Generic placeholder image

Current Traditional Medicine

Author(s): Mohd Khalid, Nazim Husain*, Md Rahmatullah, Abrar Alam and Mohd Uzair Beg

DOI: 10.2174/2215083808666220817094317

DownloadDownload PDF Flyer Cite As
A Comprehensive Review on the Medicinal Benefits of Honey with an Emphasis on Unani Medicine

Article ID: e170822207567 Pages: 10

  • * (Excluding Mailing and Handling)

Explore Articles
About Journal
For Authors
For Editors
For Reviewers

Abstract

Background: Honey has been used medicinally in folk medicine since the dawn of civilization. It is a necessary component of medicine and food in a wide variety of cultures. It has been used in Unani Medicine for centuries to treat a variety of ailments.

Objective: This review article aims to explore the medicinal characteristics of honey in view of Unani and modern concepts, highlight its potential in the treatment of the ailments stated in Unani medical literature, and also explore the relevant evidence-based phytochemistry, pharmacological, and clinical data.

Methods: The authors searched classical texts exhaustively for information on the temperament (Mizāj), pharmacological activities, mechanism of action, and therapeutic benefits of honey. Additionally, a comprehensive search of internet databases was conducted to compile all available information on the physicochemical, phytochemical, and pharmacological properties of this compound.

Results: Evidence suggests that honey contains about 180 different types of various compounds, including carbohydrates, proteins, enzymes, flavonoids, and other chemical substances. In Unani classical literature, it exerts important pharmacological actions besides its immense nutritional significance. Unani physicians advocated many tested/experimented prescriptions and formulations, which still have their relevance in the amelioration of various diseases.

Conclusion: This analysis concludes that honey has been successfully utilized in Unani medicine for centuries to treat a variety of maladies and is a potential natural source of remedy for a variety of medical disorders. Future research on honey should include a combination of Unani and modern principles.

