Is honey able to potentiate the antioxidant and cytotoxic properties of medicinal plants consumed as infusions for hepatoprotective effects?

Abstract

aDue to the enormous variety of phytochemicals present in plants, their extracts have been used for centuries in the treatment of innumerable diseases, being perceived as an invaluable source of medicines for humans. Furthermore, the combination of different plants was reported as inducing an improved effect (synergism) in comparison with the additive activity of the plants present in those mixtures. Nevertheless, information regarding the effects of plant infusions added with honey is still rather scarce. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction between chestnut honey, a natural product with wellreported beneficial properties, and three medicinal plants (either as a single plant or as combinations of two and three plants), with regard to their antioxidant activity and hepatotoxicity. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by comparing the results from four different assays; hepatotoxicity was assessed in two different cell lines. Results were compared by analysis of variance and linear discriminant analysis. The addition of honey to the infusions had a beneficial result in both cases, producing a synergistic effect in all samples, except β-carotene bleaching inhibition for artichoke + milk thistle + honey preparation and also preparations with lower hepatotoxicity, except in the case of artichoke + honey. Moreover, from the discriminant linear analysis output, it became obvious that the effect of honey addition overcame that resulting from using single plant or mixed plant based infusions. Also, the enhanced antioxidant activity of infusions containing honey was confirmed by lower hepatotoxicity.

Addition of Honey to an Apple and Passion Fruit Mixed Beverage Improves Its Phenolic Compound Profile

“…Comparing all the HMB, the beverage with the added eucalyptus honey showed the lowest AA, as evaluated by all assays. In accordance with our study, other authors reported an increase in the DPPH values of teas [22] and infusions [38] with added honey. Increases in the FRAP values of infusions with added honey and in the TEAC values of tea with added honey are also reported in the literature [39].…”

“…of teas [22] and infusions [38] with added honey. Increases in the FRAP values of infusions with added honey and in the TEAC values of tea with added honey are also reported in the literature [39].…”

A Review of the Health Benefits of Food Enriched with Kynurenic Acid

“…When administered topically, it improves skin wound healing and the healing of corneal alkali burns [ 130 , 131 ]. Other effects described based on in vitro studies and biochemical analyses are summarized in Table S14 [ 132 , 133 , 134 , 135 , 136 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 ]. It should be noted that many of the reported effects of chestnut honey parallel those of KYNA.…”

Trends in Honey Purchase and Consumption in Trás-Os-Montes Region, Portugal.

“…Due to its constituents, honey is known for its pharmacological activity, namely, antidiabetic (honey is an excellent substitute for sugar, especially for patients with diabetes) [8,9]; antitumor [9]; antibacterial and antimicrobial [9,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16]; antifungal [11,12]; diuretic and metabolic (honey increases the metabolism of alcohol in the blood). Furthermore, it has the following pharmacological characteristic; immunomodulatory [12,17]; antioxidant [9,14,[18][19][20]; anti-inflammatory and dermatological (honey not only inhibits bacteria, but provides a physical barrier impermeable between the wound and the bacteria, favouring the healing of wounds, burns and minimizing the effects of various skin diseases) [15,16,19,21].…”