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.

References

• Balch, Phyllis A.; Balch, James F. (2000). Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Third Edition. New York: Avery. ISBN 1-58333-077-1.
• Ammon, R. and Zoch, E. (1957) Zur Biochemie des Futtersaftes der Bienenkoenigin. Arzneimittel Forschung 7: 699-702
• Blum, M.S., Novak A.F. and Taber III, 5. (1959). 10-Hydroxy-decenoic acid, an antibiotic found in royal jelly. Science, 130 : 452-453
• Bonomi, A. (1983) Acquisizioni in tema di composizione chimica e di attivita' biologica della pappa reale. Apitalia, 10 (15): 7-13.
• Braines, L.N. (1959). Royal jelly I. Inform. Bull. Inst. Pchelovodstva, 31 pp (with various articles)
• Braines, L.N. (1960). Royal jelly II. Inform. Bull. Inst. Pchelovodstva, 40 pp.
• Braines, L.N. (1962). Royal jelly III. Inform. Bull. Inst. Pchelovodstva, 40
• Chauvin, R. and Louveaux, 1. (1956) Etdue macroscopique et microscopique de lagelee royale. L'apiculteur.
• Cho, Y.T. (1977). Studies on royal jelly and abnormal cholesterol and triglycerides. Amer. Bee 1., 117 : 36-38
• De Belfever, B. (1958) La gelee royale des abeilles. Maloine, Paris.
• Destrem, H. (1956) Experimentation de la gelee royale d'abeille en pratique geriatrique (134 cas). Rev. Franc. Geront, 3.
• Giordani, G. (1961). [Effect of royal jelly on chickens.] Avicoltura 30 (6): 114-120
• Hattori N, Nomoto H, Fukumitsu H, Mishima S, Furukawa S. [Royal jelly and its unique fatty acid, 10-hydroxy-trans-2-decenoic acid, promote neurogenesis by neural stem/progenitor cells in vitro.] Biomed Res. 2007 Oct;28(5):261-6.
• Hashimoto M, Kanda M, Ikeno K, Hayashi Y, Nakamura T, Ogawa Y, Fukumitsu H, Nomoto H, Furukawa S. (2005) 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. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2005 Apr;69(4):800-5.
• Inoue, T. (1986). The use and utilization of royal jelly and the evaluation of the medical efficacy of royal jelly in Japan. Proceeding sof the XXXth International Congress of Apiculture, Nagoya, 1985, Apimondia, 444-447
• Jean, E. (1956). A process of royal jelly absorption for its incorporation into assimilable substances. Fr. Pat., 1,118,123
• Jacoli, G. (1956) Ricerche sperimentali su alcune proprieta' biologiche della gelatina reale. Apicoltore d'Italia, 23 (9-10): 211-214.
• Jung-Hoffmann L: Die Determination von Königin und Arbeiterin der Honigbiene. Z Bienenforsch 1966, 8:296-322.
• Karaali, A., Meydanoglu, F. and Eke, D. (1988) Studies on composition, freeze drying and storage of Turkish royal jelly. J. Apic. Res., 27 (3): 182-185.
• Kucharski R, Maleszka, J, Foret, S, Maleszka, R, Nutritional Control of Reproductive Status in Honeybees via DNA Methylation. Science. 2008 Mar 28;319(5871):1827-3
• Lercker, G., Capella, P., Conte, L.S., Ruini, F. and Giordani, G. (1982) Components of royal jelly: II. The lipid fraction, hydrocarbons and sterolds. J. Apic. Res. 21(3):178-184.
• Lercker, G., Vecchi, M.A., Sabatini, A.G. and Nanetti, A. 1984. Controllo chimicoanalitico della gelatina reale. Riv. Merceol. 23 (1): 83-94.
• Lercker, G., Savioli, S., Vecchi, M.A., Sabatini, A.G., Nanetti, A. and Piana, L. (1986) Carbohydrate Determination of Royal Jelly by High Resolution Gas Chromatography (HRGC). Food Chemistry, 19: 255-264.
• Lercker, G., Caboni, M.F., Vecchi, M.A., Sabatini, A.G. and Nanetti, A. (1992) Caratterizzazione dei principali costituenti della gelatina reale. Apicoltura 8:11-21.
• 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.
• Nakamura, T. (1986) Quality standards of royal jelly for medical use. proceedings of the XXXth International Congress of Apiculture, Nagoya, 1985 Apimondia (1986) 462-464.
• Rembold, H. (1965) Biologically active substances in royal jelly. Vitamins and hormones 23:359-382.
• Salama, A., Mogawer, H.H. and El-Tohamy, M. 1977 Royal jelly a revelation or a fable. Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Science 14 (2): 95-102.
• Takenaka, T. Nitrogen components and carboxylic acids of royal jelly. In Chemistry and biology of social insects (edited by Eder, J., Rembold, H.). Munich, German Federal Republic, Verlag J. Papemy (1987): 162-163.
• Wagner, H., Dobler, I., Thiem, I. Effect of royal jelly on the peirpheral blood and survival rate of mice after irradiation of the entire body with X-rays. Radiobiologia Radiotherapia (1970) 11(3): 323-328.
• 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.