Preliminary Identification and Quantification of Individual Polyphenols in Plants and Honey and Their Influence on Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities.

(FJ), an invasive plant species known for its rich bioactive compounds, has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. Despite its significant beekeeping potential, this aspect of FJ remains underexplored. This research aims to investigate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of FJ plants and honey.

Unraveling the Physicochemical, Nutritional and Antioxidant Properties of the Honey Produced from the Plant.

(FJ), commonly known as Japanese knotweed, is now recognized as one of the most invasive plants in Europe and globally. Despite its widespread presence in Europe and its significant nectar production, there is currently limited scientific data on the unique unifloral honey derived from it. This study examines the physicochemical composition of honey (FJH) samples collected from various regions in Romania.

Evaluation of Functional Properties of Some Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains for Probiotic Applications in Apiculture.

This study evaluates the suitability of three lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains-, , and -for use as probiotics in apiculture. Given the decline in bee populations due to pathogens and environmental stressors, sustainable alternatives to conventional treatments are necessary. This study aimed to assess the potential of these LAB strains in a probiotic formulation for bees through various in vitro tests, including co-culture interactions, biofilm formation, auto-aggregation, antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, antibiotic susceptibility, and resistance to high osmotic concentrations.

Allele Frequencies of Genetic Variants Associated with Varroa Drone Brood Resistance (DBR) in Subspecies across the European Continent.

Implementation of marker-assisted selection (MAS) in modern beekeeping would improve sustainability, especially in breeding programs aiming for resilience against the parasitic mite . Selecting honey bee colonies for natural resistance traits, such as brood-intrinsic suppression of varroa mite reproduction, reduces the use of chemical acaricides while respecting local adaptation. In 2019, eight genomic variants associated with varroa non-reproduction in drone brood were discovered in a single colony from the Amsterdam Water Dune population in the Netherlands.

Enhancing Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities in Bee-Collected Pollen through Solid-State Fermentation: A Comparative Analysis of Bioactive Compounds.

The present study investigates the impact of solid-state fermentation on bee-collected pollen using a consortium of , , and . Another aim is to compare the nutritional and bioactive properties of natural versus fermented pollen, focusing on macronutrient composition, pH, acidity, lactic acid content, and profiles of polyphenolics and flavonoids. Our results indicated significant enhancements in the contents of amino acids, suggesting improved protein content, alongside increases in polyphenolic and flavonoid contents post-fermentation.

Evaluation of the Main Macro-, Micro- and Trace Elements Found in Plants and Their Traceability in Its Honey: A Case Study from the Northwestern and Western Part of Romania.

(Japanese knotweed, or is considered an extremely invasive plant worldwide and a bioindicator of heavy metals. Yet, its potential as a crop for honeybees is still underevaluated. This study employs atomic absorption spectrometry to quantitatively analyze the concentration of macro-elements, namely, calcium (Ca), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg); micro-elements, such as copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and selenium (Se); and trace elements, i.

Molecular Insights into Royal Jelly Anti-Inflammatory Properties and Related Diseases.

Royal jelly (RJ), a highly nutritious natural product, has gained recognition for its remarkable health-promoting properties, leading to its widespread use in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. Extensive investigations have revealed that RJ possesses a broad spectrum of therapeutic effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, anti-aging, and antibacterial activities. Distinctive among bee products, RJ exhibits a significantly higher water and relatively lower sugar content.

Sericultural By-Products: The Potential for Alternative Therapy in Cancer Drug Design.

Major progress has been made in cancer research; however, cancer remains one of the most important health-related burdens. Sericulture importance is no longer limited to the textile industry, but its by-products, such as silk fibroin or mulberry, exhibit great impact in the cancer research area. Fibroin, the pivotal compound that is found in silk, owns superior biocompatibility and biodegradability, representing one of the most important biomaterials.

In Vitro Studies Demonstrate Antitumor Activity of Vanadium Ions from a CaO-PO-CaF:VO Glass System in Human Cancer Cell Lines A375, A2780, and Caco-2.

In this research, we investigated the structural and biological properties of phosphate glasses (PGs) after the addition of V2O5. A xV2O5∙(100 − x)[CaF2∙3P2O5∙CaO] glass system with 0 ≤ x ≤ 16 mol% was synthesized via a conventional melt-quenching technique. Several analysis techniques (dissolution tests, pH, SEM-EDS, FT-IR, and EPR) were used to obtain new experimental data regarding the structural behavior of the system.

Virus Prevalence in Egg Samples Collected from Naturally Selected and Traditionally Managed Honey Bee Colonies across Europe.

Monitoring virus infections can be an important selection tool in honey bee breeding. A recent study pointed towards an association between the virus-free status of eggs and an increased virus resistance to deformed wing virus (DWV) at the colony level. In this study, eggs from both naturally surviving and traditionally managed colonies from across Europe were screened for the prevalence of different viruses.

as a Valuable Source of Bioactive Compounds: Exploring Its Phytochemical Profile, Biological Activities and Apitherapeutic Potential.

, belonging to the family, is an invasive plant that has widely spread from Europe all across Asia, North America, Australia and New Zealand. Being able to survive in rigid soil and environmental conditions, it is nowadays considered to be of high nature-conservation value. Known for its nutritional and medicinal properties, stands out for its varied physiochemical composition, spotlighting a wide range of biological activity.

