Composition, Functional Properties and Safety of Honey: A Review.

Honey has been used not only as a food source but also for medicinal purposes. Recent studies have indicated that honey exhibited antioxidant, hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and anti-obesity properties, as well as anti-cancer, anti-atherosclerotic, hypotensive, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory activities. These health benefits of honey could be attributed to its wide range of nutritional components, including polysaccharides and polyphenols, which have been proven to possess various beneficial properties. It is notable that the composition of honey can also be affected by nectar, season, geography, and storage condition. Moreover, the safety of honey requires cautions to avoid any potential safety incidents. Therefore, this review aims to provide recent research regarding the chemical composition, biological activities and safety of honey, which might be attributed to comprehensive utilization of honey. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.