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Review
. 2022 Aug 30;14(17):3579.
doi: 10.3390/nu14173579.

General Nutritional Profile of Bee Products and Their Potential Antiviral Properties against Mammalian Viruses

Syeda Tasmia Asma  1 , Otilia Bobiş  2 , Victoriţa Bonta  2 , Ulas Acaroz  1 , Syed Rizwan Ali Shah  3 , Fatih Ramazan Istanbullugil  4 , Damla Arslan-Acaroz  5
Affiliations
Review

General Nutritional Profile of Bee Products and Their Potential Antiviral Properties against Mammalian Viruses

Syeda Tasmia Asma et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Bee products have been extensively employed in traditional therapeutic practices to treat several diseases and microbial infections. Numerous bioactive components of bee products have exhibited several antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, antiprotozoal, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory properties. Apitherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses the bioactive properties of bee products to prevent and/or treat different diseases. This review aims to provide an elaborated vision of the antiviral activities of bee products with recent advances in research. Since ancient times, bee products have been well known for their several medicinal properties. The antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of bee products and their bioactive components are emerging as a promising alternative therapy against several viral infections. Numerous studies have been performed, but many clinical trials should be conducted to evaluate the potential of apitherapy against pathogenic viruses. In that direction, here, we review and highlight the potential roles of bee products as apitherapeutics in combating numerous viral infections. Available studies validate the effectiveness of bee products in virus inhibition. With such significant antiviral potential, bee products and their bioactive components/extracts can be effectively employed as an alternative strategy to improve human health from individual to communal levels as well.

Keywords: antiviral properties; bee bread; bee pollen; bee venom; beeswax; bioactive substances; honey; nutrients; propolis; royal jelly.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Antiviral properties of bee products.
Figure 2
Figure 2
General composition of honey.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Chemical structures of some important phenolic components in honey; (A) flavonoids and (B) phenolic acids.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Honey and its components general mode of action against viruses.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Main identified constituents of bee pollen and bee bread.
Figure 6
Figure 6
General composition of propolis.
Figure 7
Figure 7
General composition of royal jelly.
Figure 8
Figure 8
General composition of beeswax.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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