmia with microcephaly and pericardial oedema (MCO) and all of the abnormalities (AA). There were more abnormalities developed from 24 to 72 h (h) post-irradiation in all groups. At 96 h post-irradiation, KH was identified to reduce body curvature effect in the irradiated embryos (up to 16 Gy). γ-H2AX and caspase-3 intensities in the embryos pre-treated with KH were also found to be lower than the untreated group at gamma irradiation doses of 11 Gy to 20 Gy and 11 Gy to 19 Gy, respectively. KH was proven to increase the survival rate of zebrafish embryos and exhibited protection against organ-specific abnormality. KH was also found to possess cellular protective mechanism by reducing DNA damage and apoptosis proteins expression.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees/chemistry
Fulltext Conspectus of flora, fauna and micro-climate data in Tasik Kenyir from Mac 2015-February 2016

Afiq Ramlee MN, Hussin MF, Roslan A, Rosmidi FH, Pesiu E, Aisyah A Rahim N, et al.

Data Brief, 2020 Apr;29:105328.
PMID: 32181296 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.105328

This data article presents the diversity of flora and selected fauna in Tasik Kenyir, Malaysia. This man-made lake once suffered huge loss of biodiversity for allowing an earth-dam construction during 1980s. Series of publications on different types of target taxa have been published separately after the post-dam construction. A biodiversity assessment was conducted in Tasik Kenyir from March 2015 until February 2016. The one year assessment were compiled with the previous published data to document and updated the biodiversity checklist in the lake. The data show that Tasik Kenyir is occupied by 113 tree species, 217 butterfly species, 35 bee species, 26 reptile species, 267 aves species and 153 mammal species. The micro-climate data was downloaded from the Malaysian Meteorological Department and analysed in R Studio to highlight the relationship between climate data and biodiversity data.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees
Fulltext Protective Effect of Sundarban Honey against Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Hepatonephrotoxicity in Rats

Afroz R, Tanvir EM, Hossain MF, Gan SH, Parvez M, Aminul Islam M, et al.

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2014;2014:143782.
PMID: 25530774 DOI: 10.1155/2014/143782

Honey, a supersaturated natural product of honey bees, contains complex compounds with antioxidant properties and therefore has a wide a range of applications in both traditional and modern medicine. In the present study, the protective effects of Sundarban honey from Bangladesh against acetaminophen- (APAP-) induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in experimental rats were investigated. Adult male Wistar rats were pretreated with honey (5 g/kg) for 4 weeks, followed by the induction of hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity via the oral administration of a single dose of APAP (2 g/kg). Organ damage was confirmed by measuring the elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total protein (TP), total bilirubin (TB), urea, creatinine, and malondialdehyde (MDA). Histopathological alterations observed in the livers and the kidneys further confirmed oxidative damage to these tissues. Animals pretreated with Sundarban honey showed significantly markedly reduced levels of all of the investigated parameters. In addition, Sundarban honey ameliorated the altered hepatic and renal morphology in APAP-treated rats. Overall, our findings indicate that Sundarban honey protects against APAP-induced acute hepatic and renal damage, which could be attributed to the honey's antioxidant properties.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees
Fulltext Anti-Cancer Properties of Heterotrigona itama sp. Honey Via Induction of Apoptosis in Malignant Glioma Cells

Ahmad F, Seerangan P, Mustafa MZ, Osman ZF, Abdullah JM, Idris Z

Malays J Med Sci, 2019 Mar;26(2):30-39.
PMID: 31447606 MyJurnal DOI: 10.21315/mjms2019.26.2.4

