Abstract
In the long human tradition honey has been used not only as a nutrient but also as a medicine. Its composition is rather variable and depends on the floral source and on external factors, such as seasonal, environmental conditions and processing. In this review, specific attention is focused on absorption, metabolism, and beneficial biological activities of honey compounds in human. Honey is a supersaturated solution of sugars, mainly composed of fructose (38%) and glucose (31%), containing also minerals, proteins, free amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and polyphenols. Among polyphenols, flavonoids are the most abundant and are closely related to its biological functions. Honey positively affects risk factors for cardiovascular diseases by inhibiting inflammation, improving endothelial function, as well as the plasma lipid profile, and increasing low-density lipoprotein resistance to oxidation. Honey also displays an important antitumoral capacity, where polyphenols again are considered responsible for its complementary and overlapping mechanisms of chemopreventive activity in multistage carcinogenesis, by inhibiting mutagenesis or inducing apoptosis. Moreover, honey positively modulates the glycemic response by reducing blood glucose, serum fructosamine or glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations and exerts antibacterial properties caused by its consistent amount of hydrogen peroxide and non-peroxide factors as flavonoids, methylglyoxal and defensin-1 peptide. In conclusion, the evidence of the biological actions of honey can be ascribed to its polyphenolic contents which, in turn, are usually associated to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, as well as to its cardiovascular, antiproliferative and antimicrobial benefits.
Keywords: Antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial action, bioavailability, cancer, cardiovascular disease, honey, Human Chronic Diseases, inflammation, plasma lipid, lipoprotein resistance.
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title:Honey as a Source of Dietary Antioxidants: Structures, Bioavailability and Evidence of Protective Effects Against Human Chronic Diseases
Volume: 20 Issue: 5
Author(s): Josè M. Alvarez-Suarez, Francesca Giampieri and Maurizio Battino
Affiliation:
Keywords: Antioxidant capacity, antimicrobial action, bioavailability, cancer, cardiovascular disease, honey, Human Chronic Diseases, inflammation, plasma lipid, lipoprotein resistance.
Abstract: In the long human tradition honey has been used not only as a nutrient but also as a medicine. Its composition is rather variable and depends on the floral source and on external factors, such as seasonal, environmental conditions and processing. In this review, specific attention is focused on absorption, metabolism, and beneficial biological activities of honey compounds in human. Honey is a supersaturated solution of sugars, mainly composed of fructose (38%) and glucose (31%), containing also minerals, proteins, free amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and polyphenols. Among polyphenols, flavonoids are the most abundant and are closely related to its biological functions. Honey positively affects risk factors for cardiovascular diseases by inhibiting inflammation, improving endothelial function, as well as the plasma lipid profile, and increasing low-density lipoprotein resistance to oxidation. Honey also displays an important antitumoral capacity, where polyphenols again are considered responsible for its complementary and overlapping mechanisms of chemopreventive activity in multistage carcinogenesis, by inhibiting mutagenesis or inducing apoptosis. Moreover, honey positively modulates the glycemic response by reducing blood glucose, serum fructosamine or glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations and exerts antibacterial properties caused by its consistent amount of hydrogen peroxide and non-peroxide factors as flavonoids, methylglyoxal and defensin-1 peptide. In conclusion, the evidence of the biological actions of honey can be ascribed to its polyphenolic contents which, in turn, are usually associated to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions, as well as to its cardiovascular, antiproliferative and antimicrobial benefits.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Alvarez-Suarez M. Josè, Giampieri Francesca and Battino Maurizio, Honey as a Source of Dietary Antioxidants: Structures, Bioavailability and Evidence of Protective Effects Against Human Chronic Diseases, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2013; 20 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986713804999358
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986713804999358 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Approaches to the treatment of chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of numerous diseases, significantly impacting global health. Although chronic inflammation is a hot topic, not much has been written about approaches to its treatment. This thematic issue aims to showcase the latest advancements in chronic inflammation treatment and foster discussion on future directions in this ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Therapy for Cardio Renal Disorders
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Updated Role of the Blood Brain Barrier in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: From Basic and Clinical Studies
Current Neuropharmacology Diabetic Cardiomyopathy and its Prevention by Metallothionein: Experimental Evidence, Possible Mechanisms and Clinical Implications
Current Medicinal Chemistry Therapeutic Proteins and Nanotechnology: Immune Response and Stealth Bioengineered Constructs
Current Drug Metabolism Clinical Application of Ghrelin
Current Pharmaceutical Design Appropriate Antibiotic Prescribing Pattern in Hospitalized Children
Current Drug Safety Evaluation of Salivary Lipid Peroxidation End Product Level in Dental Caries
Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets Long Noncoding RNA OIP5-AS1 Overexpression Promotes Viability and Inhibits High Glucose-Induced Oxidative Stress of Cardiomyocytes by Targeting MicroRNA-34a/SIRT1 Axis in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Mechanistic Approach to Understanding Psychosis Risk in Velocardiofacial Syndrome
Current Pediatric Reviews Editorial [Towards an Ecology of Collective Innovation: Human Variome Project (HVP), Rare Disease Consortium for Autosomal Loci (RaDiCAL) and Data-Enabled Life Sciences Alliance (DELSA)]
Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine Eplerenone, a New Selective Aldosterone Blocker
Current Pharmaceutical Design Chromogranins and Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate-Dependent Ca2+-Signaling in Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure
Current Medicinal Chemistry Chemistry of Plant Dyes: Applications and Environmental Implications of Dyeing Processes
Current Environmental Engineering Cardiac Dys-Synchronization and Arrhythmia in Hyperhomocysteinemia
Current Neurovascular Research Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Targeted Drugs: A Focus on Diabetes
Current Pharmaceutical Design Phytosterols in Physiological Concentrations Target Multidrug Resistant Cancer Cells
Medicinal Chemistry Oxytocin in the Heart Regeneration
Recent Patents on Cardiovascular Drug Discovery Smoking and Cardiovascular System: Cellular Features of the Damage
Current Pharmaceutical Design Platelet Hyperreactivity and Stent Thrombosis in Patients Undergoing Coronary Stenting
Current Vascular Pharmacology Effect of Aging on Metabolic Pathways in Endothelial Progenitor Cells
Current Pharmaceutical Design