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Royal jelly and its hormonal effects in breast cancer: a literature review

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Abstract

Background

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women which can be cured in most individuals with early-stage non-metastatic disease. Imbalance in estrogen signaling pathways and propagating levels of estrogens has important roles in breast cancer development. Targeting the estrogen receptor signaling pathway is linked to breast cancer treatment. Royal jelly is one of the bee products containing 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, a structure similar to mammalian estrogen, allowing it to attach to estrogen receptors. It is considered as a general tonic and immunomodulator which may be helpful in reducing the side effects of cancer treatments. Currently, there are controversial data regarding the pros and cons of royal jelly in cancer. Here we provide an overview of the effects of royal jelly on sex hormones and its possible role in breast cancer.

Methods

Electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched with the search terms royal jelly, cancer, and sexual hormones. All preclinical and clinical studies regarding the hormonal effects of royal jelly were included.

Results

According to the collected preclinical data, consumption of royal jelly at daily doses below 200 mg/kg can be useful to decrease the risk of breast cancer since it reduces the serum level of estrogen; whereas increases progesterone, which subsequently decreases the expression of ERs on the ER-positive cells.

Conclusion

Future clinical studies are essential to confirm the safe dose of royal jelly as an adjuvant therapy in breast cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Farzaneh Aavani

  2. Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, No. 27, North Sarparast, West Taleqani, Felestin Sq., P.O. Box: 1417653761, Tehran, Iran

    Roja Rahimi & Roodabeh Bahramsoltani

  3. PhytoPharmacology Interest Group (PPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran

    Roja Rahimi & Roodabeh Bahramsoltani

  4. Department of Genetics, Sana Institute of Higher Education, Sari, Iran

    Pouya Goleij

  5. PhytoPharmacology Interest Group (PPIG), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Sari, Iran

    Pouya Goleij

  6. Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Hossein Rezaeizadeh

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Contributions

FA performed the search and prepared the draft of the manuscript, RR supervised the study and edited the final version of the manuscript, PG performed the search and prepared the draft of the manuscript, HR designed the study & edited the final version of the manuscript, RB supervised the study, prepared the tables, and edited the final version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Roodabeh Bahramsoltani.

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Aavani, F., Rahimi, R., Goleij, P. et al. Royal jelly and its hormonal effects in breast cancer: a literature review. DARU J Pharm Sci (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40199-024-00513-2

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