Royal Jelly as a functional product for human

Royal jelly (RJ) is one of the bee products secreted from the hypopharyngeal glands of young worker honeybee (Apis mellifera) and it is used to feed young larvae. Royal jelly is one of the natural products that contain biologically active substances such as 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid. RJ also has various pharmacological effects including antibiotic, antibacterial and antiproliferative effects. Various compounds such as proteins, sugars, lipids, vitamins, minerals, and free amino acids have been identified. RJ is a substance with a complex chemical structure. RJ consists of water (60 – 70 %), proteins (9 – 18 %), sugars (7–18 %), lipids (3–8 %), essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. RJ is widely used in human diets and alternative medicine. There are not sufficient studies in this subject in Iran. The purpose of this study was to identify the main components, physicochemical and therapeutic properties of RJ.