Rosa canina for osteoarthritis

Rosiflex contains a unique natural supplement that is good for joint health. If you are looking forward to a natural way to minimize your joint pain and stiffness, then Rosiflex is the ideal choice for you. Rosiflex is for anyone who wants healthy, flexible and mobile joints for a better quality of life. The unique natural ingredient in Rosiflex has been clinically proven to soothe the inflamed joints and improve joint comfort and flexibility.

What is Rosiflex?

Rosiflex is a Unique Dietary Supplement containing 100% Rosehip powder, made from a species of wild rose, Rosa canina. Rosiflex is available in capsule form with each capsule containing 750 mg (of imported) rosehip powder. Rosehip powder has been shown to decrease joint pain, improve joint health and increase mobility and flexibility in arthritic patients, particularly osteoarthritic patients.

The speciality of Rosiflex is as given below:

• European supplement now brought to Indian arthritic patients
• Huge success internationally
• Effective within 3 weeks
• Good pain relief
• Reduces the need for regular pain killers
• Very Safe, being a herbal supplement
• Dosage: 2 capsules thrice daily for the initial 3 weeks followed by maintenance dose of 2 capsules twice daily

• Rosa canina
  Photograph showing Rosa canina flowers.
  Scientific classification
  Kingdom:	Plantae
  (unranked):	Angiosperms
  (unranked):	Eudicots
  (unranked):	Rosids
  Order:	Rosales
  Family:	Rosaceae
  Genus:	Rosa
  Species:	R. canina
  Binomial name
  Rosa canina L.
  Synonyms
  See text

History:

ROSE HIPS
Rose Hips (also called rose haws) are the pomaceous fruit of the rose plant.  Roses are a group of herbaceous shrubs found in temperate regions throughout both hemispheres and grown in sunny areas or light shade and thrive in well-drained, slightly acid soil.  Probably cultivated first in ancient Persia and carried to Greece and Rome, there are now hundreds of species of this beautiful flower cultivated throughout the world that occupy a vital place in medicine, as well as cosmetics, perfumes, soaps and foods.  The leaves of Rosa canina were once even used as a substitute for tea.  The botanical genus, Rosa, is derived from the Greek, roden, meaning "red" and the Latin, ruber, also meaning "ruby" or "red," as apparently, the Roses of the ancient Mediterranean region were deep crimson, giving birth to the legend that the flowers sprang from the blood of Adonis.

Roses have a long tradition of medicinal use.  The ancient Romans used Rosa canina (or Dog Rose) for the bites of rabid dogs, and in the first century A.D., the Roman, Pliny, recorded thirty-two different disorders that responded well to Rose preparations.  An oriental species (Rosa laevigata) was mentioned in Chinese medical literature about A.D. 470, and in China, Rose Hips are still used for chronic diarrhea with stomach weakness.

It is typically red to orange but may be dark purple to black in some species.  In Ayurvedic medicine, Roses have long been considered "cooling" to the body and a tonic for the mind, and Native Americans used Rose Hips to treat muscle cramps.  In 1652, the esteemed British herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper, prescribed them for "consumptive persons," for "tickling rheums," to "break the stone" (kidneys) and to help digestion.

Long used for medicinal purposes in Great Britain, Rose Hips remained listed in the official British Pharmacopœia well into the 1930s, and were considered an overall cooling tonic, an astringent, a great help for sore throats and a source of the essential vitamin C.  During World War II, there was a shortage of citrus fruit in England, and the British government organized the harvesting of all the Rose Hips in England as a substitute for vitamin C.  This illuminated the importance of Rose Hips as a superior source of the vitamin and began its worldwide popularity.  Rose Hips have a reported sixty times the amount of vitamin C than citrus fruit, and we now know how absolutely essential vitamin C is to the maintenance of good health and the prevention of many diseases.

Rose Hips contain one of the highest measures of vitamin C (about 1700-2000 mgs. per 100 g. in the dried product) than is known in other herbs.  Rose Hips are the fruits of the Rose, the ripe seed receptacles that remain after the petals are removed, and they contain many vitamins and other beneficial supplements, including lycopene, essential fatty acids, beta-carotene, bioflavonoids, pectin, sugar, resin, wax, malates, citrates and other salts, tannin, malic and citrus acids, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, sulfur, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc and vitamins A, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, C, D, E and K.

Beneficial Uses:
Probably the greatest known use of Rose Hips is as an extraordinary and powerful source of vitamin C, which is most beneficial for the prevention and treatment of infection and a great many common diseases, including the common cold, flu and pneumonia.  It is said to prevent ailments before they happen by using a prophylactic dosage on a daily basis.  Vitamin C is necessary for every cell in our bodies and without it, we would not be able to sustain life.

