Phenolic Compounds in Honey and Their Associated Health Benefits: A Review

Overview

Journal Molecules

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Biology

Date 2018 Sep 14

PMID 30208664

Citations 164

Authors

Danila Cianciosi

Tamara Yuliett Forbes-Hernandez

Sadia Afrin

Massimiliano Gasparrini

Patricia Reboredo-Rodriguez

Piera Pia Manna

Jiaojiao Zhang

Leire Bravo Lamas

Susana Martinez Florez

Pablo Agudo Toyos

Jose Luis Quiles

Francesca Giampieri

Maurizio Battino

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Honey is a natural substance appreciated for its therapeutic abilities since ancient times. Its content in flavonoids and phenolic acids plays a key role on human health, thanks to the high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that they exert. Honey possesses antimicrobial capacity and anticancer activity against different types of tumors, acting on different molecular pathways that are involved on cellular proliferation. In addition, an antidiabetic activity has also been highlighted, with the reduction of glucose, fructosamine, and glycosylated hemoglobin serum concentration. Honey exerts also a protective effect in the cardiovascular system, where it mainly prevents the oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, in the nervous system, in the respiratory system against asthma and bacterial infections, and in the gastrointestinal system. A beneficial effect of honey can also be demonstrated in athletes. The purpose of this review is to summarize and update the current information regarding the role of honey in health and diseases.

Citing Articles

Review on role of honey in disease prevention and treatment through modulation of biological activities.

Rahmani A, Babiker A Open Life Sci. 2025; 20(1):20251069.

PMID: 40059876 PMC: 11889511. DOI: 10.1515/biol-2025-1069.

Physicochemical parameters, microbiological quality, and antibacterial activity of honey from the Bucovina region of Romania.

Luca L, Pauliuc D, Ursachi F, Oroian M Sci Rep. 2025; 15(1):4358.

PMID: 39910223 PMC: 11799142. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-88613-0.

How Phenolic Compounds Profile and Antioxidant Activity Depend on Botanical Origin of Honey-A Case of Polish Varietal Honeys.

Jaskiewicz K, Szczesna T, Jachula J Molecules. 2025; 30(2).

PMID: 39860230 PMC: 11767671. DOI: 10.3390/molecules30020360.

Unlocking the Healing Potential: A Comprehensive Review of Ecology and Biology of Medical-Grade Honey in Wound Management and Tissue Regeneration.

Barazesh P, Hajihassani H, Motalebi F, Neiresi S, Hajihassani R, Mehrabian A Health Sci Rep. 2025; 8(1):e70240.

PMID: 39831079 PMC: 11739614. DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.70240.

Microbial Characterization of a Zambian Honey Vinegar.

Cambray G, Kalinski J Food Sci Nutr. 2025; 13(1):e4549.

PMID: 39830903 PMC: 11742133. DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4549.

References

Khalil M, Sulaiman S, Gan S . High 5-hydroxymethylfurfural concentrations are found in Malaysian honey samples stored for more than one year. Food Chem Toxicol. 2010; 48(8-9):2388-92. DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2010.05.076. View

Escuredo O, Miguez M, Fernandez-Gonzalez M, Carmen Seijo M . Nutritional value and antioxidant activity of honeys produced in a European Atlantic area. Food Chem. 2013; 138(2-3):851-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.11.015. View

Rahimi R, Nikfar S, Larijani B, Abdollahi M . A review on the role of antioxidants in the management of diabetes and its complications. Biomed Pharmacother. 2005; 59(7):365-73. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2005.07.002. View

Samarghandian S, Tavakkol Afshari J, Davoodi S . Chrysin reduces proliferation and induces apoptosis in the human prostate cancer cell line pc-3. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2011; 66(6):1073-9. PMC: 3129972. DOI: 10.1590/s1807-59322011000600026. View

North J, Spector A, Buettner G . Cell fatty acid composition affects free radical formation during lipid peroxidation. Am J Physiol. 1994; 267(1 Pt 1):C177-88. DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.1994.267.1.C177. View

