Tualang Honey: A Decade of Neurological Research

Abstract

Tualang honey has been shown to protect against neurodegeneration, leading to improved memory/learning as well as mood. In addition, studies have also demonstrated its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, a substantial part of this research lacks systematization, and there seems to be a tendency to start anew with every study. This review presents a decade of research on Tualang honey with a particular interest in the underlying mechanisms related to its effects on the central nervous system. A total of 28 original articles published between 2011 and 2020 addressing the central nervous system (CNS) effects of Tualang honey were analysed. We identified five main categories, namely nootropic, antinociceptive, stress-relieving, antidepressant, and anxiolytic effects of Tualang honey, and proposed the underlying mechanisms. The findings from this review may potentially be beneficial towards developing new therapeutic roles for Tualang honey and help in determining how best to benefit from this brain supplement.

Honey on brain health: A promising brain booster

“…Furthermore, when compared to stressed ovariectomized rats that treated, honey treatments increased hippocampus CA2, CA3, and Some of the phenolic and flavonoid compounds found in honey (Biluca et al, 2017;Azman et al, 2021). 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1092596 Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 04 frontiersin.org dentate gyrus (DG) area neuronal proliferation and boosted short-and long-term memory.…”

“…The majority of honey’s health benefits have been anecdotal, based on observations and generalizations with no scientific evidence. However, there has been a renewed interest in exploring honey’s potential health benefits in the previous decade ( Azman et al, 2021 ). Honey is used not only as a nutritional product but also in health as a supplement.…”

“… Some of the phenolic and flavonoid compounds found in honey ( Biluca et al, 2017 ; Azman et al, 2021 ). …”

Tualang Honey: A Sweet Remedy

“…Upon treatment with Tualang honey, the histopathology of the spinal cord of these rats was found to exhibit normal multipolar neurons with clear cell boundaries and a regular-shaped nucleus. The Tualang honey-treated rats also displayed improvement in the activity of oxidative stress markers such as plasma glutathione, catalase, and malondialdehyde activity (Abd Aziz et al, 2019) which may benefit the pain-modulating structures in the central nervous system, including the spinal cord (Azman et al, 2021). Akanmu et al (2011) stated that the action of Tualang honey on opioid receptors in the spinal cord may contribute to the antinociceptive effects.…”

“…Likewise, the antioxidants in Tualang honey may have inhibited nociceptive transmission by interacting with the glutamate receptors in the central nervous system (Abd Aziz et. al., 2014;Azman et al, 2021).…”