Natural vitamin C and bioflavonoids are combined in nature, and for efficacy, it is vital that they be used together. Rose Hips are rich in both, and together they help to strengthen body tissues and build and maintain a healthy vascular system and are said to heal and prevent damage to fragile capillaries.  The combination is also thought to enhance the body's ability to absorb vitamin C in those who have difficulty absorbing it.

Rose Hips, with its abundance of vitamin C, are useful in treating infections of all kinds and have been used for centuries for the relief of diarrhea and dysentery.  It is considered to be a cleansing agent and may be helpful for temporary bladder problems, gallbladder dysfunction, kidney health, general debility and exhaustion.

Current research indicates that large doses of vitamin C in Rose Hips could be helpful in enhancing our immune systems, which may be valuable in warding off infectious invaders and serious malignant disease.

Rose Hips are said to have mild laxative and diuretic properties.

Rosa canina, commonly known as the dog-rose,^[1] is a variable climbing wild rose species native to Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia.
It is a deciduous shrub normally ranging in height from 1–5 m, though sometimes it can scramble higher into the crowns of taller trees. Its stems are covered with small, sharp, hooked prickles, which aid it in climbing. The leaves are pinnate, with 5-7 leaflets. The flowers are usually pale pink, but can vary between a deep pink and white. They are 4–6 cm diameter with five petals, and mature into an oval 1.5–2 cm red-orange fruit, or hip.

It’s that time of year again and the hedgerows are heaving with fruit. But with most people intent on collecting juicy blackberries, the vibrantly coloured and perhaps mystifying rose-hip is often overlooked. Maybe it’s because they are a suspicious red colour or maybe it’s because they’re a fruit that’s never seen in supermarkets. Whatever the reason, the conclusion is the same: there’s more to collect for yourself!
Rose-hips are the fruit of the rose bush and in the summer are found as a swollen green part of the stem just underneath the flower. Every rose left uncut will eventually produce a hip but some will appear in the summer and others later in the autumn depending on species. To my knowledge all rose hips are edible, though some varieties have better flavour than others.
Blessed with a delicate fruity taste and rich in vitamins A, B and C, Rose-hips can be used to make an assortment of products including jellies, syrups, teas, wine and even cosmetics. Both the fruit and the seeds are edible but you should not eat rose-hips whole due to irritating hairs which are found inside the berries. These hairs must be removed either by filtering during the cooking process.
The best variety for making edible products is the hip of the common wild rose, also known as the Dog Rose, Latin name Rosa Canina. It produces small, firm, deep-red hips that are rich in flavour and easy to find and harvest. They are available in the autumn but it’s said the best time to harvest them is directly after a frost. Being that birds favour other foods over these hard seed-laden hips, you can often find them hanging onto bare branches in the darkest days of winter. If you choose to use them to make edible products please know that it’s not necessary to separate the seeds from the red fruit as both have their own nutritious values. But of course beware the hairs mentioned previously and make sure they are excluded from your end product.

Synonyms

From DNA analysis using amplified fragment length polymorphisms of wild-rose samples from a transect across Europe (900 samples from section Caninae, and 200 from other sections), it has been suggested that the following named species are best considered as part of a single Rosa canina species complex, and are therefore synonyms of R. canina:^[2]

• R. balsamica Besser
• R. caesia Sm.
• R. corymbifera Borkh.
• R. dumalis Bechst.
• R. montana Chaix
• R. stylosa Desv.
• R. subcanina (Christ) Vuk.
• R. subcollina (Christ) Vuk.
• R. × irregularis Déségl. & Guillon

Cultivation and uses

A botanical illustration showing the various stages of growth by Otto Wilhelm Thomé

The plant is high in certain antioxidants. The fruit is noted for its high vitamin C level and is used to make syrup, tea and marmalade. It has been grown or encouraged in the wild for the production of vitamin C, from its fruit (often as rose-hip syrup), especially during conditions of scarcity or during wartime. The species has also been introduced to other temperate latitudes. During World War II in the United States Rosa canina was planted in victory gardens, and can still be found growing throughout the United States, including roadsides, and in wet, sandy areas up and down coastlines. In Bulgaria, where it grows in abundance, the hips are used to make a sweet wine, as well as tea. In the traditional Austrian medicine Rosa canina fruits have been used internally as tea for treatment of viral infections and disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract.^[3]
Forms of this plant are sometimes used as stocks for the grafting or budding of cultivated varieties. The wild plant is planted as a nurse or cover crop, or stabilising plant in land reclamation and specialised landscaping schemes.
Numerous cultivars have been named, though few are common in cultivation. The cultivar Rosa canina 'Assisiensis' is the only dog rose without prickles. The hips are used as a flavouring in Cockta, a soft drink made in Slovenia.