Background: There has been increasing evidence showing that stingless bee honey exhibits anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Pharmacologically-active components in honey such as flavonoids and phenolic constituents are known to contribute to its medicinal benefits. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on evaluating anti-cancer effects of locally-produced Malaysian stingless bee honey from Heterotrigona itama sp. on malignant glioma cells.
Methods: Proliferation and apoptosis studies of U-87 MG cells following stingless bee honey treatment were carried out using MTS assay and acridine orange/propidium iodide dual staining, respectively.
Results: Results demonstrated time and dose-dependent cytotoxicity using 0.625%, 1.25% and 10% stingless bee honey (P < 0.05). IC50 values were calculated using cells treated with 10% stingless bee honey. It was also observed that 10% stingless bee honey induced nuclear shrinkage, chromatin condensation and nucleus fragmentation, indicating that cellular changes were consistent with the apoptotic characteristics of the cells.
Conclusion: These data provide a good basis for further evaluation of the medicinal properties of stingless bee honey from Heterotrigona itama sp. This source of honey may serve as a potential therapy for malignant glioma.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees
Fulltext Optimization of power utilization in multimobile robot foraging behavior inspired by honeybees system

Ahmad FA, Ramli AR, Samsudin K, Hashim SJ

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:153162.
PMID: 24949491 DOI: 10.1155/2014/153162

Deploying large numbers of mobile robots which can interact with each other produces swarm intelligent behavior. However, mobile robots are normally running with finite energy resource, supplied from finite battery. The limitation of energy resource required human intervention for recharging the batteries. The sharing information among the mobile robots would be one of the potentials to overcome the limitation on previously recharging system. A new approach is proposed based on integrated intelligent system inspired by foraging of honeybees applied to multimobile robot scenario. This integrated approach caters for both working and foraging stages for known/unknown power station locations. Swarm mobile robot inspired by honeybee is simulated to explore and identify the power station for battery recharging. The mobile robots will share the location information of the power station with each other. The result showed that mobile robots consume less energy and less time when they are cooperating with each other for foraging process. The optimizing of foraging behavior would result in the mobile robots spending more time to do real work.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees
Malaysian tualang honey and its potential anti-cancer properties: a review

Ahmad Firdaus Khalid, Yoke KY, Jun JT

Sains Malaysiana, 2018;47:2705-2711.

The use of honey as a therapeutic agent dates back at 8000 years and has markedly increased interest into its potential
health benefits. The by-products of the flower nectar have a complex chemical composition which promotes benefits in
underlying mechanism of human diseases. Malaysian Tualang Honey (MTH) is a multifloral jungle honey produced by
the rock bee (Apis dorsata). This review consolidates the results of carious studies involving biochemical assays of tissue
culture and animal trials of anti-cancer properties of MTH. Often studied in the context of breast cancer cell lines, MTH
has promising data for possible mechanisms in anti-cancer activity. These include apoptosis via depolarization of the
mitochondrial membrane, caspase-dependent apoptosis, reduction of angiogenesis and the promotion of cell cycle arrest
without posing cytotoxic effect on normal cell lines. Despite positive outcomes in tissue cultures, the oral administration
of MTH in breast cancer animal models showed slower tumour progression, reduction in tumour size and better grading
of histological features. The alleviation of breast carcinogenesis via modulation of hematologic, estrogenic and apoptotic
activities promotes MTH as a promising anticancer agent. With confidence in a conclusion that MTH is a useful treatment
for cancer, further experimental and clinical studies should be conducted.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees
Fulltext Review of the medicinal effects of tualang honey and a comparison with manuka honey

Ahmed S, Othman NH

Malays J Med Sci, 2013 May;20(3):6-13.
PMID: 23966819 MyJurnal

Tualang honey (TH) is a Malaysian multifloral jungle honey. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in the number of studies published in medical databases regarding its potential health benefits. The honey is produced by the rock bee (Apis dorsata), which builds hives on branches of tall Tualang trees located mainly in the north-western region of Peninsular Malaysia. This review collates the results of the various studies of TH that range from research on tissue culture to randomised control clinical trials. Findings thus far show that, TH has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimutagenic, antitumor, and antidiabetic properties, in addition to wound-healing attributes. Some of its properties are similar to the well-researched Manuka honey (New Zealand and/or Australian monofloral honey). Distinct differences include higher phenolics, flavonoids, and 5-(hydroxymethyl) furfural (HMF). Compared with Manuka honey, TH is also more effective against some gram-negative bacterial strains in burn wounds.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees
Diurnal-activity Patterns of the Small Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) in Southern India

