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Review

Antioxidant Capacity and Therapeutic Applications of Honey: Health Benefits, Antimicrobial Activity and Food Processing Roles

by
Ivana Tlak Gajger
1,*,
Showket Ahmad Dar
2,
Mohamed Morsi M. Ahmed
3,4,
Magda M. Aly
3 and
Josipa Vlainić
5
1
Department for Biology and Pathology of Fish and Bees, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
2
Division of Agricultural Entomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar 191111, India
3
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
4
Nucleic Acids Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City for Scientific Research and Technological Applications, Alexandria 21934, Egypt
5
Laboratory for Oxidative Stress, Institute Ruđer Bošković, Bijenička Cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Antioxidants 2025, 14(8), 959; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14080959 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 11 July 2025 / Revised: 30 July 2025 / Accepted: 1 August 2025 / Published: 4 August 2025

Abstract

Honey is a natural product of honeybees that has been consumed for centuries due to its nutritional value and potential health benefits. Recent scientific research has focused on its antioxidant capacity, which is linked to a variety of bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids, enzymes (e.g., glucose oxidase, catalase), flavonoids, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, amino acids, and proteins. Together, these components work synergistically to neutralize free radicals, regulate antioxidant enzyme activity, and reduce oxidative stress. This review decisively outlines the antioxidant effects of honey and presents compelling clinical and experimental evidence supporting its critical role in preventing diseases associated with oxidative stress. Honey stands out for its extensive health benefits, which include robust protection against cardiovascular issues, notable anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects, enhanced glycemic control in diabetes, immune modulation, neuroprotection, and effective wound healing. As a recognized functional food and dietary supplement, honey is essential for the prevention and adjunct treatment of chronic diseases. However, it faces challenges due to variations in composition linked to climatic conditions, geographical and floral sources, as well as hive management practices. The limited number of large-scale clinical trials further underscores the need for more research. Future studies must focus on elucidating honey’s antioxidant mechanisms, standardizing its bioactive compounds, and examining its synergistic effects with other natural antioxidants to fully harness its potential.
Keywords: Apis mellifera; reactive oxygen species; honey; diseases; health disorders; antioxidants; phytochemicals Apis mellifera; reactive oxygen species; honey; diseases; health disorders; antioxidants; phytochemicals

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MDPI and ACS Style

Tlak Gajger, I.; Dar, S.A.; Ahmed, M.M.M.; Aly, M.M.; Vlainić, J. Antioxidant Capacity and Therapeutic Applications of Honey: Health Benefits, Antimicrobial Activity and Food Processing Roles. Antioxidants 2025, 14, 959. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14080959

AMA Style

Tlak Gajger I, Dar SA, Ahmed MMM, Aly MM, Vlainić J. Antioxidant Capacity and Therapeutic Applications of Honey: Health Benefits, Antimicrobial Activity and Food Processing Roles. Antioxidants. 2025; 14(8):959. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14080959

Chicago/Turabian Style

Tlak Gajger, Ivana, Showket Ahmad Dar, Mohamed Morsi M. Ahmed, Magda M. Aly, and Josipa Vlainić. 2025. "Antioxidant Capacity and Therapeutic Applications of Honey: Health Benefits, Antimicrobial Activity and Food Processing Roles" Antioxidants 14, no. 8: 959. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14080959

APA Style

Tlak Gajger, I., Dar, S. A., Ahmed, M. M. M., Aly, M. M., & Vlainić, J. (2025). Antioxidant Capacity and Therapeutic Applications of Honey: Health Benefits, Antimicrobial Activity and Food Processing Roles. Antioxidants, 14(8), 959. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox14080959

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