Abstract
Bee products have been known for centuries for their versatile healing properties. In recent decades they have become the subject of documented scientific research. This review aims to present and compare the impact of bee products and their components as antimicrobial agents. Honey, propolis, royal jelly and bee venom are bee products that have antibacterial properties. Sensitivity of bacteria to these products varies considerably between products and varieties of the same product depending on their origin. According to the type of bee product, different degrees of activity were observed against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, molds and dermatophytes, as well as biofilm-forming microorganisms. Pseudomonas aeruginosa turned out to be the most resistant to bee products. An analysis of average minimum inhibitory concentration values for bee products showed that bee venom has the strongest bacterial effectiveness, while royal jelly showed the weakest antibacterial activity. The most challenging problems associated with using bee products for medical purposes are dosage and safety. The complexity and variability in composition of these products raise the need for their standardization before safe and predictable clinical uses can be achieved.
Highlights
Products of natural origin have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and the beneficial properties of bee products have been known since ancient times [1]
Recent studies show that bee products from a variety of geographical origins and/or different floral sources exhibit different levels of antimicrobial activity [6,7]
This study showed that C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis were the most sensitive Candida species [48]
Summary
Products of natural origin have been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and the beneficial properties of bee products have been known since ancient times [1]. The composition of phenolics and flavonoids in honey and propolis is variable due to various geographical origins, types of honey floral plants and even climate [4,5]. Recent studies show that bee products from a variety of geographical origins and/or different floral sources exhibit different levels of antimicrobial activity [6,7]. The properties of honey in treating inflammatory diseases of the eyes, as well as for cleansing infected wounds and accelerating healing, were appreciated by the civilization of ancient Egypt
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