Freeze-dried royal jelly or Royal jelly powder (Apis mellifera L.; secretion of the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of nurse bees)

Apicultural ingredient obtained by freeze-drying fresh royal jelly to remove water and stabilize sensitive components. It appears as a hygroscopic ivory–pale yellow powder with a characteristic tangy taste. Used in foods and supplements (capsules, tablets, sachets, honey blends) and in cosmetics as a hydrating/conditioning active.

Caloric value (per 100 g of product)

Freeze-dried royal jelly (powder): ~350–450 kcal/100 g.
Hydroalcoholic extract: ~50–150 kcal/100 g (depends on solids and EtOH residue).
Glyceric/glycolic extract: ~150–300 kcal/100 g.
Usage note: 1 g of powder corresponds on average to ~3 g of fresh royal jelly (≈1:3). At typical doses (100–1000 mg/serving) the energy contribution is modest.

Key constituents (primarily on a dry basis)

Proteins: 30–45%; dominated by MRJP (major royal jelly proteins 1–9).
Carbohydrates: ~30–40% (mainly glucose and fructose).
Lipids: ~8–19%; species-specific fatty acids, notably 10-HDA (10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, a quality marker), 10-hydroxydecanoic acid and related compounds.
Vitamins and minerals: chiefly B-vitamins (e.g., B5), potassium, calcium, magnesium (variable levels).
Other components: bioactive peptides (royalisin, jelleins), trace acetylcholine and enzymes; trace phenolics of nectar/pollen origin.
Analytical markers: 10-HDA (as-is or dry basis), MRJP profile, pH of reconstituted solution (~3.4–4.5), ash, residual moisture.

Production process

Harvest and filtration: removal of fresh royal jelly from queen cells; elimination of larval residues.
Freeze-drying: rapid freezing and vacuum sublimation to preserve thermolabile constituents; typical final moisture ≤4–6%.
Milling and sieving: powder homogenization and particle-size control.
Standardization: set assay for 10-HDA (e.g., ≥4–6% on dry basis), MRJP protein content, residual moisture.
Quality controls: authenticity (MRJP/10-HDA markers), metals/pesticides, microbiology, any solvent residues for extracts; packaging per GMP/HACCP.

Physical and technological properties

Appearance and flow: fine, hygroscopic powder; anti-caking agents (permitted) may be needed in dry blends.
Solubility/reconstitution: dispersible in lukewarm water; reconstituted solution is slightly opalescent with acidic pH.
Stability: low aw and moisture improve shelf life vs fresh; sensitive to light, heat, and oxygen (DO).
Compatibility: high-pH or protein-rich matrices may show color/taste changes; minimize lipid oxidation.

Food applications

Supplements (capsules, tablets, sachets), honey blends, functional beverages, premium dairy and bakery at micro-doses.
Indicative dosages: freeze-dried powder 100–1000 mg/serving (optimize via pilot trials); in honey 0.3–1.5% depending on positioning. In foods, health claims must not be used without authorization.

Cosmetic applications

Serums, face/body creams, and haircare as skin conditioning, humectant/hydrating, and mildly soothing; use rehydrated powder or aqueous/glyceric extracts. Ensure adequate preservation in water-rich formulas.

Quality and specifications (typical topics)

Assay in 10-HDA and MRJP protein content as identity/quality indices.
Parameters: residual moisture/aw, pH of reconstituted solution, color; for powders, particle size for uniform blending.
Authenticity: protein profile and sugar ratios; anti-fraud testing (HPLC, GC–MS, isotope analysis).
Contaminants: pesticides/metals within limits; compliant microbiology; residual solvents where applicable.
Sensory: free from rancid or oxidized notes.

Storage and shelf life

Protect from light, heat, and humidity; use low-permeability barrier packs with desiccants and reduced headspace (DO low).
Store cool and dry with controlled RH; reseal tightly after use.
Reconstituted solutions: prepare as needed; maintain acidic pH and limit oxygen exposure. Apply FIFO rotation.

Allergens and safety

Possible reactions in individuals allergic to bee products or with asthma/atopy—use prudently and label correctly. For cosmetics, consider individual sensitivity and adequate preservation.

INCI functions in cosmetics

Typical entries: Royal Jelly Powder; Royal Jelly Extract; Hydrolyzed Royal Jelly.
Roles: skin conditioning, humectant/hydrating, soothing, nutrient.

Troubleshooting

Caking/agglomeration: moisture uptake → improve barrier, use desiccants, sieve before use.
Yellowing/rancidity: light/oxygen/temperature → opaque packs, protective atmosphere, suitable technical antioxidants.
Loss of activity: non-optimal pH or excess heat → process cold, keep solutions acidic.
Lot-to-lot variability: season/colony nutrition → tighten specs on 10-HDA, MRJP, and sensory profile.

Sustainability and supply chain

Responsible apiculture with attention to colony welfare and biodiversity; ethical harvest and full traceability. In-plant: water/energy efficiency, effluent management to BOD/COD targets; recyclable packaging and controlled temperature/humidity logistics.

