Bee products in the fight against Helicobacter pylori and molecular interactions

Hesham R El-Seedi1, Mohamed S Refaey2, Aida A Abd El-Wahed3

  • 1International Research Center for Food Nutrition and Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Islamic University of Madinah, Madinah 42351, Saudi Arabia.

PubMed

Insights

Bee products offer a promising alternative to antibiotics for eradicating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, potentially preventing gastric ulcers and cancer. These natural compounds exhibit antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties to combat H. pylori.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a leading cause of gastric ulcers and gastric cancer worldwide.
  • Current antibiotic treatments for H. pylori face challenges like recurrence, resistance, and overuse.
  • There is a need for alternative therapeutic strategies to manage H. pylori infections and their complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the potential of bee products as an alternative treatment for H. pylori infection.
  • To review the mechanisms by which bee products exert their effects against H. pylori.
  • To highlight the therapeutic applications of bee products in preventing H. pylori-related gastrointestinal diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature screening using databases such as Sci-finder, Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and Scopus.
  • Keywords included "helicobacter pylori", "epidemiology", "chemotherapy", "honey", "propolis", "bee venom", "bioactive compounds", and "mechanism of action".

Main Results:

  • Bee products possess diverse biochemical and biological characteristics beneficial for treating ailments.
  • Proposed mechanisms of action include direct antibacterial effects, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing capacities.
  • Bee products may disrupt H. pylori cell membranes and inhibit bacterial virulence factors, potentially preventing adherence to stomach cells.

Conclusions:

  • Bee products represent a viable alternative for preventing and eliminating H. pylori infestations.
  • The bioactive compounds in bee products offer promising therapeutic applications against H. pylori.
  • Further research into bee product-based treatments could address drawbacks associated with conventional antibiotic therapies.

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