Productions of Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10, were enhanced via the function of IL-2 from anti-CD3 antibody-stimulated mouse spleen cells treated with caffeic acid phenethyl ester.

Objectives: Interleukin (IL)-2 production by mouse spleen cells stimulated with an anti-CD3 antibody is significantly enhanced by caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a major constituent of Chinese propolis (CP). In this study, we evaluated the functional significance of IL-2 in CAPE-treated activated spleen cells.

Methods: Mouse spleen cells were stimulated with an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody in the presence of CAPE.

Enhanced production of IL-2 from anti-CD3 antibody-stimulated mouse spleen cells by caffeic acid phenethyl ester, a major component of Chinese propolis.

Objectives: We evaluated the immune-modulatory effects of Chinese propolis (CP) and its major constituent, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), on the cytokine production of anti-CD3 antibody-stimulated mouse spleen cells.

Methods: Mouse spleen cells stimulated by anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody were co-cultured with CP, CAPE, and HC030031, a specific antagonist of the TRPA1 Ca-permeable cation channel. Cytokine production was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Amelioration of Osteoarthritis Development by Daily Oral Supplementation of Royal Jelly.

Royal jelly (RJ), an essential food for the queen honeybee, has a variety of biological activities. Although RJ exerts preventive effects on various lifestyle-related diseases, such as osteoporosis and obesity, no study evaluated the effect of RJ on the development of osteoarthritis (OA), the most common degenerative joint disease. Here, we showed that daily oral administration of raw RJ significantly prevented OA development in vivo following surgically-induced knee joint instability in mice.

Enhanced production of IL-2 from anti-CD3 antibody-stimulated mouse spleen cells by artepillin C, a major component of Brazilian green propolis.

Objectives: In this report, we attempt to clarify the immune modulatory effects of Brazilian green propolis (BGP) and its major component, artepillin C, on the cytokine production of anti-CD3 antibody-stimulated mouse spleen cells. We also estimate the physiological mechanism affecting artepillin C's upon the cells.

Methods: Male C3H/HeN mouse spleen cells stimulated by antiCD3 monoclonal antibody were co-cultured with BGP, artepillin C, and HC030031, a transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) Ca channel antagonist.

Protective Effect of Repeatedly Preadministered Brazilian Propolis Ethanol Extract against Stress-Induced Gastric Mucosal Lesions in Rats.

The present study was conducted to clarify the protective effect of Brazilian propolis ethanol extract (BPEE) against stress-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats. The protective effect of BPEE against gastric mucosal lesions in male Wistar rats exposed to water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS) for 6 h was compared between its repeated preadministration (50 mg/kg/day, 7 days) and its single preadministration (50 mg/kg). The repeated BPEE preadministration attenuated WIRS-induced gastric mucosal lesions and gastric mucosal oxidative stress more largely than the single BPEE preadministration.

Protective Effect of Brazilian Propolis against Liver Damage with Cholestasis in Rats Treated with α-Naphthylisothiocyanate.

We examined the protective effect of Brazilian propolis against liver damage with cholestasis in rats treated with α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) in comparison with that of vitamin E (VE). Rats orally received Brazilian propolis ethanol extract (BPEE) (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg), VE (250 mg/kg) or vehicle at 12 h after intraperitoneal injection of ANIT (75 mg/kg) and were killed 24 h after the injection. Vehicle-treated rats showed liver cell damage and cholestasis, judging from the levels of serum marker enzymes and components.

Protective effect of Brazilian propolis against hepatic oxidative damage in rats with water-immersion restraint stress.

In the present study we examined the protective effect of Brazilian propolis against hepatic oxidative damage in rats with water-immersion restraint stress (WIRS) in comparison with that of vitamin E (VE). Fasted rats orally received Brazilian green propolis ethanol extract (BPEE; 10, 50 or 100 mg/kg), VE (250 mg/kg) or vehicle at 30 min before the onset of WIRS. Exposure of vehicle-treated rats to 6 h of WIRS caused liver cell damage, judging from the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferease, increased hepatic lipid peroxide, NO(x) contents and myeloperoxidase activity, and decreased hepatic non-protein SH, ascorbic acid contents and superoxide dismutase activity.

Antidepressant-like activity of 10-hydroxy-trans-2-decenoic Acid, a unique unsaturated Fatty Acid of royal jelly, in stress-inducible depression-like mouse model.

Symptoms of depression and anxiety appeared in mice after they had been subjected to a combination of forced swimming for 15 min followed by being kept in cages that were sequentially subjected to leaning, drenching, and rotation within 1-2 days for a total of 3 weeks. The animals were then evaluated by the tail-suspension test, elevated plus-maze test, and open-field test at 1 day after the end of stress exposure. Using these experimental systems, we found that 10-hydroxy-trans-2-decenoic acid (HDEA), an unsaturated fatty acid unique to royal jelly (RJ), protected against the depression and anxiety when intraperitoneally administered once a day for 3 weeks simultaneously with the stress loading.

Oral administration of royal jelly facilitates mRNA expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor and neurofilament H in the hippocampus of the adult mouse brain.

Royal jelly (RJ) is known to have a variety of biological activities toward various types of cells and tissues of animal models, but nothing is known about its effect on brain functions. Hence, we examined the effect of oral administration of RJ on the mRNA expression of various neurotrophic factors, their receptors, and neural cell markers in the mouse brain. Our results revealed that RJ selectively facilitates the mRNA expression of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a potent neurotrophic factor acting in the brain, and neurofilament H, a specific marker predominantly found in neuronal axons, in the adult mouse hippocampus.