Biological properties of honey from Apis mellifera; Efficacy on inhibition of herpes simplex virus infection and antioxidant activity

Open Access

Issue		BIO Web Conf. Volume 232, 2026 2026 16^th International Conference on Bioscience, Biochemistry and Bioinformatics (ICBBB 2026)


Article Number		04007
Number of page(s)		10
Section		Natural Products Pharmacology and Therapeutic Mechanisms
DOI		https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/202623204007
Published online		24 April 2026

R. J. Whitley, Herpesviruses. In S. Baron (Ed.), Medical Microbiology. (4th ed.). , (University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, 1996), pp. 883–899. [Google Scholar]
A. Banerjee, S. Kulkarni, A. Mukherjee, Herpes simplex virus: the hostile guest that takes over your home. Front. Microbiol. 11 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00733 [Google Scholar]
J. Y. Chang, C. Balch, J. Puccio, H. S. Oh, A narrative review of alternative symptomatic treatments for herpes simplex virus. Viruses 15, 1314 (2023) . https://doi.org/10.3390/v15061314 [Google Scholar]
World Health Organization. Herpes simplex virus. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/herpes-simplex-virus (2023). [Google Scholar]
S. A. Connolly, J. O. Jackson, T. S. Jardetzky, R. Longnecker, Fusing structure and function: a structural view of the herpesvirus entry machinery. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 9, 369–381 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro2548 [Google Scholar]
R. Rajalakshmi, R. Kumari, D. M. Thappa, Acyclovir versus valacyclovir. Indian J. Dermatol. Venereol. Leprol. 76, 439–444 (2010). [Google Scholar]
S. U. Khan, S. I. Anjum, K. Rahman, M. J. Ansari, W. U. Khan, S. Kamal, B. Khattak, A. Muhammad, H. U. Khan, Honey : single food stuff comprises many drugs. Saudi J. Biol. Sci. 25, 320–325 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/i.sibs.2017.08.004 [Google Scholar]
W. M. A. Alaerjani, S. Abu-Melha, R. M. H. Alshareef, B. S. Al Farhan, H. A. Ghramh, B. M. A. Al Shehri, M. A. Bajaber, K. A. Khan, M. M. Alrooqi, G. A. Modawe, M. E. A. Mohammed, Biochemical Reactions and Their Biological Contributions in Honey. Molecules 27, 4719 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27154719 [Google Scholar]
S. Kolayli, L. Boukraâ, H. §ahin, F. Abdellah, Sugars in honey. In V. R. Preedy (Ed.), Dietary Sugars: Chemistry, Analysis, Function, and Effects (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2012), pp. 3–15. [Google Scholar]
P. V. Rao, K. T. Krishnan, N. Salleh, S. H. Gan, Biological and therapeutic effects of honey produced by honey bees and stingless bees: a comparative review. Rev. Bras. Farmacogn. 26, 657–664 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/i.bip.2016.01.012 [Google Scholar]
K. Kozlowicz, R. Rózylo, B. Gladyszewska, A. Matwijczuk, G. Gladyszewski, D. Chocyk, K. Samborska, J. Piekut, M. Smolewska, Identification of sugars and phenolic compounds in honey powders with the use of GC-MS, FTIR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Sci. Rep. 10, 16269 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73306-7 [Google Scholar]
R. M. Elbargisy, Pharmaceutical Applications of Honey. In M. U. Rehman, S. Majid (Eds.), Therapeutic Applications of Honey and Its Phytochemicals: Vol. 1 (Springer Singapore, 2020), pp. 279–298. [Google Scholar]
S. T. Asma, O. Bobiç, V. Bonta, U. Acaroz, S. R. A. Shah, F. R. Istanbullugil, D. Arslan-Acaroz, General nutritional profile of bee products and their potential antiviral properties against mammalian viruses. Nutrients. 14, 3579 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14173579 [Google Scholar]