Royal Jelly as a Nutraceutical Natural Product with a Focus on Its Antibacterial Activity.

Royal jelly (RJ) is one of the most valued natural products and is known for its health-promoting properties. Due to its therapeutic effects, it has been used in medicine since antiquity. Nowadays, several studies indicate that RJ acts as a powerful antimicrobial agent.

The Contribution of Silk Fibroin in Biomedical Engineering.

Silk fibroin (SF) is a natural protein (biopolymer) extracted from the cocoons of L. (silkworm). It has many properties of interest in the field of biotechnology, the most important being biodegradability, biocompatibility and robust mechanical strength with high tensile strength.

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of CaO-PO-CaF:CuO Glasses with Antitumoral Effect on Skin Cancer Cells.

Copper is one of the most used therapeutic metallic elements in biomedicine, ranging from antibacterial approaches to developing new complexes in cancer therapy. In the present investigation, we developed a novel xCuO∙(100 - x) [CaF∙3PO∙CaO] glass system with 0 ≤ x ≤ 16 mol% in order to determine the influence of doping on the composition structure of glasses. The samples were characterized by dissolution tests, pH measurements, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), Scanning Electron Microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) and afterward, their antitumor character was assessed.

Advances in Editing Silkworms () Genome by Using the CRISPR-Cas System.

CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR-associated) represents a powerful genome editing technology that revolutionized in a short period of time numerous natural sciences branches. Therefore, extraordinary progress was made in various fields, such as entomology or biotechnology. is one of the most important insects, not only for the sericulture industry, but for numerous scientific areas.

New Approaches on Japanese Knotweed () Bioactive Compounds and Their Potential of Pharmacological and Beekeeping Activities: Challenges and Future Directions.

Known especially for its negative ecological impact, (Japanese knotweed) is now considered one of the most invasive species. Nevertheless, its chemical composition has shown, beyond doubt, some high biological active compounds that can be a source of valuable pharmacological potential for the enhancement of human health. In this direction, resveratrol, emodin or polydatin, to name a few, have been extensively studied to demonstrate the beneficial effects on animals and humans.

Recent Insights Into Processing Approaches and Potential Health Benefits of Goat Milk and Its Products: A Review.

Goat milk is considered to be a potential source of various macro- and micro-nutrients. It contains a good proportion of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and other nutritional components which help in promoting nutritional and desirable health benefits. Goat milk is considered to be superior in terms of numerous health benefits, and lower risk of allergy, when compared to the milk of other species.

Novel Insights into the Role of Probiotics in Respiratory Infections, Allergies, Cancer, and Neurological Abnormalities.

In recent years, probiotics have attracted public attention and transformed the social perception of microorganisms, convening a beneficial role/state on human health. With aging, the immune system, body physiology, and intestinal microbiota tend to change unfavorably, resulting in many chronic conditions. The immune-mediated disorders can be linked to intestinal dysbiosis, consequently leading to immune dysfunctions and a cluster of conditions such as asthma, autoimmune diseases, eczema, and various allergies.

Biologically Active Extracts from Different Medicinal Plants Tested as Potential Additives against Bee Pathogens.

Honey bees () perform pollination service for many agricultural crops and contribute to the global economy in agriculture and bee products. However, honey bee health is an ongoing concern, as illustrated by persistent local population decline, caused by some severe bee diseases (e.g.

Bioactive Molecules for Discriminating and Honey: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electron Spray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry Polyphenolic Profile and Physicochemical Determinations.

Bioactive molecules from the class of polyphenols are secondary metabolites from plants. They are present in honey from nectar and pollen of flowers from where honeybees collect the "raw material" to produce honey. and are important sources of nectar for production of two monofloral honeys with specific characteristics and important biological activity.

Voices of NGOs Supporting the First Master's Degree Program in Ethology and Human-Animal Interactions in Romania: An Exploratory Qualitative Analysis.

This study aims to explore through a qualitative thematic analysis the reflections of six animal protection and wildlife conservation NGOs in Romania regarding the development of the first specialized master's degree program in ethology and human-animal interaction (EHAI), in relation to the identified needs based on their experience in the field, as well as their expectations in terms of collaboration with the graduates of such a program in addressing the common problems in the areas of animal welfare and human-animal interactions (HAIs). The qualitative content analysis of the written reflections allowed the identification of two themes, which provided valuable insights regarding the curriculum offerings and the pedagogical strategies that could respond to the expressed needs and expectations. The first theme included seven categories of concerns expressed by the NGOs over the animal welfare and HAIs in Romania, i.

Juvenile hormone pathway in honey bee larvae: A source of possible signal molecules for the reproductive behavior of .

The parasitic mite devastates honey bee () colonies around the world. Entering a brood cell shortly before capping, the mother feeds on the honey bee larvae. The hormones 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and juvenile hormone (JH), acquired from the host, have been considered to play a key role in initiating reproductive cycle.

Plant Sources Responsible for the Chemical Composition and Main Bioactive Properties of Poplar-Type Propolis.

Propolis is a resinous mixture, made by the honeybees from substances collected from tree or other plant buds, plant exudates, or resins found in the stem, branches, or leaves of different plants. The geographical origin of propolis is given by plant sources from respective areas. Different studies have classified this bee product according to the vegetal material from the same areas.