Pharmacological Insights and Therapeutic Potentials of Honey; An Updated Review

Abstract

A natural sweetener, honey has innumerable pharmacological properties in addition to its nutritive value. Honey has been in human use since 8000 years and has been traditionally used by almost all systems of medicine including Islamic medicine. Although chemical composition varies according to the botanical source, carbohydrates constitute a major portion of its composition. Fructose is in abundance followed by glucose. There are many other constituents present in small amounts like proteins, enzymes, amino acids, minerals, trace elements, vitamins, aromatic compounds and poly-phenols which contribute to various medicinal properties of honey. Honey has been in use traditionally for treatment of various ailments like gastritis, diarrhoea, ophthalmic conditions, skin infections, wounds etc. Enough evidence is now present supporting antimicrobial, antioxidant, wound healing and other potentials medicinal properties of honey. We systematically searched published papers on the subject in the databases of Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Crossref and Google Scholar between 1st January 2000 and July 2022 with an aim to review pharmacological and therapeutic potentials of honey. Owing to investigated pharmacological and therapeutic potentials of honey we conclude that honey can be looked upon as a safe and efficacious alternative in management and prevention of various disorders. Key words: Honey, Pharmacological, Therapeutic, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.