M. A. Hashemipour, Z. Tavakolineghad, S. A. Arabzadeh, Z. Iranmanesh, S. A. Nassab, Antiviral Activities of Honey, Royal Jelly, and Acyclovir Against HSV-1. Wounds. 26, 47–54 (2014). [Google Scholar]
M. I. Isla, A. Craig, R. Ordoñez, C. Zampini, J. Sayago, E. Bedascarrasbure, A. Alvarez, V. Salomón, L. Maldonado, Physico chemical and bioactive properties of honeys from Northwestern Argentina. LWT - Food Sci. Technol. 44, 1922–1930 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2011.04.003 [Google Scholar]
P. Srisai, S. Suriyaprom, A. Panya, J. Pekkoh, Y. Tragoolpua, Inhibitory effects of algal polysaccharide extract from Cladophora spp. against herpes simplex virus infection.. Sci Re. 14, (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60941-7 [Google Scholar]
R. J. Mongi, Influence of botanical origin and geographical zones on physicochemical properties, mineral contents and consumer acceptance of honey in Tanzania. Food Chem. Adv. 4, 100731 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.focha.2024.100731 [Google Scholar]
M. Moniruzzaman, S. A. Sulaiman, M. I. Khalil, et al., Evaluation of physicochemical and antioxidant properties of sourwood and other Malaysian honeys: a comparison with manuka honey. Chem. Cent. J. 7, 138 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-153X-7-138 [Google Scholar]
M. Islam, M. Moniruzzaman, M. Mottalib, S. A. Sulaiman, S. H. Gan, M. Khalil, Physicochemical and antioxidant properties of Bangladeshi honeys stored for more than one year. BMC Complement. Altern. Med. 12, 177 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1186/14726882-12-177 [Google Scholar]
K. Jantakee, Y. Tragoolpua, Activities of different types of Thai honey on pathogenic bacteria causing skin diseases, tyrosinase enzyme and generating free radicals. Biol. Res. 48, 4 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/0717-6287-48-4 [Google Scholar]
S. Saxena, S. Gautam, A. Sharma, Physical, biochemical and antioxidant properties of some Indian honeys. Food Chem. 118, 391–397 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2009.05.001 [Google Scholar]
M. I. Khalil, N. Alam, M. Moniruzzaman, S. A. Sulaiman, S. H. Gan, Phenolic Acid Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Malaysian Honeys. J. Food Sci. 76, C921-C928 (2011) . https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-3841.2011.02282.x [Google Scholar]
M. Schneider, S. Coyle, M. Warnock, I. Gow, L. Fyfe, Anti-microbial activity and composition of Manuka and Portobello honey. Phytother. Res. 27, 1162–8 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.4844 [Google Scholar]
A. Nowak, A. Muzykiewicz-Szymañska, M. Peruzyñska, E. Kucharska, L. Kucharski, K. Jakubczyk, P. Niedzwiedzka-Rystwej, J. Stefanowicz-Hajduk, M. Drozdzik, J. Majtan, Assessment of in vitro skin permeation and accumulation of phenolic acids from honey and honey-based pharmaceutical formulations. BMC Complement. Med. Ther. 25, 43 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04786-1 [Google Scholar]
C. Yun, N. Mohd Nor, Z. Berahim, K. Thirumulu Ponnuraj, Cytotoxic Evaluation of Malaysian Kelulut Honey on Human Gingival Fibroblast Cell Line using MTT Assay. J. Dent. Indones. 28, (2021). https://doi.org/10.14693/jdi.v28i2.1244 [Google Scholar]
O. O. Erejuwa, S. A. Sulaiman, M. S. A. Wahab, Effects of Honey and Its Mechanisms of Action on the Development and Progression of Cancer. Molecules. 19, 2497–2522 (2014). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules19022497 [Google Scholar]