Canina meiosis

A tall, climbing Rosa canina shrub

Rose hips

Rose bedeguar gall on a dog rose

The dog roses, the Canina section of the genus Rosa (20-30 species and subspecies, which occur mostly in Northern and Central Europe), have an unusual kind of meiosis that is sometimes called permanent odd polyploidy, although it can occur with even polyploidy (e.g. in tetraploids or hexaploids). Regardless of ploidy level, only seven bivalents are formed leaving the other chromosomes as univalents. Univalents are included in egg cells, but not in pollen.^[4][5] Similar processes occur in some other organisms.^[6] Dogroses are most commonly pentaploid, i.e. five times the base number of seven chromosomes for the genus Rosa, but may be tetraploid or hexaploid as well.

Names and etymology

The botanical name is derived from the common names 'dog rose' or similar in several European languages, including classical Latin and ancient (Hellenistic period) Greek.
It is sometimes considered that the word 'dog' has a disparaging meaning in this context, indicating 'worthless' (by comparison with cultivated garden roses) (Vedel & Lange 1960). However it also known that it was used in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to treat the bite of rabid dogs, hence the name "dog rose" may result from this^[7] (though it seems just as plausible that the name gave rise to the treatment).
Other old folk names include dogberry and witches' briar.^{[citation needed]}

Invasive species

Dog rose is an invasive species in the high country of New Zealand. It was recognised as displacing native vegetation as early as 1895^[8] although the Department of Conservation does not consider it to be a conservation threat.^[9]

Dog rose in culture

The dog rose was the stylized rose of medieval European heraldry, and is still used today.^{[citation needed]} It is also the county flower of Hampshire.^[10] Legend states the Thousand-year Rose or Hildesheim Rose, that climbs against a wall of Hildesheim Cathedral dates back to the establishment of the diocese in 815.^[11]

Rose hip, rose hip and seed and rose hip seed, all were negatively monographed by the German Commission E due to insufficient evidence of effects and effectiveness. Therefore a comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to summarize the pharmacological and clinical effects of Rosa canina L. to reevaluate its usefulness in traditional medicine. For various preparations of rose hip and rose hip and seed, antioxidative and antiinflammatory effects have been demonstrated. Lipophilic constituents are involved in those mechanisms of action. The proprietary rose hip and seed powder Litozin has been employed successfully in a number of exploratory studies in patients suffering from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and low back pain. However, the sizes of the clinical effects for the different indications need to be determined to assure clinical significance. There is also a rationale behind the use of Litozin as part of a hypocaloric diet based on the rose hip probiotic, stool regulating and smooth muscle-relaxing actions, as well as the rose hip seed lipid-lowering, antiobese and antiulcerogenic effects. Further research is needed to clarify the importance of the reported promising experimental effects in clinical use and to characterize the optimum rose hip seed oil preparation for topical use in the treatment of skin diseases.

Rosiflex Discovery

The Rosiflex™ story began in the early 1990s, when Erik Hansen, a farmer from Langeland, Denmark, discovered, quite by chance that rosehips from the Rosa Canina plant appeared to help soothe his aching joints.
Encouraged by this realisation, he developed the first of his rosehip powders. Made from rosehips grown on his own farm, he sold the powder to friends and neighbours after telling them of his own positive experiences.
The response from these early customers was so positive that Erik, and his son Torbjorn, decided to seek scientific verification of what they had found. They contacted scientists at the local hospital to see if they could find what it was in the rosehip that was producing the positive joint-health benefits being reported.
At first, the scientists were sceptical about the claimed benefits of the rosehip fruit - more commonly associated with teas and marmalades than with potential joint-health benefits. They did however agree to begin some scientific studies.
As the results of the testing began to emerge, the researchers became more and more convinced about the Langeland rosehip powder. Since then, several well designed scientific studies involving a couple of hundred people have been undertaken and published in recognised scientific journals.

