Propolis is a valuable natural substance obtained by honey bees after being collected from the bark, resin of trees, plant leaves and mixed with their saliva, and has been widely used for various biological activities. The properties of propolis can vary widely by botanical origin, location of the hives and colony population. It is thought that the color of propolis is one of the main factors determining its acceptability and originates from the flower markers, pollen and nectar of some plants and is directly related to its chemical content. It is important to compare and standardize the colors, chemical content and biological activities of propolis in our country, which has a rich endemic plant diversity. Thus, in this study, the color indexes of 39 propolis samples from different locations in Turkiye were determined by Lovibond Tintometer, for the first time. The color index, total phenolic content, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities relationship of propolis and two commercial propolis samples were also investigated by HCA and PCA. Turkish propolis, which is defined by its color indices, chemical contents and many different activity potentials, such as antioxidant, antiviral and cytotoxic activity, will find use in many fields from medicine to cosmetics with this study.

Objectives: The bee stinger is the defense organ of honeybees. The venom sac of a worker bee is connected to its stinger, which is used as a defense mechanism, and it has a potent and complex combination of substances that is unique in the animal kingdom. Many immune-related illnesses have been successfully treated with bee venom and recent evidence on the efficacy of applications targeting malignancies has attracted considerable attention. Methods: The 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test was used to determine the cytotoxicity of the crude venom, and the flow cytometric analysis was used to determine the apoptotic potential. The cytotoxic activity of Apis mellifera cypria venom collected from two different apiaries in Cyprus was evaluated for the first time against breast (MDA-MB-231), colon (Caco-2), cervix (HeLa), prostate (PC-3), pancreas (Panc-1), lung (A549), glioblastoma (U-87MG) human cancerous and healthy lung fibroblast (CCD-34Lu) cells. Results: The venom concentration that killed 50 % of the cells (inhibitory concentration, IC ₅₀ ) is expressed as venom cytotoxicity. The IC ₅₀ values of A. m. cypria crude venom on cultured cells varied from 4.18±0.75 to 22.00±1.71 μg/mL after treatment with crude venom for 48 h, with the most potent activities against PC-3, Panc-1, and HeLa cells. Analysis of apoptotic cells by flow cytometry of both venom samples showed that bee venom slightly induced early apoptosis on A549 and Panc-1 cells. Conclusions: The venom of the A. m. cypria is discussed in this article, displaying promising results as a potential source for an alternative treatment method because of its cytotoxic effect.

Royal jelly has a rich nutrient content and valued natural bee product which has been mainly used in traditional medicines to protects and strengthens the health. It is a yellowish-white and acidic secretion of hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of nurse bees used to feed young worker larvae during the first three days and the entire life of queen bees. Because of its functional properties, royal jelly is very effective in accelerating the protection of health and healing process in many diseases. The high quality and scientific standardization of royal jelly is very important for using it in prevention of health and medical use in treatment disease in complimentary medicine. This review explains the effects of royal jelly on medical use for human health.

Honeybees play a crucial ecological and economic role by pollinating both natural ecosystems and cultivated crops. Beyond this, they produce such valuable natural products as honey, propolis, royal jelly, bee pollen, beeswax, and bee venom, which have been used for centuries in traditional medicine. With the growing interest in natural compounds for disease prevention and treatment, apitherapy and bee-derived products have gained renewed attention. Among these, bee venom (BV) stands out due to its rich composition of bioactive molecules, including peptides such as melittin, phospholipase A2 (PLA2), apamin, mast cell degranulation peptide, secapin, and adolapin, as well as enzymes as hyaluronidase. These components are known for their therapeutic potential, particularly in inflammation and cancer-related applications. In this study, the cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing effects of Apis mellifera L. venom samples collected from fifty-one locations across Türkiye were tested against seven human cancer cell lines (Caco-2, PC3, U-87MG, MDA-MB-231, A549, HeLa, Panc-1) and one healthy line (CCD-34Lu). Cytotoxicity was assessed with use of the MTT assay, and IC ₅₀ values ranged from 1.64±0.70 to 98.33±9.28 µg/ml. Venoms from Maçahel, Faraşin, Kırklareli, Düzce, Adana, Hatay, and Gökçeada were the most potent, influenced by bee ecotypes and protein content. PC3, PANC-1, and HeLa were the most sensitive cell lines, while Caco-2 and CCD-34Lu showed the highest resistance. In conclusion, the diverse venoms of A. mellifera in Türkiye exhibit significant dose-dependent cytotoxic and apoptotic effects, positioning the country as a valuable source in venom-based therapeutic research.

