Biological and therapeutic roles of Saudi Arabian honey: A comparative review

Abstract

Honey is deeply rooted in Saudi Arabian culture, religion, and trade, and The Holy Quran refers to its medicinal and healing properties several times. Honey is a highly symbolic and well-regarded product in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and it is widely used for its medicinal value in addition to its nutritional uses. Saudi Arabia is home to an estimated 2200 flowering plants, and monofloral honey from local plants and trees such as Ziziphus (Sidr honey), Acacia (Talha and Sumra), Lavendula (Seyfi and Dharm), and Hypoestes forskaolii (Majra) fetch high prices and are more expensive than imported honey. Natural honey is used in the treatment of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and skin lesions in addition to having a high nutritional value. It was given Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as a potent antimicrobial agent for the topical treatment of wounds in 2007. In this review, we explore and highlight the therapeutic roles of different types of Saudi Arabian honey in modern medicine. We propose that natural honey should not be viewed as an “alternative” treatment and that it deserves more attention from scientists for research into its therapeutic potential for clinical applications.