Honey 'could help fight cancer'  

The humble bee may be able to help fight cancer
Honey and royal jelly could become part of the arsenal of weapons
against cancer, researchers say.
A team from the University of Zagreb, in Croatia, found a range of
honey-bee products stopped tumours growing or spreading in tests on
mice.

Writing in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, they
say human cancer sufferers may also see benefits.

But they said the products should be considered for use along with,
not instead of, chemotherapy treatment.

Tumour growth

The researchers looked at the potential benefits of bee venom and
honey.

 There is no doubt that honey has beneficial properties and can be
very good for you

Dr Emma Croager, Cancer Research UK  
They also examined compounds found in propolis, or bee glue, a
resin-like substance which is used in the construction of honeycombs.

And they also looked at royal jelly from the salivary glands of worker
bees - used as food for young larvae,

Tumours were generated in the mice via the injection of cancer cells,
and each bee product was given to different mice before, at the same
time, or afterwards.

It was found that giving honey orally appeared to inhibit the
development of tumours when it was given before the injection of
cancer cells - although if given afterwards, it appeared to fuel the
development of secondary cancers.

Injecting the mice with royal jelly at the same time as they were
injected with tumour cells significantly reduced the spread of the
cancer.

And injecting bee venom into the tumour appeared to lead to it
shrinking.

When propolis or caffeic acid, a chemical found in propolis, were
injected, researchers saw significantly reduced subcutaneous tumour
growth and an increase in the survival time of mice.

The researchers say it is not yet clear how bee products affect cancer
cells.

But they suggest they may cause apoptosis (cell suicide) or have
direct effects which are toxic to the cells, or which help the immune
system fight the development of tumours.

The research team, led by Dr Nada Orsolic, said their study indicated
honey-bee products could be a useful tool in the control of tumour
growth in research.

They added: "The intake of honey-bee products may be advantageous with
respect to cancer and metastasis [secondary cancers] prevention.

"Further animal and clinical research utilising these substances is
suggested."

Dr Emma Croager, a science information officer at Cancer Research UK,
said: "There is no doubt that honey has beneficial properties and can
be very good for you.

"However, this work is preliminary and careful large-scale studies in
people are needed to confirm if eating honey can protect us from
cancer."