@article{3060963,
    title = "Long-term administration of Greek Royal Jelly improves spatial memory and influences the concentration of brain neurotransmitters in naturally aged Wistar male rats",
    author = "Pyrzanowska, J. and Piechal, A. and Blecharz-Klin, K. and Joniec-Maciejak, I. and Graikou, K. and Chinou, I. and Widy-Tyszkiewicz, E.",
    journal = "Journal of Ethnopharmacology",
    year = "2014",
    volume = "155",
    number = "1",
    pages = "343-351",
    publisher = "Elsevier Ireland Ltd",
    issn = "0378-8741",
    doi = "10.1016/j.jep.2014.05.032",
    keywords = "3,4 dihydroxyphenylacetic acid;  4 hydroxy 3 methoxyphenylethylene glycol;  5 hydroxyindoleacetic acid;  dopamine;  homovanillic acid;  monoamine;  neurotransmitter;  noradrenalin;  royal jelly;  serotonin;  agents interacting with transmitter, hormone or drug receptors;  dopamine;  fatty acid;  royal jelly;  serotonin, animal experiment;  animal tissue;  article;  brain level;  brain region;  controlled study;  corpus striatum;  dopamine metabolism;  hippocampus;  hypothalamus;  male;  Morris water maze test;  nonhuman;  prefrontal cortex;  rat;  serotonin metabolism;  spatial memory;  treatment duration;  turnover time;  aging;  animal;  bee;  brain;  dose response;  drug effects;  Greece;  maze test;  metabolism;  spatial memory;  Wistar rat, Animalia;  Apoidea;  Rattus;  Rattus norvegicus, Aging;  Animals;  Bees;  Brain;  Dopamine;  Dose-Response Relationship, Drug;  Fatty Acids;  Greece;  Male;  Maze Learning;  Neurotransmitter Agents;  Prefrontal Cortex;  Rats;  Rats, Wistar;  Serotonin;  Spatial Memory",
    abstract = "Ethnopharmacological relevance Royal Jelly (RJ) is a bee-derived product that has been traditionally used in the European and Asian systems of medicine for longevity. RJ has various pharmacological activities that may prevent aging e.g., anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-hypercholesterolemic and anti-hyperglycemic properties. Aim of the study To evaluate the behavioral and neurochemical effects of long-term oral, previously chemically analyzed, Greek RJ administration to aged rats. Materials and methods RJ powder was given to 18-month old male Wistar rats (50 and 100 mg of powder/kg b.w./day) by gastric gavage for 2 months. The spatial memory was assessed in the water maze and next the level of neurotransmitters, their metabolites and utilization in the selected brain regions were estimated. Results The improvement of memory in rats pretreated with the smaller dose of RJ was observed compared with controls. In biochemical examination mainly the depletion of dopamine and serotonin in the prefrontal cortex along with an increase in their metabolite concentration and turnover were seen. Conclusion Better cognitive performance in the old animals using a non-toxic, natural food product in the view of the process of the aging of human population is noteworthy. Our results contribute towards validation of the traditional use of RJ in promoting a better quality of life in old age. © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved."
}