Ali AH, Asokan S

Trop Life Sci Res, 2015 Apr;26(1):9-20.
PMID: 26868589

The diurnal time-activity patterns of the Small Bee-eater (Merops orientalis) were studied between 2005 and 2006 in the Nagapattinam District of Southern India. Bee-eaters were observed to spend an average of 52.5% of their day time scanning, 21.3% feeding, 13.3% flying, 8.8% resting and 4.1% engaging in preening activities. The time spent on scanning varied among seasons in 2005 (p<0.05) and among time blocks (p<0.05), but it did not vary among years or habitats (p>0.05). The feeding patterns differed among years, seasons within years, time blocks and habitats (p<0.05). The flying habits varied among years, time blocks and habitats (p<0.05) but did not change between seasons within years (p>0.05). The resting habits differed among years and habitats (p<0.05) but did not differ among seasons within years or time blocks (p>0.05). Preening differed among years and time blocks (p<0.05) but did not vary among seasons within years or habitats (p>0.05). We conclude that several factors, such as food availability, environmental factors and predation threats, may affect the diurnal activity patterns of Bee-eaters between habitats and seasons; a further study could clarify this conclusion.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees
Varroa jacobsoni (Acari: Varroidae) is more than one species

Anderson DL, Trueman JW

Exp Appl Acarol, 2000 Mar;24(3):165-89.
PMID: 11108385

Varroa jacobsoni was first described as a natural ectoparasitic mite of the Eastern honeybee (Apis cerana) throughout Asia. It later switched host to the Western honeybee (A. mellifera) and has now become a serious pest of that bee worldwide. The studies reported here on genotypic, phenotypic and reproductive variation among V. jacobsoni infesting A. cerana throughout Asia demonstrate that V. jacobsoni is a complex of at least two different species. In a new classification V. jacobsoni is here redefined as encompassing nine haplotypes (mites with distinct mtDNA CO-I gene sequences) that infest A. cerana in the Malaysia Indonesia region. Included is a Java haplotype, specimens of which were used to first describe V. jacobsoni at the beginning of this century. A new name, V. destructor n. sp., is given to six haplotypes that infest A. cerana on mainland Asia. Adult females of V. destructor are significantly larger and less spherical in shape than females of V. jacobsoni and they are also reproductively isolated from females of V. jacobsoni. The taxonomic positions of a further three unique haplotypes that infest A. cerana in the Philippines is uncertain and requires further study. Other studies reported here also show that only two of the 18 different haplotypes concealed within the complex of mites infesting A. cerana have become pests of A. mellifera worldwide. Both belong to V. destructor, and they are not V. jacobsoni. The most common is a Korea haplotype, so-called because it was also found parasitizing A. cerana in South Korea. It was identified on A. mellifera in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Less common is a Japan/Thailand haplotype, so-called because it was also found parasitizing A. cerana in Japan and Thailand. It was identified on A. mellifera in Japan, Thailand and the Americas. Our results imply that the findings of past research on V. jacobsoni are applicable mostly to V. destructor. Our results will also influence quarantine protocols for bee mites, and may present new strategies for mite control.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees/parasitology*
Fulltext A Case Series of Bee Sting Keratopathy With Different Outcomes in Malaysia

Ang WJ, Md Kadir SZ, Fadzillah AJ, Zunaina E

Cureus, 2017 Feb 17;9(2):e1035.
PMID: 28357167 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.1035

We report three patients with corneal bee sting at our tertiary care center in a three-year period starting from 2014 to 2016. All patients sustained a bee sting injury to the cornea. All patients received early preoperative topical antibiotics, topical cycloplegic and intensive topical steroids. However, the timing of the initial presentation, the duration, and the location of the retained stinger differed in each case leading to different postsurgical outcomes.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees
Stingless Bee Honey Reduces Anxiety and Improves Memory of the Metabolic Disease-induced Rats

Arshad N', Lin TS, Yahaya MF

CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets, 2020;19(2):115-126.
PMID: 31957619 DOI: 10.2174/1871527319666200117105133