Pine honey, a distinctive honey produced primarily in Mediterranean regions, particularly in Türkiye, is a beekeeping product with notable compositional and biological properties. Unlike flower honeys derived from nectar, pine honey originates from the secretions of insects – primarily the species Marchalina hellenica – that feed on the sap secreted by pine trees (Pinus brutia and Pinus nigra). This distinct origin leads to a chemical profile that differs significantly from other types of nectar-based honeys. Pine honey is characterized by low levels of simple sugars, high electrical conductivity, and high mineral content, combined with a rich array of phenolic compounds and bioactive components. This composition contributes to its significant biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects. Compared with floral honeys, pine honey exhibits greater stability and a distinct functional profile, making it a promising candidate for health-related applications. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of pine honey, focusing particularly on its compositional uniqueness, physicochemical properties, and biological characteristics. Comparative aspects between pine honey and flower honeys are given special emphasis; key differences in sugar profile, enzyme activity, mineral composition, and bioactive compounds are highlighted. Additionally, to provide a deeper understanding of the quality and authenticity of pine honey, recent advances in analytical techniques for its characterization, such as chromatographic and spectroscopic methods, are discussed. Bringing together the latest scientific knowledge, this section aims to highlight the functional importance of pine honey, its potential as a natural bioactive product in nutrition and health, and its contribution to sustainable beekeeping and ecosystem management.

Arıcılığın Tari̇hçesi Cengiz ERKAN Arıcılığın Genel Durumu, İşletmelerin Ekonomik Analizi ve Pazarlama Stratejileri Zekiye ŞENGÜL Gamze SANER Bal Arısı Tür ve Irkları Meral KEKEÇOĞLU Balarısının Vücut Yapısı ve Biyolojisi Nuray ŞAHİNLER Bal Arısı Kolonisinde Yaşam ve İletişim Rahşan İVGİN TUNCA Gonca ÖZMEN ÖZBAKIR Bal Arısı Genetiği Kemal KARABAĞ Bal Arısı Islahı Devrim OSKAY Kemal KARABAĞ Ana Arı Yetiştiriciliği ve Yapay Tohumlama Aziz GÜL Münire TURHAN Teknik Arıcılıkta Kullanılan Malzemeler ve Teknoloji Kullanımı Gonca ÖZMEN ÖZBAKIR Rahşan İVGİN TUNCA Koloni ve Arılık Yönetimi Halil YENİNAR Bal Arılarında Kışlama ve Kış Arılarının Oluşumu, Fizyolojik ve Davranışsal Özellikleri ile Kışlama Uygulamaları Halil YENİNAR Bal Arısı Beslenmesi Gizem SÖNMEZ OSKAY Devrim OSKAY Gezginci (Göçer) Arıcılık Halil YENİNAR Paket Arıcılık Halil YENİNAR Ali KORKMAZ Bal Arısı Sağlığı Levent AYDIN Bal Arısı ve Tozlaşma Dilek KABAKCI Bal Arılarının Nektar ve Polen Kaynakları Fazlı ÖZTÜRK Balın Yapısı, Çeşitleri ve Kullanım Alanları Nuray ŞAHİNLER Arı Ürünleri Sibel SİLİCİ Apiterapi Sibel SİLİCİ Arı Yetiştiriciliğinde Sürdürülebilir Sistemler: İyi Arıcılık Uygulamaları, Organik ve Biyodinamik Arıcılık Ekin VAROL Banu YÜCEL Küresel İklim Değişikliklerinin Bal Arıları Üzerine Etkileri Cengiz ERKAN Arıcılık ve Hukuk Arsin DEMİR Bal Arılarında Doğru Bilinen Yanlışlar Kemal KARABAĞ