Keywords: Asl, Functional food, Antioxidant, Unani medicine, Covid-19

Graphical Abstract

[1]
Cianciosi D, Forbes-Hernández TY, Afrin S, et al. Phenolic compounds in honey and their associated health benefits: A review. Molecules 2018; 23(9): 2322.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules23092322] [PMID: 30208664]
[2]
Miguel MG, Antunes MD, Faleiro ML. Honey as a complementary medicine. Integr Med Insights 2017; 12: 1178633717702869.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1178633717702869] [PMID: 28469409]
[3]
Saranraj P, Sivasakthi S, Feliciano GD. Pharmacology of honey: A review. Laboratory of chemical and biological analysis (LAQB). Adv Biol Res 2016; 10(4): 271-89.
[4]
Whitfield CW, Behura SK, Berlocher SH, et al. Thrice out of Africa: Ancient and recent expansions of the honey bee, Apis mellifera. Science (80- ) 2006; 314(5799): 642-5.
[5]
Ur-Rahman R. Unani system of medicine: The science of health and healing.,Pasha S Asad, Katoch DC, Siddiqui K Mehmood, Khan MEA, Jamil SS, Eds. New Delhi: Department of Ayush ministry of Health & family Welfare, Government of India New Delhi: CCRUM, 2013; p. 02.
[6]
Ahmad W, Sofi G, Alam MA, Zulkifle M, Ahmad B. Understanding holism in the light of principle underlying practice of Unani medicine. Rev Environ Health 2022; 37(2): 189-99.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2021-0009] [PMID: 33984879]
[7]
Schmidt-Stiedenroth K. Unani Medicine in the Making. Amsterdam University Press 2020.
[8]
Husain N, Khalid M. Aesthetic significance of solah shringar (sixteen ornaments) in Unani medicine. J Complement Altern Med Res 2021; 69-81.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.9734/jocamr/2021/v15i230265]
[9]
Kapur M. Basic Principles of Unani System. Psychological Perspectives on Childcare in Indian Indigenous Health Systems. New Delhi: Springer India 2016; pp. 89-95.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2428-0_7]
[10]
Organization WH. WHO traditional medicine strategy: 2014-2023. 2013.
[11]
Chaush S, Husain N, Khalid M, Doni M, Khan MQ, Hussain MM. The efficacy of alum sitz baths followed by topical gall ointment in hemorrhoids-a single-arm clinical trial. Adv Tradit Med 2022.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13596-022-00634-6]
[12]
Imran S, Khalid M, Husain N, Khan MQ, Shaikh S. The efficacy of topical Marham-e-Akbar in chronic atopic dermatitis - an open-label interventional study. Drug Metab Pers Ther 2022; 37(3) [Online ahead of print].
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/dmpt-2021-0195] [PMID: 35218174]
[13]
Husain N, Uddin Q, Kazmi MH, Khalid M. A non-inferiority randomized controlled clinical trial comparing Unani formulations & PUVAsol in non-segmental vitiligo. J Complement Integr Med 2021. [Online ahead of print].
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/jcim-2021-0057] [PMID: 34162019]
[14]
Qamar W, Rehman MU. Brief history and traditional uses of honey. In: Rehman MU, Majid S, Eds. Therapeutic Applications of Honey and its Phytochemicals. Singapore: Springer 2020; pp. 1-10.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6799-5_1]
[15]
Jahangir MA, Muheem A, Anand C, Imam SS. Traditional and modern applications of honey: An insight. In: Rehman MU, Majid S, Eds. Therapeutic Applications of Honey and its Phytochemicals. Singapore: Springer 2020; pp. 151-69.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6799-5_8]
[16]
Ediriweera ER, Premarathna NYS. Medicinal and cosmetic uses of bee’s honey - A review. Ayu 2012; 33(2): 178-82.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0974-8520.105233] [PMID: 23559786]
[17]
Rehman MU, Majid S. Therapeutic Applications of Honey and Its Phytochemicals. Singapore: Springer 2020.
[18]
Baghdadi IH. Kitab al-Mukhtarat fi al-Tibb. (1st ed.). New Delhi: CCRUM 2005; II: pp. 226-7.
[19]
Hakim AM. Bustan-ul-Mufradat. (1st ed.). New Delhi: Idara Kitab-us-Shifa 2002; 262: p. 572.
[20]
Nabi MG. Makhzan-e-Mufradat wa Murakkabat. (1st ed.). New Delhi: CCRUM 2007; 161: p. 235.
[21]
Gupta RK. Taxonomy and distribution of different honeybee species. In: Gupta RK, Reybroeck W, Veen JV, Gupta A, Eds. Beekeeping for Poverty Alleviation and Livelihood Security. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands 2014; pp. 63-103.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9199-1_2]
[22]
Gani N. Khaizayin-ul-Advia. (1st ed.). New Delhi: Idara Kitab-us-Shifa 2010; pp. 630-1.
[23]
Kabiruddin M. Makhzan al-Mufradat. (3rd ed.). New Delhi: Idara Kitab-us-Shifa 2014; pp. 207-8.
[24]
Baytar I. Al-Jami al-Mufradat lil-Advia wa al-Aghziya. (1st ed.). New Delhi: CCRUM 1999; III: pp. 271-5.
[25]
Miraj S, Kiani S. A scientific correlation between dystemprament in Unani medicine and diseases: A systematic review. Electron Physician 2016; 8(11): 3240-7.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.19082/3240] [PMID: 28070258]
[26]
Bogdanov S, Jurendic T, Sieber R, Gallmann P. Honey for nutrition and health: A review. J Am Coll Nutr 2008; 27(6): 677-89.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2008.10719745] [PMID: 19155427]
[27]
Jamil SS, Ahmad Z, Siddiqui KM, Hannan A, Ahmad B, Quddusi N. Standard Unani medical terminology. New Delhi: CCRUM 2012.
