Some Characteristics of Honey and Propolis and Their Effects on Covid-19

Year 2021, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 129 - 153, 27.12.2021

Arzu Odunkıran , Memnune Şengül , Seda Ufuk

Abstract

The new type of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by coronavirus‐2 (SARS-CoV-2) has recently led to a global pandemic due to severe acute respiratory syndrome. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is the part of the coronavirus family that contaminates individuals after SARS coronavirus and MERS. Currently, there is no specific medicine, treatment, or vaccine for coronavirus disease. In addition, studies on the use of foods that can be defined as alternative medicine continue in this process. In this context, the consumption of honey bee products in the treatment process, which is called apitherapy, has attracted great interest. Even though the antimicrobial property and immune-strengthen effect of honey are clear, there are limited studies available on its effectiveness against coronavirus outbreaks. In vivo and in vitro studies have been conducted on the potential effects of honey against COVID-19 based on previously investigated antiviral effects and phytochemical components. Despite some bioactive compounds in honey (such as methylglyoxal, chrysin, caffeic acid, galangin, and hesperidin) have shown potential antiviral effects and strengthened the immune system, more studies are needed to understand the mechanism of action of these compounds. Propolis, a material produced by honey bees from disparate resinous substances collected from plants, has been utilized as a traditional herbal source for a long time. It is also commonly consumed as an immune system booster. In this case, with the COVID-19 outbreak, the interest in propolis products has increased even more in the world. Various aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 infection mechanism are potential targets for propolis compounds. SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells is characterized by viral spike protein interaction with cellular ACE-2 and TMPRSS2. This mechanism involves high expression of PAK1, a kinase that mediates coronavirus-induced pneumonia, fibrosis and immune system suppression. There are various in vitro and in vivo antiviral activity studies investigating the inhibitory effects of propolis components on ACE-2, TMPRSS2 and PAK1 signaling pathways. The purpose of this research is to bring together the studies on COVID-19 with the health effects of honey and propolis, to contribute to the in vivo and clinical studies that are still required.

Keywords

Apitherapy, Honey, Propolis, Antiviral effect, COVİD-19, Antimicrobial effect

Bal ve Propolisin Bazı Özellikleri ve Covid-19 Üzerine Etkileri

Abstract

Koronavirüs ‐ 2'nin (SARS ‐ CoV ‐ 2) neden olduğu yeni koronavirüs hastalığı (COVID ‐ 19), şiddetli akut solunum sendromu sebebiyle son zamanlarda küresel pandemiye neden olmuştur. Yeni tip koronavirüs (COVID-19) SARS koronavirüsü ve MERS sonrası insanları enfekte eden koronavirüs ailesinin üyesidir. Halen koronavirüs hastalığı için belirlenmiş kesin bir ilaç, tedavi veya aşı bulunmamaktadır. Bunun yanısıra bu süreçte alternatif ilaç olarak tanımlanabilen gıdaların kullanımı üzerine araştırmalar devam etmektedir. Bu kapsamda apiterapi adı verilen ve bal arısı ürünlerinin tedavi sürecinde kullanılması büyük ilgi çekmiştir. Bal için tanımlanan antimikrobiyal özellik ve bağışıklığı kuvvetlendirici etkisine rağmen, bugüne kadar koronavirüs salgınlarındaki etkinliğiyle ilgili mevcut sınırlı çalışmalar bulunmaktadır. Balın daha önce araştırılan antiviral etkilerine ve fitokimyasal bileşenlerine dayanarak COVID-19'a karşı potansiyel etkisi üzerine in vivo ve in vitro çalışmalar yapılmıştır. Baldaki bazı biyoaktif bileşikler (metilglioksal, krisin, kafeik asit, galangin ve hesperidin gibi) potansiyel antiviral etki göstermiş veya bağışıklık sistemini kuvvetlendirmiş olsa da, bu bileşiklerin etki mekanizmaları için yeni çalışmalara ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Arıların bitkilerden topladıkları farklı reçineli maddelerden ürettiği bir materyal olan propolis, geleneksel şifalı bitkisel kaynak olarak uzun süredir kullanılmaktadır. Aynı zamanda bağışıklık sistemi güçlendiricisi olarakta tüketilmektedir. Bu durumda, COVID-19 salgını ile beraber, dünya çapında propolis ürünlerine olan ilgi daha da artmıştır. SARS-CoV-2 enfeksiyon mekanizmasının çeşitli yönleri propolis bileşikleri için potansiyel hedef olmaktadır. Konakçı hücrelere SARS-CoV-2 girişi, ACE-2 ve TMPRSS2 ile viral spike protein etkileşimi karakterize edilmektedir. Bu mekanizma, koronavirüsün neden olduğu pnömoni, fibroza ve bağışıklık sistemi baskılanmasına aracılık eden, bir kinaz olan PAK1 yüksek ekspresyonunu içermektedir. Propolis bileşenlerinin ACE-2, TMPRSS2 ve PAK1 sinyal yolakları üzerinde önleyici etkisinin araştırıldığı çeşitli in vitro ve in vivo antiviral aktivite çalışmaları mevcuttur. Bu araştırma kapsamının amacı bal ve propolisin sağlık üzerine etkileri ile beraber COVID-19 üzerine yapılan çalışmalarını bir araya getirerek hala ihtiyaç duyulan in vivo ve klinik çalışmalara bir katkı sağlamaktır. 

Keywords

Apiterapi, Bal, Propolis, Antiviral etki, COVID-19, Antimikrobiyal etki

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