Royal jelly is a natural substance produced by worker honeybees to feed the queen and young larvae that will become queens. This food has attracted the attention of researchers due to its diverse biological properties, including its potential as an anti-cancer agent.
Studies on the effects of royal jelly on cancer show encouraging results, but it remains a subject of ongoing research. The following are key aspects related to its anti-cancer effects: Royal jelly is believed to exert anti-cancer effects on tumor growth and exhibits protective functions against drug-induced toxins.
Active ingredients in royal jelly:
-
Fatty acids: such as 10-Hydroxy-2-Decenoic Acid (10-HDA) , which is believed to contribute to its anti-cancer properties.
-
Proteins: such as Royalactin , which affects cell growth.
-
Antioxidants: which reduce oxidative stress that causes cell damage.
-
Vitamins and minerals: which support the immune system and reduce the effect of free radicals.
Cancer control mechanisms:
-
Inhibiting the growth of cancer cells: Some studies have shown that royal jelly reduces the proliferation of cancer cells and induces their programmed death (apoptosis). Royal jelly contains decahydroxydeneic acid, which inhibits blood flow to cancer cells, thus limiting their growth.
-
Boosting immunity : It increases the activity of the immune system to fight cancer cells. It acts as an antioxidant, helping to reduce the effects of free radicals that can lead to cancer development.
-
Inhibition of inflammation: Reduces chronic inflammation that may be a factor in the development of cancer.
-
Reducing oxidative stress: Thanks to antioxidants that reduce DNA damage caused by free radicals.
Scientific studies:
-
Laboratory studies: Some cell studies have shown that royal jelly can inhibit various types of cancer, such as breast cancer, leukemia, and colon cancer.
-
Animal experiments: showed a positive effect in reducing tumor size and boosting immunity in laboratory animals.
-
Prevention of colon cancer: A study at the University of Jordan showed that a mixture of royal jelly and beneficial bacteria can protect against colon cancer.
Anti-Cancer Effects of 10-Hydroxy-2-Decenoic Acid
Anti-cancer effects of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid:
It is one of the main components of RJ and is known to possess various biological activities.
The 10-HDA content in RJ has been reported to range from 0.8% to 6.5%; moreover, it is known to be a unique component of RJ because it is not detected in any other natural raw material, even in other bee products. Surprisingly, the anticancer effects of 10-HDA in leukemia and abdominal tumors were first reported approximately 60 years ago. In summary, these studies in mice demonstrated that 1.5 mg of 10-HDA per milliliter of cell suspension completely inhibited tumor formation in four types of malignant cells: mouse leukemia, 6CSHED lymphoma, and TAS breast cancer.
Various clinical trials are underway to investigate the prevention of mucositis induced by anticancer therapies. For example, in patients with head and neck cancer, a randomized (physician) trial was conducted with a treatment group (number = 1) and a control group (number = 6) to evaluate the clinical benefit of RJ for the prevention of oral and esophageal mucositis.
In this study, all patients were treated with radiotherapy (66–77 Gy) and chemotherapy (nedaplatin and docetaxel, S-1, or intra-arterial CDDP). Additionally, patients in the RJ group received RJ (3 g/day) during radiotherapy. Their results showed that all patients in the control group experienced grade 3 mucositis, which progressed to grade 4 in one patient one month after treatment. However, grade 3 mucositis was observed in only 71.4% of patients in the RJ group.
In this study, it should be noted that further research is needed due to the small sample size and the absence of double-blindness. Finally, the authors concluded that prophylactic use of RJ was effective in reducing chemotherapy- and radiotherapy-induced mucositis in these patients.
Oral consumption of royal jelly enhances anti-cancer effects and suppresses adverse events in renal cell carcinoma:
The study investigated the effects of oral administration of royal jelly in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. The study group included 16 patients treated with royal jelly and 17 patients treated with a placebo.
The study results showed a greater reduction in tumor size when royal jelly was administered to patients following targeted molecular therapy compared to patients who received a placebo. These reductions were associated with a decrease in tumor size and a lower frequency of loss of appetite or fatigue in patients.
In conclusion, the results of the current study indicated that oral administration of RJ improved the efficacy and safety of targeted molecular therapy in patients with renal cell carcinoma and altered the serum levels of TNF-α and TGF-β in patients, which is assumed to play an important role in the biological activities induced by RJ.
