Application Perspectives of Royal Jelly: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Nurse bees make royal jelly (RJ) to provide food for growing larvae and queen bees. The bulk of RJ is water (60-70%), followed by proteins, carbs, and lipids. Vitamins, enzymes, hormones, polyphenols, nucleotides, and small heterocyclic compounds are among the other minor components found in RJ. Eleven more elements and eight necessary amino acids round out the picture. RJ is a popular research topic since the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins is crucial for the development of beehive colonies and the generation of queens. The hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of nursing bees make RJ, a yellowish-white, acidic substance that feeds worker larvae for three days and the queen bee's lifetime. RJ, a treasured natural resource, has been used in alternative medicine, nutritional supplements, and cosmetic treatments for millennia. As the most researched bee product, researchers have learned about its bioactivities including antibacterial, antioxidant, antiaging, immunomodulatory, and general tonic activity in clinical trials, microbiological organisms, farm animals, and laboratory animals. A recent study on RJ's key bioactive constituents—peptides, fatty acids, phenolics, proteins, etc. aims to improve biology, biochemistry, and treatments for life and health. The main focus of this article is on the bio effects of RJ, which include antioxidant, antimicrobial, wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-ageing, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, anti-hypertension, anti-hyperlipidemic, renoprotective, hepatoprotective, estrogenic, fertile, neuroprotective, etc. These results have important implications for future studies of the potential human and honeybee health advantages of RJ.