 

Anti-inflammatory action of Rose hip

Rose hip is a typical daily food supplement traditionally used for its vitamin C content and other active principles to treat several discomforts: respiratory disorders, infectious diseases, gastrointestinal and urinary system illnesses and prophylaxis of vitamin C deficiencies. Rose hips have been eaten as jam or drunken as fruit tea for centuries. Therefore the separated Rose hip peels have always been regarded as everyday food.
In the last ten years it was scientifically documented, that the daily use of food containing rose hip fruits was positive to treat inflammatory joint diseases, in particular osteoarthritis. Several human studies with rose hip powder showed pain reducing properties and could also reduce symptoms such stiffness or even the need for additional medication.
However, the daily amount of 5 g over a period of 12 weeks showed moderate beneficial effects and low compliance demonstrating what the limits of a treatment with rose hip powder are.
Rose hip fruit skin powder contains remarkable active principles able to inhibit pro-inflammatory mediators and oxidative substances as well as enzymes responsible for the degradation of the organic matrix of joints and bones. A marked action on the inhibition of different cytokines has been observed as the interleukin 1β (IL-1β), the interleukin 6 (IL-6) and the alpha tumoral necrosis factor (TNF- α).
However herbal drug powders are usually not as stable and uniform as extracts. Using purification techniques and water as extraction solvent Finzelberg get a new extract, which compared with the rose hip drug powder is 7 fold stronger in their anti-inflammatory activity.

References

1. ^ "BSBI List 2007" (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
2. ^ De Riek, Jan; De Cock, Katrien; Smulders, Marinus J.M.; Nybom, Hilde (2013). "AFLP-based population structure analysis as a means to validate the complex taxonomy of dogroses (Rosa section Caninae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 67 (3): 547–59. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.02.024. PMID 23499615.
3. ^ Vogl, Sylvia; Picker, Paolo; Mihaly-Bison, Judit; Fakhrudin, Nanang; Atanasov, Atanas G.; Heiss, Elke H.; Wawrosch, Christoph; Reznicek, Gottfried; Dirsch, Verena M.; Saukel, Johannes; Kopp, Brigitte (2013). "Ethnopharmacological in vitro studies on Austria's folk medicine—An unexplored lore in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of 71 Austrian traditional herbal drugs". Journal of Ethnopharmacology 149 (3): 750–71. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2013.06.007. PMC 3791396. PMID 23770053.
4. ^ Täckholm, Gunnar (1922) Zytologische Studien über die Gattung Rosa. Acta Horti Bergiani 7, 97-381.
5. ^ Lim, K Y; Werlemark, G; Matyasek, R; Bringloe, J B; Sieber, V; El Mokadem, H; Meynet, J; Hemming, J; Leitch, A R; Roberts, A V (2005). "Evolutionary implications of permanent odd polyploidy in the stable sexual, pentaploid of Rosa canina L". Heredity 94 (5): 501–6. doi:10.1038/sj.hdy.6800648. PMID 15770234.
6. ^ Stock, M.; Ustinova, J.; Betto-Colliard, C.; Schartl, M.; Moritz, C.; Perrin, N. (2011). "Simultaneous Mendelian and clonal genome transmission in a sexually reproducing, all-triploid vertebrate". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 279 (1732): 1293. doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.1738.
7. ^ Howard, Michael. Traditional Folk Remedies (Century, 1987); p133
8. ^ Kirk, T (1895). "The Displacement of Species in New Zealand". Transactions of the New Zealand Institute 1895 (Wellington: Royal Society of New Zealand) 28. Retrieved 2009-04-17.
9. ^ Owen, S. J. (1997). Ecological weeds on conservation land in New Zealand: a database. Wellington: Department of Conservation.
10. ^ "County Flowers | Wild plants". Plantlife. Retrieved 2012-02-04.
11. ^ Lucy Gordan. "Hildesheim’s Medieval Church Treasures at the Met". Inside the Vatican. Archived from the original on 30 April 2014. Retrieved 30 April 2014.

Further reading

• Flora Europaea: Rosa canina
• Blamey, M. & Grey-Wilson, C. (1989). Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 0-340-40170-2.
• Vedel, H. & Lange, J. (1960). Trees and bushes. Metheun, London.
• Graham G.S. & Primavesi A.L. (1993). Roses of Great Britain and Ireland. B.S.B.I. Handbook No. 7. Botanical Society of the British Isles, London.

External links

Categories:

• Roses
• Medicinal plants
• Flora of the Mediterranean
• Flora of Europe
• Flora of North Africa
• Flora of Western Asia
• Flora of the Pyrenees
• Flora of Italy
• Flora of Lebanon
• Flora of Spain
• Flora of Ukraine
• Plants described in 1753

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Contraindications:
As a natural diuretic, Rose Hips Herbal Supplement may increase the efficacy of prescription diuretics and should not be used at the same time.   Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking a blood thinner, such as Coumadin®.
Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by this post is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

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Nyköping (Sweden)-houses.

