Investigation of the Effects of Royal Jelly on Vincristine-Induced Brain Damage in Rats

Year 2025, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 11 - 17, 30.09.2025

Cüneyt Çağlayan , İbrahim Bayav , Sefa Küçükler

Abstract

Introduction:
Vincristine is an effective chemotherapeutic agent widely used in the treatment of hematological malignancies but is limited by its severe neurotoxic side effects. This study aimed to investigate the potential neuroprotective effects of royal jelly (RJ) on vincristine-induced neurotoxicity through modulation of the JAK2/STAT3 and mTOR/AKT/PI3K pathways in rats.
Material and Method:
Thirty-five male Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into five groups: Control, RJ (300 mg/kg), Vincristine (0.1 mg/kg), Vincristine + RJ150 (150 mg/kg), and Vincristine + RJ300 (300 mg/kg). Vincristine was administered intraperitoneally, while RJ was given orally via gavage. At the end of the experimental period, brain tissues were collected. Protein levels of JAK2, STAT3, mTOR, AKT, and PI3K were determined using ELISA.
Results:
Vincristine significantly increased JAK2 and STAT3 levels in brain tissues, whereas both RJ150 and RJ300 treatments significantly reduced these levels. Conversely, vincristine significantly decreased mTOR, AKT, and PI3K levels, which were restored upon co-treatment with RJ, particularly at the 300 mg/kg dose.
Conclusion:
Royal jelly demonstrated neuroprotective effects against vincristine-induced damage by regulating key components of the JAK2/STAT3 and mTOR/AKT/PI3K signaling pathways. These findings suggest that RJ may offer a promising natural adjuvant to mitigate vincristine-induced neurotoxicity. Further studies are warranted to validate these effects and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Keywords

Royal jelly , Vincristine , Neurotoxicity

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