Skip to main content

Positive Influence of Honey on Human Health

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Therapeutic Applications of Honey and its Phytochemicals

Abstract

Use of honey is advocated by the people of all religions, traditions, and cultural beliefs, and it is one of the most valued natural products owing to its nutritional and medicinal properties. Honey is known to be the rich in sugars, phenolic compounds, free organic acids, and enzymes. It also contains lipids, amino acids, trace elements, vitamins, and few toxic compounds. It has been known to exert neuroprotective, cardioprotective, gastroprotective, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. This chapter focusses on the positive influence of honey on human health and the mechanisms involved in the same. It also sheds light on the chemical composition and the ongoing clinical trials on honey.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ab Wahab SZ, Hussain NHN, Zakaria R, Kadir AA, Mohamed N, Tohit NM, Norhayati MN, Hassan II (2018) Long-term effects of honey on cardiovascular parameters and anthropometric measurements of postmenopausal women. Complement Therap Med 41:154–160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdulrhman MA (2016) Honey as a sole treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Endocrinol Metab Syndr 5:2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Afroz R, Tanvir EM, Zheng W, Little PJ (2016) Molecular pharmacology of honey. Clin Exp Pharmacol 6:3

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad RS, Hussain MB, Saeed F, Waheed M, Tufail T (2017) Phytochemistry, metabolism, and ethnomedical scenario of honey: a concurrent review. Int J Food Prop 20(sup1):S254–S269

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed S, Othman NH (2013) Honey as a potential natural anticancer agent: a review of its mechanisms. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2013:829070

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed S, Othman NH (2017) The anti-cancer effects of Tualang honey in modulating breast carcinogenesis: an experimental animal study. BMC Complement Altern Med 17(1):208

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmed S, Sulaiman SA, Baig AA, Ibrahim M, Liaqat S, Fatima S, Jabeen S, Shamim N, Othman NH (2018) Honey as a potential natural antioxidant medicine: an insight into its molecular mechanisms of action. Oxid Med Cell Longev 18:8367846

    Google Scholar 

  • Ajibola A, Chamunorwa JP, Erlwanger KH (2012) Nutraceutical values of natural honey and its contribution to human health and wealth. Nutr Metab 9(1):61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akhtar MS, Khan MS (1989) Glycaemic responses to three different honeys given to normal and alloxan-diabetic rabbits. J Pak Med Assoc 39(4):107–113

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Waili N, Salom K, Al-Ghamdi A, Ansari MJ, Al-Waili A, Al-Waili T (2013) Honey and cardiovascular risk factors, in normal individuals and in patients with diabetes mellitus or dyslipidemia. J Med Food 16(12):1063–1078

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ali AM, Kunugi H (2019) Bee honey protects astrocytes against oxidative stress: a preliminary in vitro investigation. Neuropsychopharmacol Rep 39(4):312–314

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Almasaudi SB, El-Shitany NA, Abbas AT, Abdel-dayem UA, Ali SS, Al Jaouni SK, Harakeh S (2016) Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiulcer potential of manuka honey against gastric ulcer in rats. Oxidative Med Cell Longev 2016:3643824

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anand S, Deighton M, Livanos G et al (2019) Agastache honey has superior antifungal activity in comparison with important commercial honeys. Sci Rep 9:18197

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Azman KF, Zakaria R, Othman Z, Aziz CBA (2018) Neuroprotective effects of Tualang honey against oxidative stress and memory decline in young and aged rats exposed to noise stress. J Taibah Univ Sci 12(3):273–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bobiş O, Dezmirean DS, Moise AR (2018) Honey and diabetes: the importance of natural simple sugars in diet for preventing and treating different type of diabetes. Oxidative Med Cell Longev 2018:4757893

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bogdanov S, Jurendic T, Sieber R, Gallmann P (2008) Honey for nutrition and health: a review. Am J Coll Nutr 27:677–689

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bogdanov S et al (2016) Bee product science. www.bee-hexagon.net. Accessed 5 May 2011

  • Bukhari MH, Khalil J, Qamar S, Qamar Z, Zahid M, Ansari N, Bakhshi IM (2011) Comparative gastroprotective effects of natural honey, Nigella sativa and cimetidine against acetylsalicylic acid induced gastric ulcer in albino rats. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak JCPSP 21(3):151–156

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chan CW (2014) Does honey improve cough symptoms in children with upper respiratory tract infections? Malays Fam Physician 9(2):53–54