A. N. Fauzi, M. N. Norazmi, N. S. Yaacob, Tualang honey induces apoptosis and disrupts the mitochondrial membrane potential of human breast and cervical cancer cell lines. Food Chem. Toxicol. 49, 871–878 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2010.12.010 [Google Scholar]
Z. Jubri, N. N. N. Narayanan, N. A. Karim, W. Z. W. Ngah, Antiproliferative activity and apoptosis induction by gelam honey on liver cancer cell line. Int J Appl. 2 (2012). [Google Scholar]
M. Huleihel, V. Isanu, Anti-herpes simplex virus effect of an aqueous extract of propolis. Isr. Med. Assoc. J. 4, 923–927 (2002). [Google Scholar]
J. Ghapanchi, A. Moattari, Z. Talatof, H. Ebrahimi, The In Vitro Anti-Viral Activity of Honey on Type 1 Herpes Simplex Virus. (2011). [Google Scholar]
A. Kujumgiev, I. Svetkova, Y. Serkedjieva, V. Bankova, R. Christov, S. Popov, Antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity of propolis of different geographic origin. J. Ethnopharmacol. 64, 235–240 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(98)00131-7 [Google Scholar]
K. Ruoff, J. M. Devant, G. Hansman, Natural extracts, honey, and propolis as human norovirus inhibitors. Scientific reports 12, 8116 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11643-5 [Google Scholar]
E. B. Kwon, Y. S. Kim, B. Kim, S. G. Kim, S. J. Na, Y. Go, H. M. Choi, H. J. Lee, S. M. Han, J. G. Choi, Korean Chestnut Honey Suppresses HSV-1 Infection by Regulating the ROS-NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway. Antioxidants (Basel). 12, 1935 (2023) . https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12111935 [Google Scholar]
B. Roschek, Jr., R. C. Fink, M. D. McMichael, D. Li, R. S. Alberte, J. P., Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 infection in vitro. Phytochemistry 70, 1255–1261 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.06.003 [Google Scholar]
M. Moniruzzaman, S. A. Sulaiman, S. H. Gan. Phenolic Acid and Flavonoid Composition of Malaysian Honeys. J. Food Biochem. 41, e12282, (2017). [Google Scholar]
P. C. H. Hollman, Absorption, Bioavailability, and Metabolism of Flavonoids. Pharm. Biol. 42, 74–83 (2004). https://doi.org/10.3109/13880200490893492 [Google Scholar]
Y. Fang, W. Cao, M. Xia, S. Pan, X. Xu, Study of Structure and Permeability Relationship of Flavonoids in Caco-2 Cells. Nutrients. 9, 1301 (2017) . https://doi.org/10.3390/nu9121301 [Google Scholar]
R. Ancuceanu, M. Dinu, C. Dinu-Pirvu, V. Anuía, V. Negulescu, Pharmacokinetics of B-Ring Unsubstituted Flavones. Pharmaceutics. 11, 370 (2019) . https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics11080370 [Google Scholar]
P. P. Zareie, Honey as an antiviral agent against respiratory syncytial virus. (University of Waikato, 2011 ). [Google Scholar]
M. Behbahani, Anti-HIV-1 activity of eight monofloral Iranian honey types. PLoS One 9, e108195 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0108195 [Google Scholar]
W. Fan, S. Qian, P. Qian, X. Li, Antiviral activity of luteolin against Japanese encephalitis virus. Virus Research. 220, 112–116 (2016) . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virusres.2016.04.021. [Google Scholar]
N. I. Barkhadle, R. Mohamud, T. N. A. Mat Jusoh, R. H. Shueb, In vitro Evaluation of Anti-Chikungunya Virus Activities of Tualang Honey. Trop Biomed. 38, 42–49 (2021). https://doi.org/10.47665/tb.38.L008 [Google Scholar]

Current usage metrics show cumulative count of Article Views (full-text article views including HTML views, PDF and ePub downloads, according to the available data) and Abstracts Views on Vision4Press platform.

Data correspond to usage on the plateform after 2015. The current usage metrics is available 48-96 hours after online publication and is updated daily on week days.

Initial download of the metrics may take a while.