Bee Bread as a Promising Source of Bioactive Molecules and Functional Properties: An Up-To-Date Review

Abstract

Bee bread is a natural product obtained from the fermentation of bee pollen mixed with bee saliva and flower nectar inside the honeycomb cells of a hive. Bee bread is considered a functional product, having several nutritional virtues and various bioactive molecules with curative or preventive effects. This paper aims to review current knowledge regarding the chemical composition and medicinal properties of bee bread, evaluated in vitro and in vivo, and to highlight the benefits of the diet supplementation of bee bread for human health. Bee bread extracts (distilled water, ethanol, methanol, diethyl ether, and ethyl acetate) have been proven to have antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and antitumoral activities, and they can also inhibit α-amylase and angiotensin I-converting enzyme in vitro. More than 300 compounds have been identified in bee bread from different countries around the world, such as free amino acids, sugars, fatty acids, minerals, organic acids, polyphenols, and vitamins. In vivo studies have revealed the efficiency of bee bread in relieving several pathological cases, such as hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress.

Therapeutic Benefits and Dietary Restrictions of Fiber Intake: A State of the Art Review

“…Honey is also a potential source of prebiotic components as well as other bee products (bee-pollen [59], bee-bread [60], propolis [61], etc.). Honey oligosaccharides have a potential prebiotic activity by stimulating the growth of beneficial microorganisms (Lactobacillus sp.…”

New Insights into Potential Beneficial Effects of Bioactive Compounds of Bee Products in Boosting Immunity to Fight COVID-19 Pandemic: Focus on Zinc and Polyphenols

“…It has been proved that bee venom acupuncture is effective in musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain, neuropsychiatric disorders, immunological diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s, and skin diseases [ 101 , 102 ]. Similarly, it has been documented that bee pollen and bee bread can regulate ovarian functions, prevent obesity, and ameliorate blood sugar levels [ 103 , 104 ].…”

Anadolu Arı Ekmeklerinin Fizikokimyasal ve Kimyasal Özelliklerine Dayalı Temel Bileşen Analizi ile Karakterizasyonu

“…The therapeutic properties of bee bread samples such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic activities were reported in the literature (Bakour et al, 2022;Mohammad et al, 2020;Nagai et al, 2004;Urcan et al, 2017;Pełka et al, 2021). The chemical compositions of bee bread from worldwide were also studied by many authors (Adaškevičiūtė et al, 2019;Bakour et al, 2019;Dranca et al, 2020;Ivanišová et al 2015;Mohammad et al, 2020;Sobral et al, 2017;Urcan et al, 2018;Zuluaga et al, 2015).…”

“…Bee bread (perga) is also a unique bee product which is poorly known until a few years ago due to the difficulties in collecting (Bakour et al, 2022). However, the appropriate collecting methods that beekeepers could perform without destroying the hive were improved.…”

“…The mixture is subjected to lactic acid fermentation and becomes bee bread in about two weeks. As a fermented product, it is kept with a thin layer of honey and bee wax (Bakour et al, 2022).…”