Honey’s Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties: A Bibliometric Study

Abstract

Research attention has been drawn to honey’s nutritional status and beneficial properties for human health. This study aimed to provide a bibliometric analysis of honey’s antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The research advancements within this field from 2001 to 2022 were addressed using the Scopus database, R, and VOSviewer. Of the 383 results, articles (273) and reviews (81) were the most common document types, while the annual growth rate of published manuscripts reached 17.5%. The most relevant topics about honey’s antimicrobial and antioxidant properties were related to the agricultural and biological sciences, biochemistry, and pharmacology. According to a keyword analysis, the most frequent terms in titles, abstracts, and keywords were honey, antimicrobial, antioxidant, bee, propolis, phenolic compounds, wound, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and polyphenols. A trend topic analysis showed that the research agenda mainly encompassed antioxidants, pathogens, and anti-infection and chemical agents. In a co-occurrence analysis, antioxidants, anti-infection agents, and chemistry were connected to honey research. The initial research focus of this domain was primarily on honey’s anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic activity, wound healing, and antibacterial agents. The research agenda was enriched in the subsequent years by pathogens, propolis, oxidative stress, and flavonoids. It was possible to pinpoint past trends and ongoing developments and provide a valuable insight into the field of honey research.

The Antioxidant Capacity of Monofloral Eucalyptus Flower Honey and Weed Honey Obtained from Jerash and Al-Zarqa Jordanian Governorates

“…It also prevents chronic inflammatory conditions, such as atherosclerosis. [13][14][15] In this study, the antioxidant activities of different honey types collected from two different areas in Jordan were determined (Figure 1). To assess the antioxidant capacity of honey samples; the total phenolic contents, free radicals scavenging activity, and reducing power were evaluated.…”

Current Trends and Technological Advancements in the Study of Honey Bee-Derived Peptides with an Emphasis on State-of-the-Art Approaches: A Review

“…The naturally occurring antibacterial agents abaecin, defensin-1, apidaecin, and hymenoptaeci are all included in these bee peptides. Additionally, honey incorporates bee pollen into its composition [81,82].…”

“…It serves as a crucial component of the immune system, safeguarding against harmful pathogens [85,86]. Additionally, defensin-1 exhibits antioxidant properties by effectively neutralizing free radicals and preventing oxidative stress-related damage [38,81]. Studies have demonstrated that defensin-1 plays a role in enhancing the antioxidant capacity of honey and other products derived from bees [81].…”

Bio-functional properties and phytochemical composition of selected Apis mellifera honey from Africa

“…Globally, intensive research on antimicrobial (against antibiotic susceptible and resistant bacterial strains in humans) and antioxidant properties of honey including its bioactive chemical constituents has been carried out in Asia, Europe, and America, with Africa still lagging [ 14 ]; albeit a high number of endemic and medicinal plant species reported in the African continent when compared to others [ 15 ]. It is not fully understood how these biological activities together with the phytochemical constituents vary among different African honeys, and how they compare with those of the highly valued Manuka honey.…”