Royal Jelly: Chemistry, Storage and Bioactivities

• Published in: Journal of Apicultural Science Vol. 63; no. 1; pp. 17 - 40
• Main Authors: Maghsoudlou, Atefe, Mahoonak, Alireza Sadeghi, Mohebodini, Hossein, Toldra, Fidel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pulawy Sciendo 01.06.2019; De Gruyter Poland
• Subjects: 17β-Estradiol; Acetylcholine; Adenosine; Adenosine monophosphate; Aging; Allergic reactions; Allergies; AMP; Anaphylaxis; anti-aging properties; anti-inflammatory activity; antibacterial properties; Antibiotics; antihypertensive effect; antioxidant activity; Apis mellifera; Asthma; Bees; bioactive; Bioactive compounds; Biological activity; blood; Carbohydrates; diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; dietary supplements; estradiol; Fertility; Flavonoids; Food; Food allergies; functional; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; functional properties; Glands; Hormones; humans; Inflammation; ingredients; Insulin; Lipids; liver; Mandibular gland; mandibular glands; Minerals; nutraceutical; Organic chemistry; Peptides; physicochemical; Physicochemical properties; Polyphenols; progesterone; prolactin; proteins; Reproductive system; royal jelly; Sex hormones; Shelf life; Skin; storage; Storage stability; Testosterone; tissue repair; Vitamins; worker honey bees; Wound healing
• DOI: 10.2478/jas-2019-0007
• ISSN: 2299-4831; 1643-4439

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 ( ). 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.