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. 2021 Sep 6;26(17):5424.
doi: 10.3390/molecules26175424.

Tualang Honey: A Decade of Neurological Research

Khairunnuur Fairuz Azman  1 , Che Badariah Abd Aziz  1 , Rahimah Zakaria  1 , Asma Hayati Ahmad  1   2 , Nazlahshaniza Shafin  1   2 , Che Aishah Nazariah Ismail  1   2
Affiliations

Tualang Honey: A Decade of Neurological Research

Khairunnuur Fairuz Azman et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Tualang honey has been shown to protect against neurodegeneration, leading to improved memory/learning as well as mood. In addition, studies have also demonstrated its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, a substantial part of this research lacks systematization, and there seems to be a tendency to start anew with every study. This review presents a decade of research on Tualang honey with a particular interest in the underlying mechanisms related to its effects on the central nervous system. A total of 28 original articles published between 2011 and 2020 addressing the central nervous system (CNS) effects of Tualang honey were analysed. We identified five main categories, namely nootropic, antinociceptive, stress-relieving, antidepressant, and anxiolytic effects of Tualang honey, and proposed the underlying mechanisms. The findings from this review may potentially be beneficial towards developing new therapeutic roles for Tualang honey and help in determining how best to benefit from this brain supplement.

Keywords: Tualang honey; antidepression; antinociceptive; antioxidants; anxiolytics; nootropics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Some of the phenolic compounds found in Tualang honey [11].
Figure 2
Figure 2
The putative neuroprotective mechanism of Tualang honey. Tualang Honey can strengthen the cellular antioxidant defence system and prevent neuroinflammation. Both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory contributed to the nootropics effects and antinociceptive effects while antioxidant is a major contributing factor to stress-relieving, antidepression and anxiolytics effect.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Literature inclusion and exclusion criteria at every stage (PRISMA statement).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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