Royal jelly is a natural product derived from honeybees, used as a nutrient supplement for the treatment of several medical conditions. This work aimed to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of royal jelly pretreatment against an experimental model of myocardial infarction (MI), exploring the defensive role of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathways. Methods: animals in this research were divided into four groups, with 6 animals in each: Group I (control), Group II (Royal Jelly), Group III (MI), and Group IV (MI + Royal Jelly). Results: royal jelly offered a cardioprotective effect against isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiac injury by downregulating cardiac markers such as troponin I and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), with obvious histological improvements. Royal jelly reduced oxidation through its downregulation of kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), malonaldehyde (MDA), and stimulation of Nrf2/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway, and antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Additionally, royal jelly decreased inflammatory factors, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β). Furthermore, it decreased apoptotic indicators Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) and caspase-3, while increasing B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2). Conclusion: royal jelly could serve as a cardioprotective agent against ISO-induced MI through its anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant responses.
The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects of royal jelly against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in experimental rats
Mona A. Abdel‑Kareem1,2, Amira Osman3,4, Amira E. Farage1, Medhat Taha5,6, Sara Abubakr6, Nora Elshehawy Helal6, Alaa M. Badawy6, Ahmed N.A. Nasr6,7, Hanan A. Elgendy6,8, Hala Mahfouz9, Tourki A.S. Baokbah10, Mohammed R. Rabei11,12, Mohamed E. Mahmoud13, Mahmoud Hendawy6,14
1 Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr Elsheikh 33511, Egypt
2 Faculty of Medicine Delta University for Science and Technology
3 Department of Basic Medical and Dental Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Zarqa University, Zarqa, Jordan
4 Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University
5 Department of Anatomy, Al-Qunfudah Medical College, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Qunfudhah, Saudi Arabia
6 Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
7 Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Applied Medical Sciences Muhail Asir College, King Khalid University
8 Department of Anatomy, Faculty of medicine, Northern Border university, Arar, Saudi Arabia
9 Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
10 Department of Medical Emergency Services, College of Health Sciences-AlQunfudah, Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia
11 Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
12 Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Ibn Sina University for Medical Sciences, Amman, Jordan
13 Histology Department, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Egypt
14 Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Baha University, Al-Baha P.O. Box 1988, Saudi Arabia
