Next Article in Journal
One-Shot, One Opportunity: Retrospective Observational Study on Long-Acting Antibiotics for SSTIs in the Emergency Room—A Real-Life Experience
Previous Article in Journal
Transcriptomic Characterization of Candidate Genes for Fusarium Resistance in Maize (Zea mays L.)
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Pathogens
Volume 14
Issue 8
10.3390/pathogens14080780
pathogens-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Review

Antimicrobial Potential of Bee-Derived Products: Insights into Honey, Propolis and Bee Venom

by
Agnieszka Grinn-Gofroń
1,2,
Maciej Kołodziejczak
1,
Rafał Hrynkiewicz
1,2,*,
Filip Lewandowski
1,2,
Dominika Bębnowska
1,2,
Cezary Adamski
1 and
Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej
1,2,3
1
Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland
2
Center for Experimental Immunology and Immunobiology in Infectious Diseases and Cancer, University of Szczecin, 71-412 Szczecin, Poland
3
3 Regional Centre for Digital Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 70-204 Szczecin, Poland
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Pathogens 2025, 14(8), 780; https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14080780
Submission received: 15 May 2025 / Revised: 27 June 2025 / Accepted: 4 August 2025 / Published: 6 August 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

Bee products, in particular honey, propolis and bee venom, are of growing scientific interest due to their broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. In the face of increasing antibiotic resistance and the limitations of conventional therapies, natural bee-derived substances offer a promising alternative or support for the treatment of infections. This paper summarizes the current state of knowledge on the chemical composition, biological properties and antimicrobial activity of key bee products. The main mechanisms of action of honey, propolis and bee venom are presented, and their potential applications in the prevention and treatment of bacterial, viral and fungal infections are discussed. Data on their synergy with conventional drugs and prospects for use in medicine and pharmacology are also included. The available findings suggest that, with appropriate standardization and further preclinical and clinical analyses, bee products could become an effective support for the treatment of infections, especially those caused by pathogens resistant to standard therapies.
Keywords: bee products; antimicrobial resistance; apitherapy; antimicrobial activity; bees; natural bioactive substances; antibacterial; antiviral; antifungal bee products; antimicrobial resistance; apitherapy; antimicrobial activity; bees; natural bioactive substances; antibacterial; antiviral; antifungal

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Grinn-Gofroń, A.; Kołodziejczak, M.; Hrynkiewicz, R.; Lewandowski, F.; Bębnowska, D.; Adamski, C.; Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej, P. Antimicrobial Potential of Bee-Derived Products: Insights into Honey, Propolis and Bee Venom. Pathogens 2025, 14, 780. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14080780

AMA Style

Grinn-Gofroń A, Kołodziejczak M, Hrynkiewicz R, Lewandowski F, Bębnowska D, Adamski C, Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej P. Antimicrobial Potential of Bee-Derived Products: Insights into Honey, Propolis and Bee Venom. Pathogens. 2025; 14(8):780. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14080780

Chicago/Turabian Style

Grinn-Gofroń, Agnieszka, Maciej Kołodziejczak, Rafał Hrynkiewicz, Filip Lewandowski, Dominika Bębnowska, Cezary Adamski, and Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej. 2025. "Antimicrobial Potential of Bee-Derived Products: Insights into Honey, Propolis and Bee Venom" Pathogens 14, no. 8: 780. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14080780

APA Style

Grinn-Gofroń, A., Kołodziejczak, M., Hrynkiewicz, R., Lewandowski, F., Bębnowska, D., Adamski, C., & Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej, P. (2025). Antimicrobial Potential of Bee-Derived Products: Insights into Honey, Propolis and Bee Venom. Pathogens, 14(8), 780. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens14080780

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop