Honey-based therapeutics: a comprehensive review of anticancer, antioxidant, and prognostic impacts in breast cancer treatment

Abstract

Background: Nowadays, breast cancer is one of the main causes of deaths among women worldwide. It represents a major challenge in healthcare systems. With the increasing rates of mortality and the adverse effects of conventional therapy, a prompt insight into honey-based therapeutics was crucial for developing new effective complementary and alternative medicine. As a natural product with its long history use in traditional medicine, honey has drawn the attention of thousands of scientists over the past few years for treating various types of cancers, particularly breast cancer. Its anticancer properties are mainly attributed to its complex composition and valuable phyto compounds. Methods: In this review, our study sheds light on honey-based therapeutics for their anticancer properties, antioxidant potency, and its prognosis impact in breast cancer patients referring to bibliographical data collected from 2020 to 2024. Discussion: Several studies unveiled the outstanding potential of honey to modulate apoptosis, immune response, and inflammation processes. Its healing powers could also be explained by its antioxidant potency and preventive effects against oxidative stress which often causes cancers. Similarly, its remarkable prognosis effects on breast cancer patients have been widely debated. Honey does not only improve the life quality of patients undergoing chemotherapy by reducing its side effects but also increases their survival rates. Conclusion: Honey represents a promising complementary therapy that could enhance the effectiveness of conventional breast cancer treatments.