Royal Jelly Exhibits in vitro Gastric Ulcer-Healing Activity by Mitigating Sodium Taurocholate-Induced Damage

Objectives: Gastric ulcers are a major public health concern caused by the disrupted balance between protective mechanisms and harmful factors affecting the gastric mucosa. In this context, royal jelly (RJ), a natural secretion produced by worker honey bees, has been assessed for its possible ulcer-healing effects in vitro.Materials and Methods: An in vitro gastric ulcer model was established using a bile salt, sodium taurocholate (NaT), in the human gastric epithelial cell line (AGS). Non-toxic concentrations of RJ and an injurious dose of NaT were determined using the MTT assay. Cells were first exposed to NaT (15 mM for 1 h) and then treated with RJ (25 μg/mL for 48 h). Cell viability, apoptotic markers, inflammatory mediators, and oxidative stress parameters, including intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonyl levels, were evaluated.Results: NaT decreased cell viability and markedly induced apoptotic, inflammatory, and oxidative responses. RJ treatment improved cell viability, reduced pro-apoptotic markers (cleaved caspase-3 levels, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio), downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines NF-κB p65, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, upregulated anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and minimised ROS generation, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonylation. RJ alone was non-toxic and increased IL-10 levels without provoking inflammation.Conclusion: RJ exerts cytoprotective effects against bile salt-induced gastric epithelial damage via anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant mechanisms, supporting its potential as a safe natural candidate for gastric mucosal protection and justifying further in vivo and clinical investigations.