Fjallbacka, a colorful fishing Village along the west coast of Sweden

Knights Island, Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden

Sweden Stockholm

Europe Örby Änger – Sweden

Despite the cold weather, public came and enjoyed different activities. The famous chef, Paul Svensson who works in one of the fanciest and most famous …

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The 10-Hydroxy-2-Decenoic Acid (10-2-HDA) content in Royal Jelly, is said to possess strong inhibition of malignant cell growth, namely transferable AKR leukemia, TA3 breast malignancy

The 10-Hydroxy-2-Decenoic Acid (10-2-HDA) content in Royal Jelly, is said to possess strong inhibition of malignant cell growth, namely transferable AKR leukemia, TA3 breast malignancy

 Developing queen larvae surrounded by royal jelly

Royal jelly is a honey bee secretion that is used in the nutrition of larvae, as well as adult queens.^[1] It is secreted from the glands in the hypopharynx of worker bees, and fed to all larvae in the colony, regardless of sex or caste.^[2]
When worker bees decide to make a new queen, because the old one is either weakening or dead, they choose several small larvae and feed them with copious amounts of royal jelly in specially constructed queen cells. This type of feeding triggers the development of queen morphology, including the fully developed ovaries needed to lay eggs.^[3]

Other Common Names:  Apilak, Gelée Royale, Queen Bee Jelly

Royal Jelly has been called the "Crown Jewel" of the beehive that has become extremely popular since the 1950s as a wonderful source of energy and natural way to increase stamina; perhaps that is the reason why the Queen Bee is so strong and enduring.  It is also thought to be a great nutritional source of enzymes, proteins, sugars and amino acids, but there is no scientific proof to verify the supplement's efficacy for its use as an overall health tonic.  You'll have to decide.

History:
Royal Jelly is a thick, milky material that is secreted from the hypopharyngea- salivary glands in the heads of the young nurse bees between the sixth and twelfth days of life, and when honey and pollen are combined and refined within the nurse bee, Royal Jelly is naturally created.  While all larvæ in a colony are fed Royal Jelly, it is the only food that is fed to the Queen Bee throughout her life; other adult bees do not consume it at all.  All female eggs may produce a Queen Bee, but this occurs only when - during the whole development of the larvæ - she is cared for and fed by this material - in large quantities.  As a result of this special nutrition, the Queen develops reproductive organs (while the worker bee develops traits that relate only to work, i.e., stronger mandibles, brood food, wax glands and pollen baskets).  The Queen develops in about fifteen days, while the workers require twenty-one; and finally, the Queen endures for several years, while workers survive only a few months. "10-2 HDA," thought to be the principle active substance in Royal Jelly, makes the Queen Bee fifty percent larger than the other female worker bees and gives her incredible stamina, ovulation ability and longevity, living four to five years longer than worker bees who only live forty or more days.  Perhaps this is the reason why so many positive qualities have been attributed to Royal Jelly as a truly rare gift of nature, but it should be noted that there is no clinical evidence to support the claims.  There is even great controversy as to the constituents included in the supplement.  Most researchers claim that it includes all the B-vitamins and vitamins A, C, D and E; some disagree.  It does contain proteins, sugars, lipids (essential fatty acids), many essential amino acids, collagen, lecithin, enzymes and minerals, in addition to the very valuable

10-2-HDA (10-Hydroxy-2-Decenoic Acid).  It is said that Royal Jelly may be most effective when combined with honey.  You can decide whether any improvements you derive from Royal Jelly's use are purely coincidental, but if  (and when) you feel better when using it, just enjoy the benefits.

10-2-HDA (10-Hydroxy-2-Decenoic Acid)

Beneficial Uses:
Many fans claim that Royal Jelly is a great way to increase energy, as well as a remarkable stamina booster.  In addition, it is also considered a means to enhance the immune system and maintain overall health.

Royal Jelly is said to alleviate a variety of problems, such as exhaustion, anxiety, mild depression, insomnia and lack of energy and stamina.   Royal Jelly is also believed to have a calming effect on the nervous system.

Some people maintain that Royal Jelly has helped to improve skin disorders and has slowed down the ageing process.  Royal Jelly's collagen, lecithin and vitamins A, C, D and E all benefit the skin, helping to moisturize dry skin and soothe dermatitis.

In 1977, scientists at the Beijing Medical University reported that when Royal Jelly was administered to male and female neurasthenia patients, all patients reported very effective (86%) or effective (14%) improvement.  Insomnia was eliminated, quality of sleeping increased and headache and dizziness were alleviated.  It was also said that physical and mental abilities, appetite and working efficiency were improved.

The 10-Hydroxy-2-Decenoic Acid (10-2-HDA) content in Royal Jelly, is said to possess strong inhibition of malignant cell growth, namely transferable AKR leukemia, TA3 breast malignancy, etc., and recent studies indicated immuno-regulation and anti-malignancy activities.  It can promote the growth of T-lymphocyte subsets, Interleukin-2 and the generation of tumor necrosis factor.  Much research is being conducted on this valuable active constituent, which has exhibited positive physiological and pharmacological effects including vasodilative and hypotensive activities, antihypercholesterolemic activity and anti-inflammatory functions.  In addition to these activities, the 10-HDA in Royal Jelly has been suggested to improve menopausal symptoms.

