Bee Pollen Research
34 peer-reviewed studies · Evidence score: 7/10
Bee products as alternatives in the treatment of viral infections
Otręba M et al. • Journal of the science of food and agriculture (2026)
Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
- The mechanism of the antiviral effect of these products varies widely depending on the type of product and the virus.
- Thus, more in vitro and in vivo studies should be performed to confirm the use of bee products as a safe and promising adjunctive treatment in antiviral therapy. © 2025 The Author(s).
- Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.© 2025 The Author(s).
Ensuring the Safe Use of Bee Products: A Review of Allergic Risks and Management
Matuszewska-Mach E et al. • International journal of molecular sciences (2025)
Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms of HBP allergies and improve safety for all users.
- Severe reactions following intake of bee bread have not been reported to date.
- Management of HBP allergic reactions centres on avoiding the products, educating about the risks, and providing more precise product labelling, specifying the allergen content.
- Individuals with atopy and beekeepers are at heightened risk of developing anaphylaxis; therefore, they should be particularly aware of the potential dangerous consequences of HPB use.
The Utilization of Bee Products as a Holistic Approach to Managing Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome-Related Infertility
Ali A et al. • Nutrients (2023)
The review gives detailed insights into the reversal and restorative properties of bee products against the aberrations in reproductive health caused by PCOS.
- A total of 47 studies were finalized for the review.
- It can be observed that in vivo data on the use of bee products in treating PCOS mostly deals with their use in synergism with the PCOS medicines to enhance their effect and/or curb their side effects; however, clinical trials for the same are limited.
- With the amount of data being limited, it is difficult to map out the mechanism by which these products act in managing PCOS inside the human body.
Honey varieties vs metal and pesticide content - literature review and own research
Gałczyńska M et al. • Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM (2025)
The results obtained provide new qualitative and quantitative data on the composition and potential contamination of varietal honeys over the past 10 years, a period characterised by legislative changes aimed at reducing pesticide and metal contamination of terrestrial ecosystems.
- Systematic review examining Bee Pollen efficacy
- Published in Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine : AAEM (2025)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Preparation technologies, structural characteristics and biological activities of polysaccharides from bee pollen: A review
Zhou W et al. • International journal of biological macromolecules (2025)
All rights reserved.
- Moreover, bee pollen polysaccharides have antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and antitumor activities, exhibiting potential application in functional foods.
- Furthermore, bee pollen polysaccharides can modulate the composition of gut microbiota and promote the production of short-chain fatty acids.
- It is expected that this review can provide inspiration for the development and utilization of bee pollen polysaccharides.Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V.
The Chemical Residues in Secondary Beekeeping Products of Environmental Origin
Wojtacka J • Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2024)
This should be ensured via harmonized requirements arising from the binding legal acts, especially in international and intercontinental trade zones.
- The different residues in these products constitute a problem, which has been reported in numerous studies.
- All products derived from beekeeping are made by bees, but they are also influenced by the environment.
- Such a dual pathway requires detailed surveillance of hazards stemming from outside and inside the apiary.
New insights into bee pollen: Nutrients, phytochemicals, functions and wall-disruption
Qiao J et al. • Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.) (2024)
All rights reserved.
- Wall-disruption appears effective in releasing and digesting nutrients and exploiting bee pollen's bioactivities.
- Finally, the review underscores the need for future studies to elucidate the mechanisms of beneficial effects.
- This paper will likely help us gain better insight into bee pollen to develop further functional foods, personalized nutraceuticals, cosmetics products, and medicine.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd.
Natural Remedies and Health; A Review of Bee Pollen and Bee Bread Impact on Combating Diabetes and Obesity
El-Seedi HR et al. • Current nutrition reports (2024)
BP and BB nutritional qualities and health benefits make them promising candidates for further research towards diabetes and obesity treatment strategies.
- Systematic review examining Bee Pollen efficacy
- Published in Current nutrition reports (2024)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Bee Pollen as a Source of Biopharmaceuticals for Neurodegeneration and Cancer Research: A Scoping Review and Translational Prospects
Kacemi R et al. • Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2024)
We finally present interesting insights to guide future research and pave the way for urgently needed and simplified clinical investigations.
- A wide range of these compounds have been recently found to be endowed with great potential in modulating pivotal processes in neurodegeneration and cancer pathophysiology.
- In addition, some ubiquitous BP compounds have only been recently isolated, while the number of studied BPs remains extremely limited compared to the endless pool of plant species worldwide.
- We finally present interesting insights to guide future research and pave the way for urgently needed and simplified clinical investigations.
Effects of superfoods on risk factors of metabolic syndrome: a systematic review of human intervention trials
van den Driessche JJ et al. • Food & function (2018)
Furthermore, conclusions may be different if other health benefits are considered.
- Overall, only limited evidence was found for the effects of the foods described as superfoods on metabolic syndrome parameters, since results were not consistent or the number of controlled intervention trials was limited.
- The inconsistencies might have been related to intervention-related factors, such as duration or dose.
- Furthermore, conclusions may be different if other health benefits are considered.
General Nutritional Profile of Bee Products and Their Potential Antiviral Properties against Mammalian Viruses
Asma ST et al. • Nutrients (2022)
With such significant antiviral potential, bee products and their bioactive components/extracts can be effectively employed as an alternative strategy to improve human health from individual to communal levels as well.
