Bee-Derived Products in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Bioactive Constituents, Redox-Modulating Mechanisms, Evidence, and Translational Perspectives
- 1Student Research Club of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Department of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 24 Karłowicza Street, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland
- 2Department of Medical Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, 24 Karłowicza Street, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Abstract
Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic neuroinflammation are closely interconnected processes involved in the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Bee-derived products, including honey, propolis, royal jelly, bee pollen, bee bread, and bee venom, contain diverse bioactive constituents with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and redox-modulating properties. This narrative review summarizes the major bioactive compounds present in bee-derived products and evaluates their potential relevance to neuroprotection. Particular attention is given to mechanisms involving activation of the Nrf2/ARE antioxidant response, inhibition of NF-κB-dependent inflammatory signaling, modulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, mitochondrial protection, regulation of apoptosis, and maintenance of proteostasis. Available evidence from cellular and animal models, together with the limited clinical data, is discussed primarily in the context of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, with additional consideration of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative or neuroinflammatory conditions. Although several bee-derived products and isolated constituents show promising biological effects, their therapeutic translation remains limited by variable chemical composition, insufficient standardization, low or uncertain bioavailability, limited evidence of central nervous system exposure, and safety concerns. Further mechanistic, pharmacokinetic, and well-controlled clinical studies are therefore required before their potential neuroprotective applications can be reliably established.
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BibTeX
@article{garbarek2026beederived,
title = {{Bee-Derived Products in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Bioactive Constituents, Redox-Modulating Mechanisms, Evidence, and Translational Perspectives}},
author = {Jakub Garbarek and Oskar Hys and Alina Woźniak and Karolina Szewczyk-Golec and Jarosław Nuszkiewicz},
journal = {Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/molecules31193564},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13667092},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Bee-Derived Products in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Bioactive Constituents, Redox-Modulating Mechanisms, Evidence, and Translational Perspectives
AU - Jakub Garbarek
AU - Oskar Hys
AU - Alina Woźniak
AU - Karolina Szewczyk-Golec
AU - Jarosław Nuszkiewicz
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/molecules31193564
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13667092
AB - Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic neuroinflammation are closely interconnected processes involved in the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Bee-derived products, including honey, propolis, royal jelly, bee pollen, bee bread, and bee venom, contain diverse bioactive constituents with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and redox-modulating properties. This narrative review summarizes the major bioactive compounds present in bee-derived products and evaluates their potential relevance to neuroprotection. Particular attention is given to mechanisms involving activation of the Nrf2/ARE antioxidant response, inhibition of NF-κB-dependent inflammatory signaling, modulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, mitochondrial protection, regulation of apoptosis, and maintenance of proteostasis. Available evidence from cellular and animal models, together with the limited clinical data, is discussed primarily in the context of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, with additional consideration of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other neurodegenerative or neuroinflammatory conditions. Although several bee-derived products and isolated constituents show promising biological effects, their therapeutic translation remains limited by variable chemical composition, insufficient standardization, low or uncertain bioavailability, limited evidence of central nervous system exposure, and safety concerns. Further mechanistic, pharmacokinetic, and well-controlled clinical studies are therefore required before their potential neuroprotective applications can be reliably established.
SN - 1420-3049
ER -