Arthritis is a chronic, complex autoimmune disease that affects approximately 1% of the global population. Conventional therapeutic management involves usage of steroids, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory, disease modifying antirheumatic and immunosuppressant drugs. Despite the increasing number of new drugs and treatment regimes, complete long-term disease remission is not achieved for many patients and thus new therapeutic options are required (Guo et al., 2018). Bee venom (BV) therapy has been used since ancient times. According to animal experiments, BV exhibits antiarthritic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects attributable to the suppression of cyclo-oxygenase-2 and phospholipase A2 expression and a decrease in the levels of TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6, nitric oxide and oxygen-reactive species. Bioactive BV compounds, such as peptides (melittin, adolapin and apamin), enzymes (phospholipase A2) and amines are also associated with these actions (Lee et al., 2014). The topical delivery is an attractive method for local treatment of inflammatory conditions like musculoskeletal disorders. Topical delivery has many advantages over the conventional oral dosage forms, especially in avoidance of various adverse effects. Having in mind that the therapeutic efficacy of a topical formulation depends on both the nature of the vehicle and the physicochemical properties of the active agent (release rate, rate and extent of drug permeation, etc.) (Özcan et al., 2009), the aim of this study was to develop an effective, stable topical gel formulation containing BV as an active agent.

Cocoa shell is a by-product of the chocolate industry that is rich in dietary fiber and bioactive components. In this research, the influence of high voltage electric discharge (HVED) treatment on chemical and physical characteristics of the cocoa shell, i.e., the effects of applied time and frequencies on grinding ability, water binding capacity (WBC), dietary fibers and tannin content was investigated. HVED had a significant influence on the chemical and physical properties of cocoa shell, all of which could be linked to changes in fiber properties. Along with the fiber content, grinding ability and water binding capacity were increased. These properties have already been linked to fiber content and soluble/insoluble fiber ratio. However, this research implies that change in fiber properties could be linked to tannin formation via complexation of other polyphenolic components. Additional research is needed to verify this effect and to establish mechanisms of tannin formation induced by HVED and its influence on fiber quantification.

The aim of this research was to evaluate bee pollen load samples collected in Tuzla Canton regarding physicochemical composition and antioxidant properties, with relation to collecting area and time of collection. Bee pollen load samples were collected in two periods: March/April and May/June at 13 locations, dried and analysed for protein, free fat, ash, moisture, total polyphenol and total flavonoid content, and antioxidant properties. The results showed that bee pollen collected in March/April had lower content of proteins, but higher content of total polyphenols and higher antioxidant activity, while total flavonoid content was not influenced by collection period. The location had significant influence on bee pollen properties.