ABOUT HONEY
The use of natural honey as food and medicine by mankind has been in existence from time immemorial. In fact, records have it that raw honey is the most ancient sweetener and was noted to have been in use throughout the world several thousand years ago (Prologue, 2009). Natural honey is a sweet, flavourful liquid food of high nutritional value and immense health benefits (Arawwawala and Hewageegana, 2017). The properties and physicochemical composition of honey generally varies with the regional and climatic conditions of the place along with the floral sources utilized by the bees for producing honey (Gheldof et al., 2002). Nevertheless, honey is primarily made of water and carbohydrates such as inverted sugars, along with complex mixture of other saccharides, proteins, amino acids, enzymes, organic acids, polyphenols, flavonoids, phenolic acids, carotenoid-like ingredients, vitamins and minerals such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc (Tafere, 2021).
HONEY & GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS
Earlier studies advocate the medicinal use of natural honey as therapeutic agent against the various gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) disorders. Honey has been used for the prevention, cure and the treatments of some GIT disorders such as ulcers, gastritis and gastroenteritis. Honey has been shown to be a gastro-protective agent. Its potency in inhibiting the activity of Helicobacter pylori, that causes gastritis and peptic ulcers have been well documented (Ajibola et al., 2012).
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF HONEY
The therapeutic ability of honey is progressively increasing and scientific evidences for the usefulness of honey in numerous experimental and clinical situations are beginning to emerge. Honey has been shown to consist of various phenolic acids and flavonoids which have been reported to exhibit a wide range of antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, activities (Eteraf-Oskouei, and Najafi, 2013).
CARDIO-PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF HONEY
The Consumption of natural honey has been reported to reduce total cholesterol and body weight in both obese and non-obese individuals, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, particularly in subjects with elevated risk factors (Zaidi and Sharma, 2019).
HONEY AS A OF SOURCE OF ANTIOXIDANTS
Oxidative stress within the human body can causes structural and functional damage to proteins, lipids and nucleic acids molecules which can lead to many biological complications including aging, carcinogenesis, and atherosclerosis (Ajibola et al., 2012). Some studies revealed that polyphenols and flavonoids are often associated anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombotic, and vasodilatory activities. Honey has been found to be a significant source of antioxidants such as polyphenols and flavonoids, which have the capacity to potentially remove free radicals from the human body (Abeshu and Geleta, 2016).
NUTRACEUTICAL VALUES OF HONEY
The use of natural honey as a nutraceutical agent is associated with its nutritional benefits and therapeutic promises. Natural honey has been reported to be widely accepted as food and medicine by all generations, traditions and civilizations, both ancient and modern (Ajibola et al., 2012). The nutritional profiles, including its use in infant and children feeding have been reported in different literatures as well as health indices and biomarkers observed by various researchers (Tafere, 2021; Ajibola et al., 2012).
It has been reported that honey can be used effectively instead of glucose for energy replenishment during physical exercise. This is associated with the dietary supplementation within natural honey, which has been reported to provide up to 17 g of carbohydrates for every tablespoon consumed and gives the much needed energy, thus serving as an inexpensive substitute to commercially available sporting activities enhancers. The physiological actions of natural honey observed during this performance were a significant increase in heart frequency and a fairly constant blood glucose level, suggesting honey as a better substitute to glucose (Ajibola et al., 2012).
WOUND HEALING PROPERTY OF HONEY
Wound is an injury to the body which typically involves laceration or breaking of a membrane such as the skin and usually damage to underlying tissues. It causes destruction of tissue, disruption of blood vessels, and extravasations of blood constituents and hypoxia. Honey is one of naturally existing remedies that has been applied in the treatment of wounds. It promotes faster wound healing through its regenerative tissue growth and epitheliazation effects, with little or no formation of scars (Abeshu and Geleta, 2016).
HONEY AND COUGH
Cough is a major concern for all people and is one of the most frequent complaints presented to almost all general physicians. The adverse effects of cough are even more harmful among children in comparison to adults. Immune system of children is immature, as a consequence of which they have more susceptibility to several infections associated with chronic coughing. Reports have shown that honey acts an excellent medicine in the treatment of cough and that honey is better for the symptomatic relief of night time cough and sleep difficulty allied with childhood upper respiratory infections (Zaidi and Sharma, 2019).
HONEY AND DIABETES
There is considerable evidence from experimental studies that honey may provide benefits in the management of diabetes mellitus (Kadirvelu and Gurtu, 2013). The use of honey in type I and type II diabetes was associated with significantly lower glycemic index than with glucose or sucrose in normal diabetes. Honey compared with dextrose caused a significantly lower rise in plasma glucose levels in diabetic subjects. It also stimulated insulin secretion, decreased blood glucose levels, elevated haemoglobin concentration, improved lipid profile, reduced homocysteine levels and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in normal and hyperlipidemic subjects (Eteraf-Oskouei, and Najafi, 2013).
