Bee products for food and human health

Abstract

The diversity of the products produced by the bees are unique. Apis mellifera are the most popular domesticated bee species used among beekeepers. Probably there are not animal or insect species in the nature producing such a variety of products suitable for human consumption. Honey, bee pollen, bee bread, propolis, royal jelly, wax and bee venom are the whole family of the products produced by the bees. However, some products are more suitable for food (such as honey), others - for health. Because of possible allergic reactions, bee venom is not recommended to use for self-treatment. The diversity of the bee products' biological activities are described in the literature: antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antiproliferative, antimetastatic, immunomodulatory, antiseptic, antistress, antiulcer, antihyperlipidemic, antidiabetic, anticancer and etc. The activities list is not final, as various bee products or their mixtures are highly investigated nowadays. It is difficult to distinguish what has the highest impact to their biological activity. Probably the activity depends on a complex set of factors, such as botanical origin, related to phytochemicals in the bee products, secretion of the honey bees, containing proteins, amino acids, fatty acids, enzymes, pheromones, vitamins and minerals, which are secreted from different glands of the bees, varying the proportions of these compounds among the different bee products, or interaction of these factors.