- Numerous studies have been performed, but many clinical trials should be conducted to evaluate the potential of apitherapy against pathogenic viruses.
- In that direction, here, we review and highlight the potential roles of bee products as apitherapeutics in combating numerous viral infections.
- Available studies validate the effectiveness of bee products in virus inhibition.
Bee Products as Interesting Natural Agents for the Prevention and Treatment of Common Cardiovascular Diseases
Olas B • Nutrients (2022)
This mini-review of papers identified in various electronic databases describes new aspects of the bioactivity of certain bee products, viz. bee pollen, royal jelly, bee venom, propolis, and bee bread, as natural interesting products for the prevention and treatment of common CVDs.
- Apitherapy is a form of alternative therapy that relies on the use of bee products, i.e., honey, royal jelly, propolis, pollen, and bee venom (known as apitoxin), for the prevention and treatment of various diseases.
- Various in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that these products may be effective in the prophylaxis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Bee Pollen: Current Status and Therapeutic Potential
Khalifa SAM et al. • Nutrients (2021)
This review highlights the dietary properties of bee pollen and its influence on human health, and its applications in the food industry.
- Bee pollen contains bioactive compounds including proteins, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and polyphenols.
- The vital components of bee pollen enhance different bodily functions and offer protection against many diseases.
- It is generally marketed as a functional food with affordable and inexpensive prices with promising future industrial potentials.
Antiviral Activity of Bee Products
Kontogiannis T et al. • Current pharmaceutical design (2022)
This narrative review aims to present up-to-date data (including ongoing clinical trials) regarding the antiviral activity of honey bee products, aiming to elucidate how honey bee product supplementation contributes to antiviral treatment.Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.
- On the other hand, their antiviral effect has not been extensively studied.
- However, recent research has demonstrated their potential against various viral infections including SARS-CoV-2.
- Hence, honey bee products could be alternatives to treat viral diseases, especially when there is no effective treatment available.
Review on Bee Products as Potential Protective and Therapeutic Agents in Male Reproductive Impairment
Suleiman JB et al. • Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2021)
Conclusively, these bee products showed positive effects on the steroidogenic, spermatogenic, oxidative stress, inflammatory, and apoptotic parameters, thereby making them a promising possible preventive and therapeutic treatment of male sub/infertility.
- These products included honey, royal jelly, bee pollen, bee brood, apilarnil, bee bread, bee wax, and bee venom.
- We also explained the mechanisms involved in testicular steroidogenesis, reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, which may cumulatively lead to male reproductive impairment.
- The effects of bee pollen, bee venom, honey, propolis, royal jelly, and bee bread on male reproductive parameters were examined.
Bioactives from Bee Products and Accompanying Extracellular Vesicles as Novel Bioactive Components for Wound Healing
Peršurić Ž et al. • Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (2021)
However, promising results in specific applications of the bee products in wound healing and tissue regenerative properties of extracellular vesicles provide a good rationale to further explore this idea.
- Extracellular vesicles are cell-derived membranous structures that show promising potential in various therapeutic areas.
- It has been extensively reported that the use of vesicles, which are naturally formed in plant and animal cells, as delivery agents have many advantages.
- Whether the use of extracellular vesicles from bee products represents a new solution for wound healing remains still to be elucidated.
Therapeutic efficacy of orally administered pollen for nonallergic diseases: An umbrella review
Antonelli M et al. • Phytotherapy research : PTR (2019)
Further studies are needed.© 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Additional preliminary evidence on the topic indicates the potential use of grass pollen extracts for vasomotor symptoms in women.
- Overall, results of the present review suggest that flower pollen extracts may be useful as a complementary remedy for the management of BPH, CP, and vasomotor symptoms.
- Evidence regarding bee pollen is too limited to draw any conclusion on its clinical efficacy.
The Potential of Using Bee Pollen in Cosmetics: a Review
Xi X et al. • Journal of oleo science (2018)
As a natural bee product, bee pollen may effectively enhance protective mechanisms against skin aging, skin dryness, ultraviolet B radiation, oxidative damage, inflammatory and melanogenesis, which are involved in a wide range of negative effects on human skin, thus they have attracted attention for health and cosmetic applications.
- During ancient times in China, bee pollen was used for skin whitening and beauty.
- Published in Journal of oleo science (2018)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings
Biological and therapeutic properties of bee pollen: a review
Denisow B et al. • Journal of the science of food and agriculture (2016)
Although the bee-pollen components have potential bioactive and therapeutic properties, extensive research is required before bee pollen can be used in therapy. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.© 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
- The main difficulty in the application of bee pollen in modern phytomedicine is related to the wide species-specific variation in its composition.
- Therefore, the variations may differently contribute to bee-pollen properties and biological activity and thus in therapeutic effects.
- In principle, we can unequivocally recommend bee pollen as a valuable dietary supplement.
[Sebotropic drug eruption after ingestion of bee pollen]
Vermersch C et al. • Annales de dermatologie et de venereologie (2020)
We report what is to our knowledge the first case of sebotropic drug reaction following ingestion of bee pollen.
- We report what is to our knowledge the first case of sebotropic drug reaction following ingestion of bee pollen.
- Published in Annales de dermatologie et de venereologie (2020)
- Further research warranted to confirm findings