HONEY AND CANCER
Several studies have shown that honey may exert anticancer effects through several mechanisms (Samarghandian et al., 2017). Investigations have indicated that honey has anticancer property through its interference with multiple cell‑signalling pathways, including inducing apoptosis, anti-mutagenic, anti-proliferative and anti‑inflammatory pathways (Samarghandian et al., 2017).
IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOSTING EFFECT OF HONEY
Due to its antibacterial activity, honey plays an important role against infection through stimulating the body’s immune system to fight infections. It has been reported that honey stimulates the T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes in cell culture to multiply, and activate neutrophils (Zaidi and Sharma, 2019). In addition, honey provides a supply of glucose, which is essential for the “respiratory burst” in macrophages that produce hydrogen peroxide, the dominant component of their bacteria-destroying activity (Sampath Kumar et al., 2010). The acidity of honey may also assist in the bacteria-destroying action of macrophages (Ajibola et al., 201.
OTHER BENEFITS OF HONEY
The use of honey in the treatment of eye diseases is well documented. The ancient people used honey as curative substances for eye disorders (Ajibola et al., 2012). Honey has been reported to be beneficial for possessing plasma prostaglandin lowering effect (Samarghandian et al., 2017; Abeshu and Geleta, 2016; Sampath Kumar et al., 2010). Honey has also been reported to promote probiotic activity within the human body by acting as a stimulant for the multiplication of lactic acid bacteria (Ajibola et al., 2012).
REFERENCES FOR FURTHER READING
Abeshu, M.A. and Geleta, B. (2016). Medicinal Uses of Honey. Biology and Medicine, 8 (2): 1-7. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293638941_Medical_Uses_of_Honey
Ajibola, A., Chamunorwa, J.P. and Erlwanger, K.H. (2012).Nutraceutical values of natural honey and its contribution to human health and wealth. Nutrition & Metabolism, 9: 61-72. http://www.nutritionandmetabolism.com/content/9/1/61
Arawwawala, L.D.A.M and Hewageegana, H.G.S.P. (2017). Health Benefits and Traditional Uses of Honey: A Review. Journal of Apitherapy, 2 (1): 9-14. DOI: 10.5455/ja.20170208043727. https://www.researchgate.net/publication313785968/
Eteraf-Oskouei, T. and Najafi, M. (2013). Traditional and Modern Uses of Natural Honey in Human Diseases: A Review. Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 16: 731-742. www.mums.ac.ir/basic_medical/en/index
Gheldof, N., Wang, X.H. and Engeseth, N.J. (2002). Identification and quantification of antioxidant components of honeys from various floral sources. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 50: 5870-5877. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12358452/
Ghosh, S. and Playford, R.J. (2003). Bioactive natural compounds for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. The Biochemical Society, 104: 547-556. DOI: 10.1042/CS20030067. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12641494/
Kadirvelu, A. and Gurtu, S. (2013). Potential benefits of honey in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A Review. International Journal of Collaborative Research on Internal Medicine & Public Health, 5 (4): 200-216. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242190198_potential_benefits_of_honey_in_type_2_diabetes_mellitus_A_review
Prologue, J.R. (2009). Honey and healing through the ages. Journal of Api-product and Api medical Science, 1: 2-5. DOI: 10.3896/ibra.4.01.1.02. https://ibra.org.uk/wp-content/JAAS/VOL1/vol%201-1/JAAS%20Prologue%2001%201.pdf
Samarghandian, S., Farkhondeh, T. and Samini, F. (2017). Honey and health: A review of recent clinical research. Phcog Res., 9: 121-127. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317157312_Honey_and_Health_A_Review_of_Recent_Clinical_Research.
Sampath Kumar, K.P., Bhowmik, D., Biswajit, C. and Chandira, M.R. (2010). Medicinal uses and health benefits of Honey: An Overview. Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2 (1): 385-395. https://www.jocpr.com/abstract/medicinal-uses-and-health-benefits-of-honey-an-overview-55.html
Tafere. D.A. (2021). Chemical composition and uses of Honey: A Review. Journal of Food Science and Nutrition Research, 4 (3): 194-201. DOI: 10.26502/jfsnr.2642-11000072. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353264787_Chemical_composition_and_uses_of_Honey_A_Review
Zaidi, M.Z. and Sharma, J. (2019). Honey and its beneficial therapeutic effects: A review. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 8(4): 1056-1061. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/344348958_Honey_and_its_beneficial_therapeutic_effects_A_review