title: Long-term administration of Greek Royal Jelly improves spatial memory and influences the concentration of brain neurotransmitters in naturally aged Wistar male rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  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.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the behavioral and neurochemical effects of long-term oral, previously chemically analyzed, Greek RJ administration to aged rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  RJ powder was given to 18-month old male Wistar rats (50 and 100mg 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University, of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pyrzanowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University, of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piechal
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University, of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Kamilla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blecharz-Klin
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University, of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Joniec-Maciejak
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Graikou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, University of Athens, Zografou, 15771 Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioanna
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chinou
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University, of Warsaw, Banacha 1b, 02-097 Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: etyszkiewicz@wum.edu.pl.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Widy-Tyszkiewicz
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006115:Greece; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D065852:Spatial Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D000099219:Royal Jelly
chemical_list: D004298:Dopamine; D005227:Fatty Acids; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D000099219:Royal Jelly
keywords: Aged rats; Dopamine; Royal Jelly; Serotonin; Spatial memory; Water maze