Honey: A Bioactive Resource for Diversified Therapeutic Use in Traditional Medicine

Abstract

Abstract: Honey, a natural bioactive resource is obtained from Apis mellifera. It has been cherished as a natural product known for its dietary supplement and an effective remedy in traditional medicine to creation of nutraceuticals and functional foods in modern medicine of present generations. Apiculture is the practice of rearing honeybees, keeping them healthy and utilizing products like honey, bee pollen, bee bread and royal jelly for various purposes. The myriad benefits of natural products obtained from honeybees has been mentioned in the inscriptions and documents of several holy books like the Vedas, the Bible, and the Quran. and Bible. Bee products are known for their therapeutic use since ancient times in Egypt, Greece, and China. In India honeybee rearing is one of the traditional practices of indigenous community of ethnic tribes. It is a rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites like flavonoids, polyphenols, organic acids, vitamins, and minerals and thus contributes to its effectiveness in dietary supplement both as food and medicine. It also acts as an immunomodulator, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant source and hence helps in curing various diseases. Due to its therapeutic characteristics, honey can be used to cure bronchial asthma, cough, TB, hepatitis, GI disorders and a variety of other ailments. Research investigations have proven that honey can also help in wound healing and in the treatment of ulcers. It is used in cosmetics to repair the skin by acting as an exfoliating agent and moisturizer in anti-tanning sunscreen lotions. The present research article highlights the comprehensive study on the efficacy of honey as a bio-resource for diversified therapeutic use in traditional medicine.