Royal jelly is the secretion from specific glands of worker bees that feeds the queen bee’s larvae and the queen bee herself during the laying period. It is a white-yellowish, pearlescent jelly mass that has a specific scent and a sharp sour taste. It is rich in protein, fat, and sucrose. It also has substantial amounts of hormones, vitamins, and micronutrients. Royal jelly has bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties.
This bee secretion is a yellowish, sharp, and sour pulp that is used to feed the growing queen bee. This kind of royal jelly is the most valuable. After introducing alkalinity to royal jelly, the microscope shows various impurities, including pollen, wax flakes, small plant particles, etc. This is how you can tell an authentic royal jelly from an adulterated one. Royal jelly contains all the amino acids necessary for the human body, as well as all B-group vitamins and many micronutrients. In some countries, royal jelly is considered the elixir of long life. For example, the Japanese are the biggest consumers of royal jelly in the world. In our middle latitudes, this bee product is considered one of the strongest biostimulators of animal origin that effectively regulates human and animal development processes.
Bees produce royal jelly that bursts with vitamins and other nutrients and has truly transformative powers – a queen bee is created, not born. The larva of a fertilised egg that is fed a ‘working jelly’, which is similar to royal jelly, will develop into a barren worker bee with a lifespan of around 45 days. If the colony needs a new queen, the same type of larva is given true royal jelly, which brings about a fertile queen with a lifespan between 5 to 7 years that lays up to 2 500 eggs a day.
Firstly, the many active ingredients in royal jelly supplement our body and contribute to better functioning systems and a stronger body. The protein structure of royal jelly is similar to that of human blood serum. Although the inner workings are not entirely clear, royal jelly is thought to contribute to the development and recovery processes in the body. These conclusions are based not only on scientific research, but also on observations of bee life: a bee is fed royal jelly to then transform from a simple, ordinary egg into the queen bee that is one and a half times larger than worker bees and has the ability to mate and lay eggs for several years.
Royal jelly contains fast-digesting carbohydrates, fats and many polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins that are made up of essential amino acids, as well as vital minerals, micronutrients, and vitamins, particularly B-group vitamins. Natural royal jelly has an average of 18% to 22% protein, 1.4% to 4.3% fat, 18% sucrose and 22 amino acids that are necessary for normal growth. Royal jelly is rich in hormones and vitamins, micronutrients, minerals, particularly iron, sulphur, magnesium, manganese, calcium, zinc, and cobalt. Royal jelly contains the notably biologically active substance – decenoic acid, which was named the 10-HDA (10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid) by the Chinese scientists. According to the researchers, it inhibits the development of malignant tumours.
The effect of royal jelly as an antibiotic has also been proven by scientific research. Royal jelly kills many pathogens. Furthermore, it improves blood circulation, which has a positive effect on blood pressure, heart function, and the circulatory system. The various substances in royal jelly help the body assimilate the energy in food and strengthen it. This product improves the function of the digestive system and stimulates appetite. Royal jelly helps treat many skin diseases.
Description of the key quality parameters of royal jelly
| No | Name of parameter | Unit of measurement | Most common in the market | Requirement of our company‘s standart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Appearance | White - yellowish, cloudy, jelly-like substance, with small crystalline particles |
||
| 2. | Odour | % | sour, hot, typ for royal jelly | |
| 3. | 10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10 HDA) | % (g/100g) | Min 2,80 ÷ 3,5 | |
| 4. | Water and volatile substances | g/100g | 65.2 g/100 g | |
| 5. | Ash | kJ/kcal/100g | < 1.0 g/100 g | |
| 6. | pH 4.0 | g/100g | 4.0 | |
| 7. | Protein (N x 6,25) | g/100g | 14.2 g/100 g | |
| 8. | Lipids | g/100g | 4.8 g/100 g | |
| 9. | Glucose | g/100g | 4.0 g/100 g | |
| 10. | Fructose | g/100g | 4.8 g/100 g | |
| 11. | Sucrose | g/100g | 2.1 g/100 g | |
| 12. | Maltose | g/100g | 0.5 g/100 g | |
| 13. | Erlose | g/100g | 0.7 g/100 g | |
| 14. | Melezitose | g/100g | n.d. g/100 g | |
| Heavy Metals (Ph. Eur. 2.4.27) | ||||
| 15. | Lead (Pb) | mg/kg | n.d. g/100 g | |
| 16. | Cadmium (Cd) | mg/kg | n.d. g/100 g | |
| 17. | Mercury (Hg) | mg/kg | n.d. g/100 g | |
| 18. | Aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 | mg/kg | n.d. g/100 g | |
| 19. | Pyrrolizidinalcaloides (PA) | µg/kg | Max 10 | |
| 20. | PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons | Max 15 |
- Our royal jelly contains significant amounts of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, which determines the amount of biologically active lipid compounds in the product. The 10-HDA content is 3.5%, which indicates high biological activity of the product. This is a key indicator in determining product quality.
