Honey as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of COVID-19 Infection: A Review
Since ancestor times, honey has been used to promote human health due to its medicinal, and nutritious properties, mainly due to bioactive compounds present, such as phenolic compounds. The emergence of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, led to the pursuit of solutions for the treatment of sy...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/15/7800 |
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| author | Sónia Soares Mélina Bornet Clara Grosso Maria João Ramalhosa Irene Gouvinhas Juliana Garcia Francisca Rodrigues Cristina Delerue-Matos |
| author_facet | Sónia Soares Mélina Bornet Clara Grosso Maria João Ramalhosa Irene Gouvinhas Juliana Garcia Francisca Rodrigues Cristina Delerue-Matos |
| author_sort | Sónia Soares |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Since ancestor times, honey has been used to promote human health due to its medicinal, and nutritious properties, mainly due to bioactive compounds present, such as phenolic compounds. The emergence of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, led to the pursuit of solutions for the treatment of symptoms and/or disease. Honey has proven to be effective against viral infections, principally due to its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities that attenuate oxidative damage induced by pathogens, and by improving the immune system. Therefore, the aim of this review is to overview the abilities of honey to attenuate different COVID-19 symptoms, highlighting the mechanisms associated with these actions and relating the with the different bioactive compounds present. A brief, detailed approach to SARS-CoV-2 mechanism of action is first overviewed to allow readers a deep understanding. Additionally, the compounds and beneficial properties of honey, and its previously application in other similar diseases, are detailed in depth. Despite the already reported efficacy of honey against different viruses and their complications, further studies are urgently needed to explain the molecular mechanisms of activity against COVID-19 and, most importantly, clinical trials enrolling COVID-19 patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:35:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-38ed5775685f4e768f1dfef196b40617 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:35:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-38ed5775685f4e768f1dfef196b406172023-12-03T12:29:24ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-08-011215780010.3390/app12157800Honey as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of COVID-19 Infection: A ReviewSónia Soares0Mélina Bornet1Clara Grosso2Maria João Ramalhosa3Irene Gouvinhas4Juliana Garcia5Francisca Rodrigues6Cristina Delerue-Matos7REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalCentre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB)/Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalCentre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB)/Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, PortugalREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalREQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, 4249-015 Porto, PortugalSince ancestor times, honey has been used to promote human health due to its medicinal, and nutritious properties, mainly due to bioactive compounds present, such as phenolic compounds. The emergence of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, led to the pursuit of solutions for the treatment of symptoms and/or disease. Honey has proven to be effective against viral infections, principally due to its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities that attenuate oxidative damage induced by pathogens, and by improving the immune system. Therefore, the aim of this review is to overview the abilities of honey to attenuate different COVID-19 symptoms, highlighting the mechanisms associated with these actions and relating the with the different bioactive compounds present. A brief, detailed approach to SARS-CoV-2 mechanism of action is first overviewed to allow readers a deep understanding. Additionally, the compounds and beneficial properties of honey, and its previously application in other similar diseases, are detailed in depth. Despite the already reported efficacy of honey against different viruses and their complications, further studies are urgently needed to explain the molecular mechanisms of activity against COVID-19 and, most importantly, clinical trials enrolling COVID-19 patients.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/15/7800honeyCOVID-19natural productsbiological propertiesantiviral activity |
| spellingShingle | Sónia Soares Mélina Bornet Clara Grosso Maria João Ramalhosa Irene Gouvinhas Juliana Garcia Francisca Rodrigues Cristina Delerue-Matos Honey as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of COVID-19 Infection: A Review Applied Sciences honey COVID-19 natural products biological properties antiviral activity |
| title | Honey as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of COVID-19 Infection: A Review |
| title_full | Honey as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of COVID-19 Infection: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Honey as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of COVID-19 Infection: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Honey as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of COVID-19 Infection: A Review |
| title_short | Honey as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of COVID-19 Infection: A Review |
| title_sort | honey as an adjuvant in the treatment of covid 19 infection a review |
| topic | honey COVID-19 natural products biological properties antiviral activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/15/7800 |
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