Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Honey Bee Products—2nd Edition

Tlak Gajger, Ivana; Vlainić, Josipa (2026) Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Honey Bee Products—2nd Edition. Antioxidants, 15 (1). ISSN 2076-3921

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Abstract

Antioxidants have acquired a central position in modern nutrition and preventive medicine, and honey bee products are increasingly recognized as complex natural matrices that provide a rich and diverse source of these compounds. An attractive feature of this Special Issue was the systematic comparison of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties across multiple honey bee products and their combinations, highlighting that pollen and honey bee bread, rich in phenolic acids such as p-coumaric and rosmarinic acid, can display notable antioxidant potential coupled with inhibition of clinically relevant bacterial strains and opportunistic fungi, supporting their positioning as “superfoods” with potential impact on chronic disease prevention. Equally compelling were the contributions that demonstrated synergistic effects in multi-component formulations. Mixtures of honey with polyphenol-rich plant extracts, as well as combinations of honey, royal jelly, and propolis, exhibited enhanced biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical markers, protecting against oxidative and inflammatory damage. This illustrates the potential for bee-based interventions in complex pathophysiological conditions. A recurrent and conceptually important theme was the integration of detailed chemical characterization with functional outcomes, enabling the Special Issue content to move beyond simply cataloging antioxidant capacity and minimum inhibitory concentrations. By coupling advanced analytical techniques with a battery of in vitro antioxidant assays and antimicrobial tests against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi, it was demonstrated that compositional patterns underlie both enhanced redox activity and antimicrobial performance. This multidimensional, mechanism-oriented perspective, spanning composition, processing effects, bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and biological efficacy across diverse honey bee products, provides this Special Issue a distinctive application-oriented profile as well as a strong scientific foundation for the development of standardized, evidence-based functional products from the hive.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	honeybee products; antioxidative activity; antimicrobial activity
Subjects:	BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE > Veterinary Medicine > Veterinary Clinical Sciences BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE > Veterinary Medicine > Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety
Divisions:	Division of Molecular Medicine
Depositing User:	Ema Buhin Šaler
Date Deposited:	19 Jan 2026 15:15
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/10992
DOI:	10.3390/antiox15010099

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