- Royal jelly is white-yellowish and much lighter in colour compared to the yellow royal jelly in Asia.
- The scent and flavour are sharper and hotter compared to Asian royal jelly.
- It does not contain any chemical contamination or residues of pesticides, aflatoxins, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, heavy metals, or antibiotics. Pesticide residue levels are in compliance with the Ph. Eur/EC regulation No. 396/2005. Generally, they are undetectable even at the lowest laboratory levels.
- GMO-free. Lithuania and the Baltic states have banned GMOs.
- Good microbiological status, compliant with Ph. Eur. 5.1.8.- C.
Summary:
The above organoleptic properties and the key quality parameters of the product indicate a high concentration of royal jelly and a substantial content of active ingredients.
10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid offers an array of biological effects. The high level of 10-HDA in our royal jelly can provide:
- antibacterial and immunostimulatory effects,
- immunomodulatory and antitumour effects,
- antidiabetic effect,
- anticancer effect,
- antidepressant effect,
- antihyperlipidemic and antihypertensive effects,
- and estrogenic effect.
Possible applications:
- Medicine,
- Dietary supplement production,
- Cosmetics industry.
Natural royal jelly can be purchased frozen in small bottles, or mixed with other bee products, usually with honey. We recommend taking 50 mg to 200 mg (pea-size amount) of royal jelly per day for periods of 15 to 30 days. Children should not take more than 10 mg to 50 mg per day. The course of royal jelly can be repeated several times with a month’s break in between – especially in winter and spring. Royal jelly should be taken in the morning or during lunch before a meal by placing the right amount under the tongue until it dissolves. This is the way it gets assimilated the best. If it is swallowed right away, the enzymes in the stomach can destroy much of its goodness. The ingredients in bee products complement each other. As a result, it is recommended to take royal jelly together with pollen, bee bread, or honey. Royal jelly should be mixed with 3 to 4 grams of honey (a third of a teaspoon) and kept under the tongue until it dissolves. It is recommended to take it in the morning. If it is taken several times a day, it is recommended to take it at the same time and the same hour every day. Refrigerate the royal jelly while you’re taking it and move it to the freezer when you’re taking a break. People with adrenal diseases, acute internal diseases or exacerbated chronic diseases should not take royal jelly. It is also not recommended for adolescents during puberty due to the high levels of hormones found in the royal jelly. Do not take royal jelly in the evening because its tonic effect may make it more difficult to fall asleep.
Royal jelly is not a medicine. It is a natural dietary supplement and a source of improved energy levels and health.
Why is royal jelly so beneficial?
Royal jelly is a completely natural and very potent antiseptic, active immunomodulator, and detoxifier. It can also help with injuries, post-surgery, post-partum, bleeding, severe stress. It can be helpful for a poorly developing baby. It also promotes lactation.
Royal jelly helps improve the general condition of the body, appetite, metabolism, heart function, memory, vision, hearing, physical, psychological, and mental condition, and sexual performance. It can energise, tone and improve skin elasticity, promote cell regeneration, help treat skin diseases and even neglected eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis of various causes.
Royal jelly has a positive effect on bronchial asthma, cerebrovascular atherosclerosis, chronic coronary heart failure, and following a myocardial infarction; it can help with some nervous diseases and chronic gastrointestinal disorders and hypotrophy in children; it has a positive effect on menopausal dystonia; it helps treat burn wounds and mouth inflammation; it boosts the body’s resistance to radiation when it is used for treatment.
Royal jelly is a highly concentrated, complete, and biologically active product that is rich in valuable nutrients; it boost the human immune and vegetative systems, improves various functions of the cardiovascular system, digestion, and endocrine function; it eliminates bacteria and reduces inflammation, improves the abilities of children with mental disabilities, and promotes brain development.