Knotweed Honey

[Fat Nancy]

Hi all it's been a long time since I've been here but I've been thinking a lot about Knotweed and figured I would ask a question. Since Resveratrol is derived from the roots of Japanese Knotweed, does any end up in the honey? I've read that bees treated with resveratrol live longer and have lower infection rates (see below as posted by Irwin Harlton)

Apidologie 39 (2008) 436-445
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2008022
Screening of natural compounds for the control of nosema disease in honeybees (Apis mellifera)
Lara Maistrello1, Marco Lodesani2, Cecilia Costa2, Francesco Leonardi1, Giovanna Marani1, Mauro Caldon3, Franco Mutinelli3 and Anna Granato3

1 Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e degli Alimenti, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, via G. Amendola 2, Area San Lazzaro - Pad. Besta,

42100 Reggio Emilia, Italy
2 Consiglio per la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in Agricoltura, Unità di Ricerca di Apicoltura e Bachicoltura (CRA-API, ex Istituto

Nazionale di Apicoltura), via di Saliceto 80, 40128 Bologna, Italy
3 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, viale dell'Università, 10, 35020 Legnaro (Padova), Italy

Received 16 July 2007 - Revised 18 January 2008 - Accepted 4 March 2008 - Published online 25 June 2008

Abstract - The potential of some natural compounds (thymol, vetiver essential oil, lysozyme, resveratrol) for the control of nosema infection

in honeybees was evaluated. A first trial aimed at screening substances, in candy preparations, on the basis of their toxicity to honeybees

and bees' dietary preferences. None of the tested substances showed an increased bee mortality or decreased bee preference, and were

therefore considered suitable for further testing. In the second trial the effects of the natural compounds on nosema diseased honeybees were

evaluated: bees were individually dosed with nosema spores and fed candies prepared with the screened substances. The results showed that

bees fed with thymol and resveratrol candies had significantly lower infection rates, and bees supplied with resveratrol prepared candy also

lived significantly longer. We suggest that thymol and resveratrol could be useful in alternative strategies for the control of nosema disease.

Anyway I was just wondering if anybody knew if resveratrol got in the honey(obvious potential health benefits and everything that goes with it!). Also wouldn't it be interesting to know what percentage of hives (if any) that suffered from CCD had Knotweed Honey in them.

Fat Nancy

[BaconStreetBees]

A couple of things come to mind. Substances in plant roots may not be present or in very small amounts in the rest of the plant. In nectar and pollen, they are even less likely.
Also, it appeared that resveratol was not tested alone but with thymol and that would complicate any conclusion about resveratol itself.
Finally, Knotweed is not so abundant that you would likey have pure knotweed honey.
Personally, there is quite a bit of Knotweed near my hives and I have had incidences of nosema.

[KDM]

This is the first year in a long time that i got a fall surplus. One hive got spanish nettle and aster. the other hive got knotweed With a little aster mix.
i don't know what medical benefit it has but it is very clear contrary to what i have read. Itis also called smartweed,peppergrass,& heartsease.

[Fat Nancy]

So I guess no one really knows if there is any resveratrol in honey obtained for Knotweed???