Protective Roles of Honey in Reproductive Health: A Review

Abstract

Nowadays, most people who lead healthy lifestyles tend to use natural products as supplements, complementary medicine or alternative treatments. Honey is God’s precious gift to mankind. Honey has been highly appreciated and extensively used since ancient history due to its high nutritional and therapeutic values. It is also known to enhance fertility. In the last few decades, the important role of honey in modern medicine has been acknowledged due to the large body of convincing evidence derived from extensive laboratory studies and clinical investigations. Honey has a highly complex chemical and biological composition that consists of various essential bioactive compounds, enzymes, amino and organic acids, acid phosphorylase, phytochemicals, carotenoid-like substances, vitamins and minerals. Reproductive health and fertility rates have declined in the last 30 years. Therefore, this review aimed to highlight the protective role of honey as a potential therapeutic in maintaining reproductive health. The main role of honey is to enhance fertility and treat infertility problems by acting as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy for protecting the vagina and uterus from atrophy, protecting against the toxic effects of xeno-oestrogenic agents on female reproductive functions and helping in the treatment of gynaecological disorders, such as vulvovaginal candidiasis infection, that affect women’s lives.

Effects of Kelulut Honey on Oestrus Cycle Regulation and Histomorphological Changes in Letrozole-Induced Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Rats: A Preliminary Study

“…Particularly in this study, Kelulut honey was harvested by a local beekeeper who planted different herbal plants as the source for the stingless bee nectar. Furthermore, honey has benefited female reproductive organs, mainly due to its antioxidant content [ 17 , 55 ]. Hence, the beneficial effect recorded in this study may be attributed to the high antioxidant content of Kelulut honey.…”

Therapeutic exploration of polyherbal formulation against letrozole induced PCOS rats: A mechanistic approach

“…Also, the most preferred and effective route of herbal drug administration is the oral route administration [ 45 , 46 ]. Honey was used as a syrup base in this formulation to mask the bitter taste of the phytoconstituents as well as it has an estrous cycle normalizing capacity and fertility rate improving properties in females [ 47 , 48 ].…”

Potential for Manuka honey‐inspired therapeutics to improve the host–biomaterial response

“…In a murine gastric ulcer model, gastric mucosal malondialdehyde (MDA) and plasma levels of interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α were reduced 32 . Evidence has pointed toward Manuka honey being beneficial in treating vulvovaginal candidiasis, killing off the invading Candida, alleviating itching and swelling, as well as aiding in restoring a normal hormonal environment to an inflamed reproductive tract 43 . Oral administration of Manuka honey has also demonstrated antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory benefits on a systemic level, as well as chemoprotective effects.…”

“…32 Evidence has pointed toward Manuka honey being beneficial in treating vulvovaginal candidiasis, killing off the invading Candida, alleviating itching and swelling, as well as aiding in restoring a normal hormonal environment to an inflamed reproductive tract. 43 Oral administration of Manuka honey has also demonstrated antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits on a systemic level, as well as chemoprotective effects. Oral intake of Manuka honey has also been shown to provide a potentiated antiviral response when taken in combination with the standard antiviral drugs zanamivir or oseltamivir.…”