Conclusion

Freeze-dried royal jelly is a stable, concentrated form of fresh royal jelly whose distinctive composition (MRJP proteins and specific fatty acids such as 10-HDA) supports broad applications in foods, supplements, and cosmetics. Performance and stability hinge on raw-material quality, analytical standardization, and control of light/oxygen/humidity and pH.

Mini-glossary

MRJP — Major royal jelly proteins: signature protein class of royal jelly.
10-HDA — 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid: royal-jelly-specific fatty acid; quality marker.
EtOH — Ethanol: hydroalcoholic co-solvent; relevant for labeling if residual.
HPLC — High-performance liquid chromatography: quantitative analysis of markers (e.g., 10-HDA) and profiles.
GC–MS — Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry: authentication/volatiles and anti-fraud testing.
aw — Water activity: “free” water fraction linked to stability and microbiology.
RH — Relative humidity: control for powder stability.
DO — Dissolved oxygen: lowering it limits oxidation.
GMP/HACCP — Good manufacturing practice / hazard analysis and critical control points: preventive quality systems with defined CCP.
BOD/COD — Biochemical/chemical oxygen demand: effluent organic-load indicators.
FIFO — First in, first out: stock rotation prioritizing older lots.

References__________________________________________________________________________

Oršolić N, Jazvinšćak Jembrek M. Royal Jelly: Biological Action and Health Benefits. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 May 30;25(11):6023. doi: 10.3390/ijms25116023. PMID: 38892209; 

Abstract. Royal jelly (RJ) is a highly nutritious natural product with great potential for use in medicine, cosmetics, and as a health-promoting food. This bee product is a mixture of important compounds, such as proteins, vitamins, lipids, minerals, hormones, neurotransmitters, flavonoids, and polyphenols, that underlie the remarkable biological and therapeutic activities of RJ. Various bioactive molecules like 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), antibacterial protein, apisin, the major royal jelly proteins, and specific peptides such as apisimin, royalisin, royalactin, apidaecin, defensin-1, and jelleins are characteristic ingredients of RJ. RJ shows numerous physiological and pharmacological properties, including vasodilatory, hypotensive, antihypercholesterolaemic, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging, neuroprotective, antimicrobial, estrogenic, anti-allergic, anti-osteoporotic, and anti-tumor effects. Moreover, RJ may reduce menopause symptoms and improve the health of the reproductive system, liver, and kidneys, and promote wound healing. This article provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of RJ in various diseases, aging, and aging-related complications, with special emphasis on the bioactive components of RJ and their health-promoting properties. The data presented should be an incentive for future clinical studies that hopefully will advance our knowledge about the therapeutic potential of RJ and facilitate the development of novel RJ-based therapeutic opportunities for improving human health and well-being.

Collazo N, Carpena M, Nuñez-Estevez B, Otero P, Simal-Gandara J, Prieto MA. Health Promoting Properties of Bee Royal Jelly: Food of the Queens. Nutrients. 2021 Feb 7;13(2):543. doi: 10.3390/nu13020543. 

Abstract. Royal jelly (RJ) demand is growing every year and so is the market for functional foods in general. RJ is formed by different substances, mainly carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, but also vitamins, minerals, and phenolic or volatile compounds in lower proportion. Major royal jelly proteins (MRJP) are, together with 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), key substances of RJ due to their different biological properties. In particular, 10-HDA is a unique substance in this product. RJ has been historically employed as health enhancer and is still very relevant in China due to the traditional medicine and the apitherapy. Nowadays, it is mainly consumed as a functional food or is found in supplements and other formulations for its health-beneficial properties. Within these properites, anti-lipidemic, antioxidant, antiproliferative, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiaging, and estrogenic activities have been reported for RJ or its specific components. This manuscript is aimed at reviewing the current knowledge on RJ components, their assessment in terms of authenticity, their biological activities, and related health applications.

Kudłacik-Kramarczyk S, Krzan M, Jamroży M, Przybyłowicz A, Drabczyk A. Exploring the Potential of Royal-Jelly-Incorporated Hydrogel Dressings as Innovative Wound Care Materials. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 May 14;24(10):8738. doi: 10.3390/ijms24108738. Erratum in: Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Apr 12;25(8):4280. doi: 10.3390/ijms25084280. 

Abstract. The development of multifunctional dressing materials with beneficial properties for wound healing has become a recent focus of research. Many studies are being conducted to incorporate active substances into dressings to positively impact wound healing processes. Researchers have investigated various natural additives, including plant extracts and apiproducts such as royal jelly, to enhance the properties of dressings. In this study, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-based hydrogel dressings modified with royal jelly were developed and analyzed for their sorption ability, wettability, surface morphology, degradation, and mechanical properties. The results showed that the royal jelly and crosslinking agent content had an impact on the physicochemical properties of the hydrogels and their potential for use as innovative dressing materials. This study investigated the swelling behavior, surface morphology, and mechanical properties of hydrogel materials containing royal jelly. The majority of the tested materials showed a gradual increase in swelling ratio with time. The pH of the incubated fluids varied depending on the type of fluid used, with distilled water having the greatest decrease in pH due to the release of organic acids from the royal jelly. The hydrogel samples had a relatively homogeneous surface, and no dependence between composition and surface morphology was observed. Natural additives like royal jelly can modify the mechanical properties of hydrogels, increasing their elongation percentage while decreasing their tensile strength. These findings suggest possible future applications in various fields requiring high flexibility and elasticity.

