Honeybee larva homogenate appears to be underrated and insufficiently explored but this homogenate is an exceptionally valuable honeybee product. Drone larva homogenate is very nutritional due to its high content of proteins, free amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates. Moreover, the biological characteristics of honeybee larvae indicate the presence of chemical substances that may be pharmacologically active. In spite of the above, the chemical composition of honeybee larva has not gained as much attention as that of other bee products. In this study, the chemical composition of honeybee brood homogenate has been investigated using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. As a result, it was possible to isolate as many as 115 extractive organic compounds from 6 samples of crude queen and 9 samples of drone homogenate. The main groups of substances extracted from either type of homogenate were composed of free amino acids and carbohydrates. The relative content of amino acids in queen homogenate as well as the share of essential amino acids were found to be higher than in the drone homogenate. Disaccharide trehalose was the dominant sugar in the queen larvae, whilst glucose prevailed in the drone larvae. Comparative chemical analyses of honeybee queen and drone larva homogenates have allowed us to make a preliminary inference about a higher overall value of the former.

Application of substances from medicinal mushrooms is one of the interesting approaches to improve cancer therapy. In this study, we commenced a new attempt in the field of Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref. sensu lato to further extend our knowledge on this basidiomycete fungus. For this purpose, analysis of the active substances of Heterobasidion annosum methanolic extract and also its influence on colorectal cancer in terms of in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed. In vivo studies on mice were conducted to verify its acute toxicity and to further affirm its anticancer potential. Results indicated that all the most common substances of best known medicinal mushrooms that are also responsible for their biological activity are present in tested extracts. In vitro tests showed a high hemocompatibility and a significant decrease in viability and proliferation of DLD-1 cells in a concentration-dependent manner of Heterobasidion annosum extract. The studies performed on xenograft model of mice showed lower tendency of tumor growth in the group of mice receiving Heterobasidion annosum extract as well as mild or moderate toxicity. Obtained results suggest beneficial potential of Heterobasidion annosum against colon cancer as cytotoxic agent or as adjuvant anticancer therapy.

The paper presents the results of rheological measurements conducted on three types of Polish honey: rape, multi-floral, and buckwheat honeys. The investigations involved identification of the properties of the honeys in both liquefied (by heating) as well as crystallised states. Both steady shear as well as dynamic rheological tests were performed. As a result, it was possible to show that the liquefied honeys behave like Newtonian fluids. Good agreement of the results between the rotary shear and oscillation rotary tests was observed, thus fulfilling the Cox-Mertz rule. The structure of the honeys was subjected to qualitative scrutiny by analysing photographs of the crystals taken in the conditions of shearing interferometry. The quantitative analysis was made by presenting a numerical distribution of crystal colonies with reference to the maximum dimensions of individual crystals. The geometric measurements of the crystals were carried out using analiSIS software. In the crystallised form, the media showed a thixotropic effect, and their apparent viscosity was many times higher than the dynamic viscosity in the liquid state. After plasticising by deformation with an increasing shear rate of up to 450s⁻¹, the equilibrium melting curves of the crystallised honeys were described by the Ostwald-de Waele model. One particular reason for the research was to show that the results obtained for the honeys crystallised by the steady shear method, were qualitatively different from the results obtained in the dynamic measurements. The Cox-Mertz rule cannot be applied for the crystallised honeys.

Rheological Properties of Honey in a Liquid and Crystallized State | InTechOpen, Published on: 2017-03-15. Authors: Sławomir Bakier

The present study was inspired by scientific reports describing the positive effects of silicon preparations on fruit and vegetables in horticulture. The use of silicon preparations in forest protection represents a new research application, especially in the cases of oak seedlings that are damaged by oak powdery mildew. Additionally, these preparations increase the photosynthetic efficiency of the seedlings, and thus promote increased biomass and better nutritional value of the root systems. The new idea of using silicon formulations in forestry, based on the initial test results, is particularly important for seedlings in the post-planting period in forest plantations. In particular, these preparations increase yield and plant growth, and improve plant health. So far, no comparable studies have been conducted on forest tree species. To this end, one year-old pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and two year-old English oak (Quercus robur L.) seedlings were sprayed with silicon preparations of different concentrations, and changes in growth parameters and photosynthetic efficiency were observed. The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of the silicon preparation on the seedlings during their first life span, i.e., the first year after planting. In this study, 50 pine and 50 oak seedlings were sprayed three times with the silicon preparation, in five variants (control; concentrations of 1%, 2%, 3% and 5%), as well as the chlorophyll fluorescence, height, thickness and biomass of the roots, were measured. It was found that the treatment with a concentration of 2% was better and statistically, significantly different from the other variants, e.g., in terms of increasing photosynthetic efficiency.