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Curran CS, Bolig T, Torabi-Parizi P (2018) Mechanisms and targeted therapies for Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection. Am J Crit Care Med 197(6):708–727

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Czipa N, Phillips CJC, Kovacs B (2019) Composition of acacia honeys following processing, storage and adulteration. J Food Sci Technol 56(3):1245–1255

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Da Silva PM, Gauche C, Gonzaga LV, Costa ACO, Fett R (2016) Honey: chemical composition, stability and authenticity. Food Chem 196:309–323

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ediriweera ERHSS, Premarathna NYS (2012) Medicinal and cosmetic uses of bee’s honey—a review. Ayu 33(2):178–182

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • El-Kased RF (2016) Natural antibacterial remedy for respiratory tract infections. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 6(3):270–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erejuwa OO, Sulaiman SA, Wahab MS (2014) Effects of honey and its mechanisms of action on the development and progression of cancer. Molecules 19(2):2497–2522

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fazalda A, Quraisiah A, Azlina MFN (2018) Antiulcer effect of honey in nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs induced gastric ulcer model in rats: a systematic review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2018:7515692

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Gairola A, Tiwari P, Tiwari JK (2013) Physico-chemical properties of Apis cerana—indica F. honey from Uttarkashi District of Uttarakhand, India. J Global Biosci 2(1):20–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghapanchi J, Moattari A, Tadbir AA, Talatof Z, Shahidi SP, Ebrahimi H (2011) The in vitro anti-viral activity of honey on type 1 herpes simplex virus. Aust J Basic Appl Sci 5(12):849–852

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gharzouli K, Amira S, Gharzouli A, Khennouf S (2002) Gastroprotective effects of honey and glucose-fructose-sucrose-maltose mixture against ethanol-, indomethacin-, and acidified aspirin-induced lesions in the rat. Exp Toxicol Pathol 54(3):217–222

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hack-Gil C, Myung-Kyoo H, Jae-Gil K (1988) The chemical composition of Korean honey. Korean J Food Sci Technol 20:631–636

    Google Scholar 

  • Hadagali MD, Chua LS (2014) The anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties of honey. Eur Food Res Technol 239:1003–1014

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hashemipour MA, Tavakolineghad Z, Arabzadeh SA, Iranmanesh Z, Nassab SA (2014) Antiviral activities of honey, royal jelly, and acyclovir against HSV-1. Wounds 26(2):47–54

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Header EA, Hashish AE, ElSawy NA, Alkhushi AG (2016) Gastroprotective effect of dietary honey against acetylsalicylate induced experimental ulcer in albino rat. Life Sci J 13(1):42–47

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hermosı́n I, Chicón RM, Dolores Cabezudo M (2003) Free amino acid composition and botanical origin of honey. Food Chem 83(2):263–268

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hills SP, Mitchell P, Wells C, Russell M (2019) Honey supplementation and exercise: a systematic review. Nutrients 11(7):1586

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT00615420

  • https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT01262560

  • https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT01554566

  • https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT02259491

  • https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT02300792

  • https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT02486835

  • https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT02987322

  • https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT03218696

  • https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT03391310

  • https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT03641053

  • https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT03816618

  • https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/results/NCT03567395

  • https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000044659

  • Irish J, Dee A (2006) Carter, Tahereh Shokohi, Shona E. Blair, honey has an antifungal effect against Candida species. Med Mycol 44(3):289–291

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • James OO, Mesubi MA, Usman LA, Yeye SO, Ajanaku KO, Ogunniran KO, Ajani OO, Siyanbola TO (2009) Physical characterisation of some honey samples North-Central Nigeria. Int J Phys Sci 4(9):464–470

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kamaruzaman NA, Sulaiman SA, Kaur G, Yahaya B (2014) Inhalation of honey reduces airway inflammation and histopathological changes in a rabbit model of ovalbumin-induced chronic asthma. BMC Complement Altern Med 14:176

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Khalil MI, Sulaiman SA (2010) The potential role of honey and its polyphenols in preventing heart diseases: a review. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med 7(4):315–321

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Khemchand S, Chinky G, Deepchand P (2015) Critical review on Madhu W.S.R. to honey. Int J Ayur Pharm Res 3(9):75–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim HN, Son KH, Jeong HJ, Park SB, Kim JD, Jeong JB (2018) Anti-inflammatory activity of Acacia honey through inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK/ATF2 signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Korean J Plant Resour 31(6):612–621