Kurek-Górecka A, Górecki M, Rzepecka-Stojko A, Balwierz R, Stojko J. Bee Products in Dermatology and Skin Care. Molecules. 2020 Jan 28;25(3):556. doi: 10.3390/molecules25030556.

Abstract. Honey, propolis, bee pollen, bee bread, royal jelly, beeswax and bee venom are natural products which have been used in medicine since ancient times. Nowadays, studies indicate that natural bee products can be used for skin treatment and care. Biological properties of these products are related to flavonoids they contain like: chrysin, apigenin, kaempferol, quercetin, galangin, pinocembrin or naringenin. Several pharmacological activities of phenolic acids and flavonoids, and also 10-hydroxy-trans-2-decenoic acid, which is present in royal jelly, have been reported. Royal jelly has multitude of pharmacological activities: antibiotic, antiinflammatory, antiallergenic, tonic and antiaging. Honey, propolis and pollen are used to heal burn wounds, and they possess numerous functional properties such as: antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, disinfectant, antifungal and antiviral. Beeswax is used for production of cosmetics and ointments in pharmacy. Due to a large number of biological activities, bee products could be considered as important ingredients in medicines and cosmetics applied to skin.

Sugiyama T, Takahashi K, Mori H. Royal jelly acid, 10-hydroxy-trans-2-decenoic acid, as a modulator of the innate immune responses. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2012 Dec;12(4):368-76. doi: 10.2174/187153012803832530. 

Abstract. Royal jelly is a food for queen and larvae honeybees. 10-Hydroxy-trans-2-decenoic acid (10H2DA; "royal jelly acid") is the principal lipid component in royal jelly. Several pharmacological activities of 10H2DA have been reported: anti-tumor, anti-biotic, immunomodulatory, estrogenic and neurogenic. We recently revealed an inhibitory effect of 10H2DA in innate immune signals. Despite appreciable advances in studies on innate immune signals after the identification of Toll-like receptors as innate immune receptors, few studies have reported the effect of 10H2DA on innate immune signals. In this review, we focus on recent advances in the evaluation of the biological activities of 10H2DA (especially immunomodulatory activities). We also discuss the molecular mechanisms underpinning these biological activities, which could lead to new therapeutic targets for the treatment of immune disorders.

Li S, Tao L, Yu X, Zheng H, Wu J, Hu F. Royal Jelly Proteins and Their Derived Peptides: Preparation, Properties, and Biological Activities. J Agric Food Chem. 2021 Dec 8;69(48):14415-14427. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c05942. 

Abstract. Royal jelly, also called bee milk, is a source of high-quality proteins. Royal jelly proteins serve as not only a rich source of essential amino acids and functional donors but also an excellent substrate for preparing bioactive peptides. Most naturally occurring bioactive peptides in royal jelly are antibacterial, while peptides derived from proteolytic reactions are shown to exert antihypertensive, antioxidative, and anti-aging activities. Further studies are warranted to characterize the functional properties of major royal jelly proteins and peptides, to explore the preparation of bioactive peptides and the potential novel activities, to improve their bioavailability, to enhance the production efficiency for commercial availability, and finally to open up new applications for royal jelly as a functional food and potential therapeutic agent.

Moriyama M, Miyake Y, Okumura N, Moriyama H. Royal Jelly Maintains Epidermal Stem Cell Properties by Repressing Senescence. Biol Pharm Bull. 2024;47(12):2041-2049. doi: 10.1248/bpb.b24-00607.

Abstract. Royal jelly (RJ), a natural product secreted by honeybees, is widely used in topical skincare products to help maintain cutaneous homeostasis. Despite its popularity, the mechanism through which RJ exerts its effects on the skin has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to explore the impact of RJ on the proliferative ability and senescence of human primary epidermal keratinocytes (HPEKs). Our data suggested that epidermal equivalents became thicker with more p63-expressing proliferative cells upon RJ addition to the culture medium. In a two-dimensional culture system, we evaluated the effect of RJ on the proliferation of HPEKs and observed only a slight increase in cell proliferation. This suggests that RJ does not significantly enhance the proliferation of HPEKs in the short term. However, long-term culture experiments demonstrated enhanced population doubling in the RJ-treated group, indicating that RJ inhibits senescence. RJ was found to suppress cellular senescence by modulating the expression levels of ΔNp63, p16, and p21. These results were further supported by the identification of major fatty acids, such as 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, in RJ. Our findings indicate that RJ can maintain epidermal stem cell properties by repressing cellular senescence, providing insights into its mechanism of action in skincare applications.