BACKGROUND: Scientific studies support the evidence of the involvement of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases through oxidative stress. Consumption of antioxidant compounds was found to be beneficial for brain-health as it reduced the brain oxidative stress level and improved cognitive performance in animals. Stingless bee honey or locally known as Kelulut Honey (KH) has high phenolic content and is widely used as a food supplement.
OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of KH on the brain of MetS-induced rats.
METHODS: Forty male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups; 8 weeks (C8) and 16 weeks control groups (C16), groups that received High-Carbohydrate High Fructose (HCHF) diet for 8 weeks (MS8) and 16 weeks (MS16), and a group that received HCHF for 16 weeks with KH supplemented for the last 35 days (KH).
RESULTS: Serum fasting blood glucose decreased in the KH group compared to the MS16 group. HDL levels were significantly decreased in MetS groups compared to control groups. Open field experiments showed that KH group exhibits less anxious behavior compared to the MetS group. Probe trial of Morris water maze demonstrated significant memory retention of KH group compared to the MS16 group. Nissl staining showed a significant decrease in the pyramidal hippocampal cells in the MS16 compared to the KH group.
CONCLUSION: KH has the ability to normalise blood glucose and reduce serum triglyceride and LDL levels in MetS rats, while behavior studies complement its effect on anxiety and memory. This shows a promising role of KH in attenuating neurodegenerative diseases through the antioxidant activity of its polyphenolic content.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees
Fulltext New and little-known species of the genus Sphecodes Latreille (Hymenoptera, Halictidae) from Southeast Asia

Astafurova YV, Proshchalykin MY, Schwarz M

Zookeys, 2020;937:31-88.
PMID: 32547298 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.937.51708

The available information about the cleptoparasitic bees of the genus Sphecodes in Southeast Asia is summarized. Thirty-one species are currently known from this area. Four new species are described: Sphecodes discoverlifei Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov. (Laos), S. engeli Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov. (Laos, Vietnam), S. ilyadadaria Astafurova, sp. nov. (Indonesia), and S. pseudoredivivus Astafurova & Proshchalykin, sp. nov. (Laos). Nine species are newly recorded from South East Asia: S. chaprensis Blüthgen, 1927 (Laos), S. howardi Cockerell, 1922 (Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand), S. kershawi Perkins, 1921 (Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand), S. laticeps Meyer, 1920 (Thailand, Vietnam), S. montanus Smith, 1879 (Laos), S. sauteri Meyer, 1925 (Laos), S. sikkimensis Blüthgen, 1927 (Laos, Myanmar), S. simlaensis Blüthgen, 1924 (Laos), and S. turneri Cockerell, 1916 (Laos). Based on type specimens, new synonymies have been proposed for Sphecodes kershawi Perkins, 1921 = S. javanensis Blüthgen, 1927, syn. nov.; S. simlaensis Blüthgen, 1924 = S. simlaellus Blüthgen, 1927, syn. nov.; S. laticeps Meyer, 1920 = S. biroi mariae Cockerell, 1930, syn. nov. Lectotypes are designated for Sphecodes biroi Friese, 1909, S. simlaellus Blüthgen, 1927, and S. laticeps Meyer, 1920. The female of Sphecodes sauteri Meyer, 1925, and the male of S. turneri Cockerell, 1916 are described for the first time.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees
Pancreatoprotective effects of Geniotrigona thoracica stingless bee honey in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced male diabetic rats

Aziz MSA, Giribabu N, Rao PV, Salleh N

Biomed Pharmacother, 2017 May;89:135-145.
PMID: 28222394 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.02.026

Stingless bee honey (SLBH) has been claimed to possess multiple health benefits. Its anti-diabetic properties are however unknown. In this study, ability of SLBH from Geniotrigona thoracica stingless bee species in ameliorating pancreatic damage and in maintaining metabolic profiles were investigated in diabetic condition.
METHODS: SLBH at 1 and 2g/kg/b.w. was given orally to streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide-induced male diabetic rats for 28days. Metabolic parameters (fasting blood glucose-FBG and lipid profiles-LP and serum insulin) were measured by biochemical assays. Distribution and expression level of insulin, oxidative stress marker i.e. catalase, inflammatory markers i.e. IKK-β, TNF-α, IL-1β and apoptosis marker i.e. caspase-9 in the pancreatic islets were identified and quantified respectively by immunohistochemistry. Levels of NF-κβ in pancreas were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA).
RESULTS: SLBH administration to diabetic male rats prevented increase in FBG, total cholesterols (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. However, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and serum insulin levels in diabetic rats receiving SLBH increased. Additionally, histopathological changes and expression level of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis markers in pancreatic islets of diabetic rats decreased with increased expression level of insulin in the islets. LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of several compounds in SLBH that might be responsible for these effects.
CONCLUSIONS: SLBH has great potential to be used as agent to protect the pancreas against damage and dysfunction where these could account for its anti-diabetic properties.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees/chemistry*
Effects of Pollination by the Indo-Malaya Stingless Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on the Quality of Greenhouse-Produced Rockmelon

Azmi WA, Wan Sembok WZ, Yusuf N, Mohd Hatta MF, Salleh AF, Hamzah MAH, et al.

J Econ Entomol, 2019 02 12;112(1):20-24.
PMID: 30277528 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toy290

Rockmelon (Cucumis melo Linnaeus (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae)) is a novel commercialized fruit in Malaysia and has great potential to become an important horticultural crop for the international market. In this study, we investigated the effects of pollination by the Indo-Malaya stingless bee Heterotrigona itama Smith (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on measures of yield and quality of rockmelon cultivated in the greenhouse, compared with hand cross-pollination and self-pollination. Results showed that rockmelon produced from plants pollinated by stingless bees and hand cross-pollination had higher fruit set, were heavier and larger, and contained higher numbers of seed per fruit compared with those produced by self-pollination. Pollination by stingless bees produced fruit with greater sweetness than either hand cross-pollination or self-pollination. This study demonstrated that stingless bee pollination produced rockmelon fruit of similar quality, but better yields compared to the other pollination treatments. We showed that stingless bees should be considered as an alternative, effective pollinator for the improved production of high quality rockmelon in commercial greenhouse cultivation.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees*
Fulltext Antimicrobial activities of Bacillus velezensis strains isolated from stingless bee products against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Baharudin MMA, Ngalimat MS, Mohd Shariff F, Balia Yusof ZN, Karim M, Baharum SN, et al.

PLoS One, 2021;16(5):e0251514.
PMID: 33974665 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251514

Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have reached epidemic proportions globally. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a continuous supply of antibiotics to combat the problem. In this study, bacteria initially identified as species belonging to the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens operational group were re-identified based on the housekeeping gene, gyrB. Cell-free supernatants (CFS) from the strains were used for antimicrobial tests using the agar well diffusion assay against MRSA and various types of pathogenic bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and physicochemical characteristics of the CFS were determined. Based on gyrB sequence analysis, five strains (PD9, B7, PU1, BP1 and L9) were identified as Bacillus velezensis. The CFS of all B. velezensis strains showed broad inhibitory activities against Gram-negative and -positive as well as MRSA strains. Strain PD9 against MRSA ATCC 33742 was chosen for further analysis as it showed the biggest zone of inhibition (21.0 ± 0.4 mm). The MIC and MBC values obtained were 125 μl/ml. The crude antimicrobial extract showed bactericidal activity and was stable at various temperatures (40-80°C), pH (4-12), surfactants (Tween 20, Tween 80, SDS and Triton X-100) and metal ions (MgCI2, NaCI2, ZnNO3 and CuSO4) when tested. However, the crude extract was not stable when treated with proteinase K. All these properties resembled the characteristics of peptides. The antimicrobial compound from the selected strain was purified by using solvent extraction method and silica gel column chromatography. The purified compound was subjected to High Performance Liquid Chromatography which resulted in a single peak of the anti-MRSA compound being detected. The molecular weight of the anti-MRSA compound was determined by using SDS-PAGE and zymogram. The size of the purified antimicrobial peptide was approximately ~ 5 kDa. The antimicrobial peptide produced from B. velezensis strain PD9 is a promising alternative to combat the spread of MRSA infections in the future.

Matched MeSH terms: Bees/microbiology*

Filters

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links