    Google Scholar 

  • Machado De-Melo AA, Almeida-Muradian LB, de Sancho MT, Pascual-Maté A (2017) Composition and properties of Apis mellifera honey: a review. J Apic Res 57(1):5–37

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mama M, Teshome T, Detamo J (2019) Antibacterial activity of honey against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a laboratory-based experimental study. Int J Microbiol 2019:7686130

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mandal MD, Mandal S (2011) Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 1(2):154–160

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Meo SA, Ahmad Al-Asiri S, Mahesar AL, Ansari MJ (2017) Role of honey in modern medicine. Saudi J Biol Sci 24(5):975–978

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miguel MG, Antunes MD, Faleiro ML (2017) Honey as a complementary medicine. Integr Med Insights 12:1178633717702869

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Moussa A, Noureddine D, Saad A, Abdelmelek M, Abdelkader B (2012) Antifungal activity of four honeys of different types from Algeria against pathogenic yeast: Candida albicans and Rhodotorula sp. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2(7):554–557

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Othman NH (2012a) Does honey have the characteristics of natural cancer vaccine? J Tradit Complement Med 2(4):276–283

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Othman NH (2012b) Honey and cancer: sustainable inverse relationship particularly for developing nations—a review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2012:410406

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Othman Z, Zakaria R, Hussain NHN et al (2015) Potential role of honey in learning and memory. Med Sci (Basel) 3(2):3–15

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ozhan H, Akdemir R, Yazici M, Gündüz H, Duran S, Uyan C (2004) Cardiac emergencies caused by honey ingestion: a single centre experience. Emerg Med J 21(6):742–744

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Paul IM, Beiler J, McMonagle A, Shaffer ML, Duda L, Berlin CM Jr (2007) Effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and no treatment on nocturnal cough and sleep quality for coughing children and their parents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 161(12):1140–1146

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Porcza LM, Simms C, Chopra M (2016) Honey and cancer: current status and future directions. Diseases 4(4):30

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Przybylowski P, Wilczynska A (2001) Honey as an environmental marker. Food Chem 74:289–291

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts AEL, Powell LC, Pritchard MF, Thomas DW, Jenkins RE (2019) Anti-pseudomonad activity of manuka honey and antibiotics in a specialized ex vivo model simulating cystic fibrosis lung infection. Front Microbiol 10:869

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz JCR, Basto AJB, Escoffie PA, Campos MRS (2017) Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of phenolic compounds isolated from Melipona beecheii honey. Food Agric Immunol 28(6):1424–1437

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sairazi MNS, Sirajudeen KNS, Asari MA, Mummedy S, Muzaimi M, Sulaiman SA (2017) Effect of tualang honey against KA-induced oxidative stress and neurodegeneration in the cortex of rats. BMC Complement Altern Med 17(1):31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Samarghandian S, Farkhondeh T, Samini F (2017) Honey and health: a review of recent clinical research. Pharm Res 9(2):121–127

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santos-Buelga C, González-Paramás AM (2017) Chemical composition of honey. Bee Prod Chem Biol Prop:43–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Shahzad A, Cohrs RJ (2012) In vitro antiviral activity of honey against varicella zoster virus (VZV): a translational medicine study for potential remedy for shingles. Transl Biomed 3(2):2

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Subramanian R, Umesh Hebbar H, Rastogi NK (2007) Processing of honey: a review. Int J Food Prop 10(1):127–143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomblin V, Ferguson LR, Han DY, Murray P, Schlothauer R (2014) Potential pathway of anti-inflammatory effect by New Zealand honeys. Int J Gen Med 7:149–158

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Tsang KK, Kwong EW, Woo KY, To TS, Chung JW, Wong TK (2015) The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial action of nanocrystalline silver and Manuka honey on the molecular alternation of diabetic foot ulcer: a comprehensive literature review. Evid Based Complement Altern Med 2015:218283

    Google Scholar 

  • Vallianou NG, Gounari P, Skourtis A, Panagos J, Kazazis C (2014) Honey and its anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant properties. Gen Med (Los Angel) 2:132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White JW Jr (1978) Honey. Adv Food Res 24:288

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Kala, C., Taleuzzaman, M., Gilani, S.J., Imam, S.S., Ali, S.S. (2020). Positive Influence of Honey on Human Health. In: Rehman, M.U., Majid, S. (eds) Therapeutic Applications of Honey and its Phytochemicals . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6799-5_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics