Honey and Its Phenolic Compounds as an Effective Natural Medicine for Cardiovascular Diseases in Humans?

Abstract

Honey is a sweet, viscous syrup produced by the honey bee (Apis mellifera). It is probably the first natural sweetener ever discovered, and is currently used as a nutritious food supplement and medicinal agent. The aim of the present mini-review is to summarize and update the current knowledge regarding the role of honey in CVDs based on various experimental models. It also describes the role of its phenolic compounds in treating CVDs. Many such phenolic and flavonoid compounds, including quercetin, kaempferol, apigenin, and caffeic acid, have antioxidant and anti-platelet potential, and hence may ameliorate cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) through various mechanisms, such as by decreasing oxidative stress and inhibiting blood platelet activation. However, as the phenolic content of a particular type of honey is not always known, it can be difficult to determine whether any observed effects on the human cardiovascular system may be associated with the consumption of honey or its constituents. Therefore, further experiments in this area are needed.

Bioactive Compounds from Germinated Brown Rice Protect Cardiomyocytes Against Simulated Ischemic/Reperfusion Injury by Ameliorating Mitochondrial Dysfunction

“…The study in honey’s beneficial natural therapeutic effect on cardiovascular diseases has suggested that phenolic and flavonoid components potentially provided antioxidant and anti-platelet activation. 41 A similar suggestion has been reported by Daskalova et al They found that phenolic compounds in berry showed antioxidant properties, anti-atherogenic effects, and cardioprotective effects in aging rats. 42 A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies had revealed a positive correlation between higher consumption of flavonoids and lower risk of mortality in cardiovascular diseases both in men and women.…”

Germinated Brown Rice Protects H9c2 Cardiomyocyte against Simulated Ischemic/Reperfusion Injury via Mediated Mitochondria Function

“…Initially, previous observations have raised the possibility that GBR administration demonstrated a positive association with risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and GBR due to its bioactive compounds. The study in the effective natural therapeutic of honey on cardiovascular diseases has suggested that phenolic and flavonoid components potentially provided antioxidant and anti-platelet activation(Olas, 2020). Similar suggestion has been reported by Daskalova et al They found that phenolic compounds in berry showed the antioxidant properties, anti-atherogenic effects, as well as, cardioprotective effects in aging rats(Daskalova et al, 2015).…”

Polyphenols in the Mediterranean Diet: From Dietary Sources to microRNA Modulation

“…As for almost all polyphenols, the main problem is bioavailability, although many studies have used orange juice and not extracts or the molecule as it is; for this reason, different strategies are evaluated to make the molecule more bioavailable, as the doses that should be drawn from in vitro or in vivo studies should be between 25 and 50 mg per kg of body weight [ 123 , 124 ], even if some studies seem to confirm an absorption or at least a retention by the microbiota, with consequent beneficial action on it, with doses ranging from 200 to 500 mg [ 125 , 126 , 127 ]. In a case report by Murugesan et al, an improvement in insulin sensitivity is reported with an orange juice dosage of 150 mg naringenin for eight weeks [ 128 ]. In one of the few human studies 48 postmenopausal women took 210 mg of naringenin from grapefruit juice for 6 months, showing a clear benefit on arterial stiffness [ 129 ].…”