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Review
. 2013:2013:829070.
doi: 10.1155/2013/829070. Epub 2013 Dec 2.

Honey as a potential natural anticancer agent: a review of its mechanisms

Sarfraz Ahmed  1 , Nor Hayati Othman  1
Affiliations
Review

Honey as a potential natural anticancer agent: a review of its mechanisms

Sarfraz Ahmed et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013.

Abstract

The main treatment for cancer is by using chemotherapy and radiotherapy which themselves are toxic to other viable cells of the body. Recently, there are many studies focusing on the use of natural products for cancer prevention and treatment. Of these natural products, honey has been extensively researched. The mechanism of the anti-cancer activity of honey as chemopreventive and therapeutic agent has not been completely understood. The possible mechanisms are due to its apoptotic, antiproliferative, antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF), antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, estrogenic and immunomodulatory activities. We collate the findings of several studies published in the literature in order to understand the mechanism of its action.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Apoptosis following caspase 8 and caspase 9 pathways; source [30]. Bcl-2: B cell lymphoma 2 protein; Bid: Bcl-2 associated X proteins; Cyt. C: cytochrome C; Apaf-1: apoptotic protease activating factor; IAP: inhibitor of apoptosis proteins; Caspase 3-caspase protein that interacts with caspase 8 and caspase 9.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The effect of honey on apoptotic pathway. Honey exerts apoptotic effect through upregulation and modulation of proapoptotic proteins (p53, Bax, caspase 3, and caspase 9) and downregulation of antiapoptotic proteins (Bcl-2) [14, 23, 31]. Bcl-2: B cell lymphoma 2 protein; Cyt. C: cytochrome C; Apaf-1—apoptotic protease activating factor 1; TNF: tumor necrosis factor; TRAIL: TNF related apoptosis-inducing ligand; TRADD: TNFR associated death domain protein.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic presentation of anticancer activity of honey.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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