[28]
Abd Jalil MA, Kasmuri AR, Hadi H. Stingless bee honey, the natural wound healer: A review. Skin Pharmacol Physiol 2017; 30(2): 66-75.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000458416] [PMID: 28291965]
[29]
Erejuwa OO, Sulaiman SA, Wahab MS. Effects of honey and its mechanisms of action on the development and progression of cancer. Molecules 2014; 19(2): 2497-522.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules19022497] [PMID: 24566317]
[30]
Ahmed S, Othman NH. Honey as a potential natural anticancer agent: A review of its mechanisms. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2013; 2013: 829070.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/829070] [PMID: 24363771]
[31]
Al-Waili N, Salom K, Al-Ghamdi A, Ansari MJ. Antibiotic, pesticide, and microbial contaminants of honey: Human health hazards. Sci World J 2012; 2012: 930849.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/2012/930849] [PMID: 23097637]
[32]
Gilliam M, Prest DB. Microbiology of feces of the larval honey bee, Apis mellifera. J Invertebr Pathol 1987; 49(1): 70-5.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0022-2011(87)90127-3] [PMID: 2886543]
[33]
Ahmed S, Sulaiman SA, Baig AA, et al. Honey as a potential natural antioxidant medicine: An insight into its molecular mechanisms of action. Oxid Med Cell Longev 2018; 2018: 8367846.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/8367846] [PMID: 29492183]
[34]
Liu JR, Ye YL, Lin TY, Wang YW, Peng CC. Effect of floral sources on the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities of honeys in Taiwan. Food Chem 2013; 139(1-4): 938-43.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.02.015] [PMID: 23561193]
[35]
Preston RJ. Genetic toxicology. In: Smart RC, Hodgson E, Eds. Molecular and Biochemical Toxicology. Hoboken, NJ, USA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2007; pp. 587-606.
[36]
Saxena S, Gautam S, Maru G, Kawle D, Sharma A. Suppression of error prone pathway is responsible for antimutagenic activity of honey. Food Chem Toxicol 2012; 50(3-4): 625-33.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2012.01.003] [PMID: 22269905]
[37]
Aumeeruddy MZ, Aumeeruddy-Elalfi Z, Neetoo H, et al. Pharmacological activities, chemical profile, and physicochemical properties of raw and commercial honey. Biocatal Agric Biotechnol 2019; 18: 101005.
[38]
Yang F, Jin H, Pi J, et al. Anti-tumor activity evaluation of novel chrysin-organogermanium(IV) complex in MCF-7 cells. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 23(20): 5544-51.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.08.055] [PMID: 24007917]
[39]
Prakash A, Medhi B, Avti PK, Saikia UN, Pandhi P, Khanduja KL. Effect of different doses of Manuka honey in experimentally induced inflammatory bowel disease in rats. Phytother Res 2008; 22(11): 1511-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ptr.2523] [PMID: 18688794]
[40]
Bilsel Y, Bugra D, Yamaner S, Bulut T, Cevikbas U, Turkoglu U. Could honey have a place in colitis therapy? Effects of honey, prednisolone, and disulfiram on inflammation, nitric oxide, and free radical formation. Dig Surg 2002; 19(4): 306-11.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000064580] [PMID: 12207075]
[41]
Manyi-Loh CE, Ndip RN, Clarke AM. Volatile compounds in honey: A review on their involvement in aroma, botanical origin determination and potential biomedical activities. Int J Mol Sci 2011; 12(12): 9514-32.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms12129514] [PMID: 22272147]
[42]
Ahmad RS, Hussain MB, Saeed F, Waheed M, Tufail T. Phytochemistry, metabolism, and ethnomedical scenario of honey: A concurrent review. Int J Food Prop 2017; 20 (sup1): S254-69.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10942912.2017.1295257]
[43]
Jain AS, Sushma P, Dharmashekar C, et al. In silico evaluation of flavonoids as effective antiviral agents on the spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021; 28(1): 1040-51.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.11.049] [PMID: 33424398]
[44]
Clementi N, Scagnolari C, D’Amore A, et al. Naringenin is a powerful inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. Pharmacol Res 2021; 163: 105255.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105255] [PMID: 33096221]
[45]
El Sayed SM, Aboonq MS, Aljehani YT, et al. TaibUVID nutritional supplements help rapid cure of COVID-19 infection and rapid reversion to negative nasopharyngeal swab PCR: For better public prophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19 pandemic. Am J Blood Res 2020; 10(6): 397-406.
[PMID: 33489449]
[46]
Ali AM, Kunugi H. Propolis, bee honey, and their components protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A review of in silico, in vitro, and clinical studies. Molecules 2021; 26(5): 1232.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules26051232] [PMID: 33669054]
[47]
Ashraf S, Ashraf S, Ashraf M, et al. Honey and Nigella sativa against COVID-19 in Pakistan (HNS-COVID-PK): A multi-center placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. medRxiv 2020; 2020.10.30.20217364.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.30.20217364]