Uses of Natural Honey in Cancer: An Updated Review

Abstract

Cancer was predicted as the leading cause of death and the most important obstacle to the increased life expectancy in the 21st century worldwide. The WHO estimated number of new cases of cancers in 2020 about 19 million, and this number is estimated to be more than 295,300,000 people up to 2040 (more than 55% increase during next 20 years). Standard treatments for cancer include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, all of these methods have dangerous side effects, so researchers are more interested in finding more novel and less risky therapies. In recent years, there has been a great deal of interest in the development of anticancer agents obtained from foods or natural products. The relative safety of natural and food-derived compounds makes them attractive alternatives to conventional cancer treatment drugs. As a result, the majority of people are adviced to use complementary and alternative medicine to treat and prevent cancer. In recent years, honey, as a natural product, has attracted many researchers' attention as an alternative to conventional anticancer drugs. Natural honey has long been used as a medicine and nutrient and its beneficial effects on various diseases in animal and human models have been studied. It was found that it has a wide range of therapeutic properties, including antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-fungal, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, antiarrhythmic, wound healing, and liver protection benefits. This article aimed to review the role of natural honey in the prevention and treatment of a number of important cancers and their subsequent complications.

Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Activities of Sidr Honey: In Vitro and In Silico Computational Investigation

“…Studies revealed that honey may exhibit chemopreventive and therapeutic effects against several cancer forms. Several investigations highlight that honey may display anticancer potential involving different molecular mechanisms, such as cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, and activation of mitochondrial pathways, with immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effect [ 3 , 50 , 51 , 52 ]. ZH has been widely investigated for its healing properties, especially against microbial infectious diseases [ 53 ].…”

Organic Honey from the Middle Atlas of Morocco: Physicochemical Parameters, Antioxidant Properties, Pollen Spectra, and Sugar Profiles

“…Honey is a fluid, pasty, or crystalized functional food collected by bees from blossom nectar or sweet deposits (honeydew) from living plants, which isthen modified and stored in honeycombs. Honey is used in the treatment of several debilitating diseases [ 1 , 2 ], mainly due to the attributes of its enzymes and polyphenolic compounds.…”

Comparison of the effectiveness of honey and vitamin C in inhibiting the occurrence of liver fibrosis and lipid peroxidation in biliary obstruction of Wistar Rats

“…The lipid peroxidation process is one of the markers of oxidative stress which includes the conversion of ROS into TGF-β and TNF-α that are thought to be the cause of liver fibrosis. 5 This process occurs in cell membranes composed of PUFA and includes the separation of hydrogen from carbon, then will be replaced by the entry of oxygen to produce radicals in the form of lipid peroxyl and hydroperoxide. 12 The focus of the study was to compare the effect of oral administration of honey and vitamin C in inhibiting the process of liver fibrosis and lipid peroxidation in the biliary obstruction condition of Wistar rats.…”

“…Honey is a by-product of flower nectar and the upper digestive tract of honey bees, which is concentrated through the dehydration process in the beehive. 5 Honey has bactericidal, bacteriostatic, antifungal, antiviral, scolicidal, antioxidant, antitumoral, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. The phenolic compounds of honey are phenolic acids and flavonoids, which act as antioxidants and hepatoprotective.…”