Erejuwa, Omotayo O. and Sulaiman, Siti A. and Ab Wahab, Mohd S.
(2014)
Effects of Honey and Its Mechanisms of Action on the
Development and Progression of Cancer.
Molecules, 19 (2).
pp. 2497-2522.
ISSN 1420-3049
Abstract
Honey is a natural product known for its varied biological or pharmacological
activities—ranging from anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antihypertensive to
hypoglycemic effects. This review article focuses on the role of honey in modulating the
development and progression of tumors or cancers. It reviews available evidence (some of
which is very recent) with regards to the antimetastatic, antiproliferative and anticancer
effects of honey in various forms of cancer. These effects of honey have been thoroughly
investigated in certain cancers such as breast, liver and colorectal cancer cell lines.
In contrast, limited but promising data are available for other forms of cancers including
prostate, bladder, endometrial, kidney, skin, cervical, oral and bone cancer cells.
The article also underscores the various possible mechanisms by which honey may inhibit
growth and proliferation of tumors or cancers. These include regulation of cell cycle,
activation of mitochondrial pathway, induction of mitochondrial outer membrane
permeabilization, induction of apoptosis, modulation of oxidative stress, amelioration of
inflammation, modulation of insulin signaling and inhibition of angiogenesis. Honey is
highly cytotoxic against tumor or cancer cells while it is non-cytotoxic to normal cells.
The data indicate that honey can inhibit carcinogenesis by modulating the molecular
processes of initiation, promotion, and progression stages. Thus, it may serve as a potential
and promising anticancer agent which warrants further experimental and clinical studies.
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