Honeybee byproducts include various substances, such as propolis, bee pollen, and royal jelly, which have long been known for their medicinal and health-promoting properties. Their wide range of biological effects has been known and used for many centuries. Bee products are considered a good source of natural antioxidants, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenoids. Currently, there is increasing interest in natural substances that may help counteract oxidative stress, which is involved in the development of many diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cell degeneration, diabetes, and atherosclerosis, as well as the harmful effects of various environmental factors and drugs. Understanding the mechanisms of antioxidant properties of bee products is also an area of interest.

This supplement is a combination of substances produced by bees. Bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly provide many nutrients that contribute to good health and well-being.

Ingredients

Bee pollen is produced from plant flower pollen, which is collected by bees and mixed with nectar or the salivary gland secretion of the insects. In such form, it is transported, placed on the hind legs, to hives. Then bees mix it with their saliva and pack it into honeycombs, covered with a mixture of wax and honey.

Bee pollen is composed of a great number of different substances including nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids), amino acids (rich in leucine, isoleucine, valine, and many others), fatty acids, vitamins (carotenoids, B, E, biotin, and folic acid), minerals (macro and micro elements), as well as phenolic organic compounds – flavonoids, phenolic acids, and their derivatives. Bee pollen also contains organic acids (oxalic, tartaric, malic, citric, succinic, acetic, lactic, and gluconic). Among inorganic components, bee pollen contains macro-elements (sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium) and micro-elements (iron, zinc, manganese, and copper), as well as some other metals (chromium, aluminum, strontium, tin, nickel, and vanadium).

Propolis is known as the “bee glue,” referring to the resinous substance gathered by bees from different plants. Propolis seals the holes and cracks in the beehive’s structure. It also hardens the cell wall and contributes to an internal environment free of contamination. Propolis has several applications, including promoting anti-inflammatory and immunological activity.

Royal jelly is a form of hypopharyngeal and mandibular gland secretion from the worker bees. It is considered a “superfood” that is only consumed by the queen bee. Royalactin is the main agent in royal jelly that allows the morphological change of a larva into a queen bee. Royal jelly is the main reason for the longevity of the queen bee compared to the other bees. Due to its pharmacological properties, royal jelly promotes antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immune effects. It is widely used in the nutraceutical and cosmetic industries.