The powerful antioxidant and anti-cancer effects of arid region honey

The arid region honey can be used as a therapeutic product for chronic diseases, including cancer, according to researchers from United Arab Emirates University. The study, published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, compared varieties of honey from desert climates against those from non-arid regions to establish which variety contained more antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

• Researchers tested in vitro both monofloral and heterofloral types of honey from arid and non-arid regions.
• The following were conducted to determine certain physicochemical properties of honey: hemolysis assay (to determine erythrocyte membrane protection effect), PC-3 prostate cancer cells and PBMC (to measure interleukin 6 and nitric oxide levels), and 24-hour incubations (to test PC-3 cell viability).
• Honey varieties from arid regions showed better erythrocyte membrane protection effect – with H4 samples reaching 1.3 (± 0.042) micromol Trolox Equivalents per gram of dry matter (mMTE/g), as well as H2 samples measuring 1.122 ± 0.018mMTE/g.
• MDA (malondialdehyde) levels were reduced in arid region honey, as well as cell population in PC-3 after a 24-hour incubation with honey.
• Interleukin 6 (IL-6) was also reduced by honey varieties, and nitric oxide levels moderately increased in both cultures.

The findings suggest that arid region honey possesses potent antioxidant activity, as well as potential anti-inflammatory properties.

Read the full study at this link.

Learn more about the benefits of honey at Food.news.

Journal Reference:

Hilary S, Habib H, Souka U, Ibrahim W, Platat C. BIOACTIVITY OF ARID REGION HONEY: AN IN VITRO STUDY. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 29 March 2017;17(177). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1664-9