Other benefits attributed to the qualities of Royal Jelly include relief of bronchial asthma, liver, pancreatic and kidney ailments, stomach ulcers and bone fractures.

Contraindications:
Royal Jelly Nutritional Supplement is a natural bee product and may induce allergic reactions in some people and should, therefore, be tested in very small amounts before continued use.  Symptoms of allergy include breathing problems or tightness in your throat or chest, chest pain, skin hives, rash or itchy or swollen skin.

Cultivation

Royal jelly is secreted from the glands in the heads of worker bees, and is fed to all bee larvae, whether they are destined to become drones (males), workers (sterile females), or queens (fertile females). After three days, the drone and worker larvae are no longer fed with royal jelly, but queen larvae continue to be fed this special substance throughout their development. It is harvested by humans by stimulating colonies with movable frame hives to produce queen bees. Royal jelly is collected from each individual queen cell (honey comb) when the queen larvae are about four days old. It is collected from queen cells because these are the only cells in which large amounts are deposited; when royal jelly is fed to worker larvae, it is fed directly to them, and they consume it as it is produced, while the cells of queen larvae are "stocked" with royal jelly much faster than the larvae can consume it. Therefore, only in queen cells is the harvest of royal jelly practical. A well-managed hive during a season of 5–6 months can produce approximately 500 g of royal jelly. Since the product is perishable, producers must have immediate access to proper cold storage (e.g., a household refrigerator or freezer) in which the royal jelly is stored until it is sold or conveyed to a collection center. Sometimes honey or beeswax are added to the royal jelly, which is thought to aid its preservation.

Composition

The overall composition of royal jelly is 67% water, 12.5% crude protein, including small amounts of many different amino acids, and 11% simple sugars (monosaccharides), also including a relatively high amount (5%) of fatty acids. The main acid is the 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid or 10-HDA (about 2 - 3%).It also contains many trace minerals, some enzymes, antibacterial and antibiotic components, pantothenic acid (vitamin B₅), vitamin B₆ (pyridoxine) and trace amounts of vitamin C,^[2] but none of the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K.^[4]

Royalactin

The component of royal jelly that causes a bee to develop into a queen appears to be a single protein that has been called royalactin. Jelly which had been rendered inactive by prolonged storage had a fresh addition of each of the components subject to decay and was fed to bees; only jelly laced with royalactin caused the larvae to become queens.^[5] Royalactin also induces similar phenotypical change in the fruitfly (Drosophila melanogaster), marked by increased body size and ovary development.

Epigenetic effects

The honey bee queens and workers represent one of the most striking examples of environmentally controlled phenotypic polymorphism. In spite of their identical clonal nature at the DNA level, they are strongly differentiated across a wide range of characteristics including anatomical and physiological differences, longevity of the queen, and reproductive capacity.^[6] Queens constitute the sexual caste and have large active ovaries, whereas workers have only rudimentary, inactive ovaries and are functionally sterile. The queen/worker developmental divide is controlled epigenetically by differential feeding with royal jelly; this appears to be due specifically to the protein royalactin. A female larva destined to become a queen is fed large quantities of royal jelly; this triggers a cascade of molecular events resulting in development of a queen.^[3] It has been shown that this phenomenon is mediated by an epigenetic modification of DNA known as CpG methylation.^[7] Silencing the expression of an enzyme that methylates DNA in newly hatched larvae led to a royal jelly-like effect on the larval developmental trajectory; the majority of individuals with reduced DNA methylation levels emerged as queens with fully developed ovaries. This finding suggests that DNA methylation in honey bees allows the expression of epigenetic information to be differentially altered by nutritional input.

Uses

Citing various potential health benefits seen in lab studies, royal jelly is collected and sold as a dietary supplement for humans, but the European Food Safety Authority has rejected these claims stating that the current evidence does not support consuming royal jelly will give health benefits in humans.^[8] In the United States, both the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration have taken legal action against companies that have used unfounded claims of health benefits to market royal jelly products.^{[9][10][11][12]}

Adverse effects

Royal jelly may cause allergic reactions in humans ranging from hives, asthma, to even fatal anaphylaxis.^{[13][14][15][16][17][18]} The incidence of allergic side effect in people who consume royal jelly is unknown. The risk of having an allergy to royal jelly is higher in people who have other allergies.^[13]

 

 

The benefits of Royal Jelly are truly extensive. The list of benefits is so extensive that it may actually appear to be 'too good to be true' to many of us, myself included. I'm still amazed every time I scan the many studies done on this amazing substance.Royal Jelly is one of the naturally occurring miraculous super foods on the planet that gets very little press!  It packs a powerful health punch and here’s why:Royal Jelly is a substance produced by worker honey bees.  Bee colonies function on a hierarchical system:  Bees all start out as unisex larvae, blank slate bee babies if you will.  Then they break off into 1 of 3 roles within their colony.  The worker bees (females), the drones (males used for reproduction) and The Queen Bee.The workers and drones have a typical life span of 3-4 months, whereas The Queen Been can live for up to 7 years!

