Royal Jelly Bioactivity and Applications in Health
Summary
Royal jelly is a complex secretion produced by nurse bees and is the exclusive nourishment for queen larvae. It comprises proteins, peptides, unique fatty acids, vitamins and phenolic compounds that together confer antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. Major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) and the distinctive fatty acid 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) underpin most bioactivities, acting through diverse molecular pathways such as modulation of oxidative stress, regulation of cytokine production and interaction with hormone receptors. In preclinical and clinical settings, royal jelly has shown promise in supporting healthy ageing by attenuating insulin-like growth factor signalling, enhancing cognitive function, improving erythropoiesis and moderating lipid profiles. It also demonstrates protective effects against chemotherapy-induced organ toxicity and exerts antiproliferative actions on certain cancer cell lines. Advances in structural biology and proteomics have begun to unravel the three-dimensional assembly of MRJPs and their post-translational modifications, providing a foundation for the development of standardised nutraceutical products. While safety studies report minimal adverse effects, interindividual variability linked to genetic background, diet and microbiome composition remains an area of ongoing investigation. The multifaceted bioactivity of royal jelly highlights its global significance as a functional food and a source of lead compounds for drug discovery.
Research from Nature Portfolio
High-resolution structural analysis has elucidated the oligomeric assembly of MRJP1 bound to apisimin and 24-methylenecholesterol, revealing a six-bladed β-propeller fold and a pH-dependent H-shaped architecture that likely underpins stability and bioactivity. In parallel, advanced mass-spectrometry-based glycoproteomic mapping has characterised site-specific glycosylation patterns across the MRJP family, linking distinct glycoforms to antioxidant potency. A third study employing integrated proteomics and metabolomics has identified novel low-molecular-weight peptides in royal jelly that correlate with immunomodulatory activity in human cell assays, providing a molecular basis for standardisation of therapeutic extracts.
Royal Jelly Bioactivity and Applications in Health publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in royal jelly bioactivity and applications in health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs): A family of bee-derived glycoproteins responsible for much of royal jelly’s nutritional and pharmacological properties.
10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA): A signature unsaturated fatty acid unique to royal jelly, notable for anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects.
Apisimin: A small honeybee peptide that co-assembles with MRJP1, stabilising its oligomeric structure.
β-propeller fold: A protein structural motif composed of repeated blade-like β-sheets arranged around a central axis, conferring stability and binding surfaces.
Immunomodulatory: The capacity to modulate the immune system by enhancing or suppressing specific immune responses.
Antioxidant capacity: The ability of a compound or extract to neutralise reactive oxygen species and reduce oxidative damage.
References
- New Insights into the Biological and Pharmaceutical Properties of Royal Jelly. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2020).
- Royal Jelly and Its Components Promote Healthy Aging and Longevity: From Animal Models to Humans. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2019).
- Health Promoting Properties of Bee Royal Jelly: Food of the Queens. Nutrients (2021).
- Royal Jelly Modulates Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Liver and Kidneys of Rats Treated with Cisplatin. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity (2011).
- Effect of royal jelly ingestion for six months on healthy volunteers. Nutrition Journal (2012).
- Anti-Cancer and Protective Effects of Royal Jelly for Therapy-Induced Toxicities in Malignancies. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2018).
- Architecture of the native major royal jelly protein 1 oligomer. Nature Communications (2018).
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