Jaremicz Z, Luczkiewicz M, Kokotkiewicz A, Krolicka A, Sowinski P . Production of tropane alkaloids in Hyoscyamus niger (black henbane) hairy roots grown in bubble-column and spray bioreactors. Biotechnol Lett. 2013; 36(4):843-53. PMC: 3955140. DOI: 10.1007/s10529-013-1426-9. View

Ghashm A, Othman N, Khattak M, Ismail N, Saini R . Antiproliferative effect of Tualang honey on oral squamous cell carcinoma and osteosarcoma cell lines. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2010; 10:49. PMC: 2949736. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-10-49. View

Afrin S, Giampieri F, Gasparrini M, Forbes-Hernandez T, Cianciosi D, Reboredo-Rodriguez P . The inhibitory effect of Manuka honey on human colon cancer HCT-116 and LoVo cell growth. Part 1: the suppression of cell proliferation, promotion of apoptosis and arrest of the cell cycle. Food Funct. 2018; 9(4):2145-2157. DOI: 10.1039/c8fo00164b. View

Hussain T, Tan B, Yin Y, Blachier F, Tossou M, Rahu N . Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: What Polyphenols Can Do for Us?. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2016; 2016:7432797. PMC: 5055983. DOI: 10.1155/2016/7432797. View

10.

Mato I, Huidobro J, Simal-Lozano J, Sancho M . Rapid determination of nonaromatic organic acids in honey by capillary zone electrophoresis with direct ultraviolet detection. J Agric Food Chem. 2006; 54(5):1541-50. DOI: 10.1021/jf051757i. View

11.

Arraez-Roman D, Gomez-Caravaca A, Gomez-Romero M, Segura-Carretero A, Fernandez-Gutierrez A . Identification of phenolic compounds in rosemary honey using solid-phase extraction by capillary electrophoresis-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2006; 41(5):1648-56. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2006.02.035. View

12.

Moniruzzaman M, Yung An C, Rao P, Hawlader M, Azlan S, Sulaiman S . Identification of phenolic acids and flavonoids in monofloral honey from Bangladesh by high performance liquid chromatography: determination of antioxidant capacity. Biomed Res Int. 2014; 2014:737490. PMC: 4090494. DOI: 10.1155/2014/737490. View

13.

Puscas A, Hosu A, Cimpoiu C . Application of a newly developed and validated high-performance thin-layer chromatographic method to control honey adulteration. J Chromatogr A. 2012; 1272:132-5. DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2012.11.064. View

14.

Bacvarov V . [Treatment of chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma with honey]. Ther Ggw. 1970; 109(2):260-8. View

15.

Spencer J, Chowrimootoo G, Choudhury R, Debnam E, Srai S . The small intestine can both absorb and glucuronidate luminal flavonoids. FEBS Lett. 1999; 458(2):224-30. DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)01160-6. View

16.

MIDURA T, Snowden S, Wood R, Arnon S . Isolation of Clostridium botulinum from Honey. J Clin Microbiol. 1979; 9(2):282-3. PMC: 273008. DOI: 10.1128/jcm.9.2.282-283.1979. View

17.

Morales P, Haza A . Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of spanish honeys. Pharmacogn Mag. 2013; 9(35):231-7. PMC: 3732426. DOI: 10.4103/0973-1296.113276. View

18.

Walle T . Absorption and metabolism of flavonoids. Free Radic Biol Med. 2004; 36(7):829-37. DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2004.01.002. View

19.

Abdulla C, Ayubi A, Zulfiquer F, Santhanam G, Ahmed M, Deeb J . Infant botulism following honey ingestion. BMJ Case Rep. 2012; 2012. PMC: 3448763. DOI: 10.1136/bcr.11.2011.5153. View

20.

Fernandez-Cabezudo M, El-Kharrag R, Torab F, Bashir G, George J, El-Taji H . Intravenous administration of manuka honey inhibits tumor growth and improves host survival when used in combination with chemotherapy in a melanoma mouse model. PLoS One. 2013; 8(2):e55993. PMC: 3567021. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0055993. View