 

What differentiates the role of The Queen Bee from the workers and the drones is quite simply what she is fed!  Keep in mind, she starts off the same as the rest of colony but her diet transforms her into The Queen Bee.  Workers and drones are fed royal jelly when they hatch, followed by pollen and honey for the following 6 days.  The Queen Bee on the other hand, is exclusively fed royal jelly for the entirety of her life- Jelly is one of the naturally occurring miraculous super foods on the planet that gets very little press!  It packs a powerful health punch and here’s why:Royal Jelly is a substance produced by worker honey bees.  Bee colonies function on a hierarchical system:  Bees all start out as unisex larvae, blank slate bee babies if you will.  Then they break off into 1 of 3 roles within their colony.  The worker bees (females), the drones (males used for reproduction) and The Queen Bee.The workers and drones have a typical life span of 3-4 months, whereas The Queen Been can live for up to 7 years!  What differentiates the role of The Queen Bee from the workers and the drones is quite simply what she is fed!  Keep in mind, she starts off the same as the rest of colony but her diet transforms her into The Queen Bee.

 

 Workers and drones are fed royal jelly when they hatch, followed by pollen and honey for the following 6 days.  The Queen Bee on the other hand, is exclusively fed royal jelly for the entirety of her life- See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/06/06/the-royal-benefits-of-royal-jelly/#sthash.DPhCubyY.dpufRoyal Jelly is one of the naturally occurring miraculous super foods on the planet that gets very little press!  It packs a powerful health punch and here’s why:Royal Jelly is a substance produced by worker honey bees.  Bee colonies function on a hierarchical system:  Bees all start out as unisex larvae, blank slate bee babies if you will.  Then they break off into 1 of 3 roles within their colony.  The worker bees (females), the drones (males used for reproduction) and The Queen Bee.The workers and drones have a typical life span of 3-4 months, whereas The Queen Been can live for up to 7 years!  What differentiates the role of The Queen Bee from the workers and the drones is quite simply what she is fed!  Keep in mind, she starts off the same as the rest of colony but her diet transforms her into The Queen Bee.

 

 Workers and drones are fed royal jelly when they hatch, followed by pollen and honey for the following 6 days.  The Queen Bee on the other hand, is exclusively fed royal jelly for the entirety of her life- See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2013/06/06/the-royal-benefits-of-royal-jelly/#sthash.DPhCubyY.dpufRoyal jelly is a substance that is secreted from the glands of worker bees to feed their larvae and queens. It is thick in texture, milky-white in color, and has been harvested by humans for centuries for its rejuvenating properties. Indeed, it is a fact that queen bees - which are fed royal jelly their entire lives - live approximately 40 times longer than drone or worker bees, largely due to the jelly's nutritiousness.

Cancer-fighting properties - According to a study published in a 2009 edition of the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, royal jelly fights cancer by suppressing the blood supply to tumors. When the Japanese researchers tested various royal jelly types on umbilical vein tissue cultures, all of them inhibited the formation of blood vessels, especially those richest in caffeic acid, a compound responsible for the greatest suppressive levels. Moreover, since the fatty components of royal jelly contain estrogenic effects - as proved by a study published in the December 2010 edition of PLoS One - it is possible that royal jelly can treat breast and cervical cancer.
Improves blood health - A study published in the November 2008 edition of the Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin showed that royal jelly can improve insulin resistance and blood pressure. The researchers fed the jelly to rats suffering from high blood pressure and insulin resistance due to a high-fructose diet. After two months, the rats demonstrated noticeably fewer instances of blood vessel constriction, which resulted in lower triglyceride and insulin levels.
Skincare properties - Although Royal jelly is best-known as a health supplement, it is often used in skincare products because it contains DNA and gelatin, two ingredients that aid collagen production (and thus anti-aging activity). For this reason, many people like to apply royal jelly topically and allow it to nourish and invigorate their skin.
Antibacterial components - According to a study published in the July 1990 edition of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a protein found in royal jelly - unofficially named royalisin - provides numerous antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, and is effective at dealing with certain bacterial cultures at lower levels.
Rich in nutrients - As with other bee products such as bee pollen and propolis, royal jelly's biggest attraction is probably its impressive concentration of vitamins and minerals. Indeed, an average serving of royal jelly contains seventeen different amino acids (including all eight essential amino acids, making it a complete protein), most of the B-vitamins (which are used for the production and synthesis of energy), and respectable levels of iron and calcium, which are essential for superior blood and bone Health. Royal jelly also contains vitamins A, C, and E, which are important antioxidants that can neutralize free radical activity, thus guarding us from degenerative diseases.
Infertility treatment - It is not a coincidence that worker bees are infertile, while queen bees can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day throughout their extensive 4 to 6 year lifespan. This is because royal jelly stimulates estrogen production, thereby stabilizing menstrual cycles in women, improving sperm morphology in men, and increasing the libido of both sexes.

• royal jelly acid
• Bee propolis
• 3-Hydroxydecanoic acid
• 3,10-Dihydroxydecanoic acid
• 3,11-Dihydroxydodecanoic acid

 

Notes

1. ^ Jung-Hoffmann L: Die Determination von Königin und Arbeiterin der Honigbiene. Z Bienenforsch 1966, 8:296-322.
2. ^ ^{a b} Graham, J. (ed.) (1992) The Hive and the Honey Bee (Revised Edition). Dadant & Sons.
3. ^ ^{a b} Maleszka, R, Epigenetic integration of environmental and genomic signals in honey bees: the critical interplay of nutritional, brain and reproductive networks. Epigenetics. 2008, 3, 188-192.
4. ^ "Value-added products from beekeeping. Chapter 6.".
5. ^ Kamakura, M. (2011). "Royalactin induces queen differentiation in honeybees". Nature 473 (7348): 478–483. doi:10.1038/nature10093. PMID 21516106. edit
6. ^ Winston, M, The Biology of the Honey Bee, 1987, Harvard University Press
7. ^ Kucharski R, Maleszka, J, Foret, S, Maleszka, R (2008). "Nutritional Control of Reproductive Status in Honeybees via DNA Methylation". Science 319 (5871): 1827–1833. doi:10.1126/science.1153069.
8. ^ "Scientific Opinion". EFSA Journal 9 (4): 2083. 2011.
9. ^ "QVC to Pay $7.5 Million to Settle Charges that It Aired Deceptive Claims". Federal Trade Commission. March 19, 2009.
10. ^ "Complaint in the Matter of CC Pollen Company et al.". Federal Trade Commission. March 16, 1993.
11. ^ "Federal Government Seizes Dozens of Misbranded Drug Products: FDA warned company about making medical claims for bee-derived products". Food and Drug Administration. Apr 5, 2010.
12. ^ "Inspections, Compliance, Enforcement, and Criminal Investigations: Beehive Botanicals, Inc". Food and Drug Administration. March 2, 2007.
13. ^ ^{a b} Leung, R; Ho, A; Chan, J; Choy, D; Lai, CK (March 1997). "Royal jelly consumption and hypersensitivity in the community". Clin. Exp. Allergy 27 (3): 333–6. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1997.tb00712.x. PMID 9088660.
14. ^ Takahama H, Shimazu T (2006). "Food-induced anaphylaxis caused by ingestion of royal jelly". J Dermatol. 33 (6): 424–426. doi:10.1111/j.1346-8138.2006.00100.x. PMID 16700835.
15. ^ Lombardi C, Senna GE, Gatti B, Feligioni M, Riva G, Bonadonna P, Dama AR, Canonica GW, Passalacqua G (1998). "Allergic reactions to honey and royal jelly and their relationship with sensitization to compositae". Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 26 (6): 288–290.
16. ^ Thien FC, Leung R, Baldo BA, Weiner JA, Plomley R, Czarny D (1996). "Asthma and anaphylaxis induced by royal jelly". Clin Exp Allergy 26 (2): 216–222. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.1996.tb00082.x. PMID 8835130.
17. ^ >Leung R, Thien FC, Baldo B, Czarny D (1995). "Royal jelly-induced asthma and anaphylaxis: clinical characteristics and immunologic correlations". J Allergy Clin Immunol 96 (6 Pt 1): 1004–1007. doi:10.1016/S0091-6749(95)70242-3. PMID 8543734.
18. ^ Bullock RJ, Rohan A, Straatmans JA (1994). "Fatal royal jelly-induced asthma". Med J Aust 160 (1): 44.

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• Winston, M, The Biology of the Honey Bee, 1987, Harvard University PressDisclaimer:

The information presented herein by this post is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.