Use of Honey in Liver Disease

Honey is well known for its antioxidant activity, which can theoretically allow it to quench the formation of resonance-stabilized phenoxyl radicals from free radicals. It has recently been used as a dietary supplement and treatment for a number of hepatic diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, acute liver failure, non-alcoholic liver fatty disease, alcoholic liver disease, fibrosis, steatosis, hepatoma, and inflammation of the hepatic portal. Diverse preclinical studies have confirmed the effectiveness of different varieties of honey in the treatment of patients with liver diseases. This chapter presents an overview of the possible mechanisms of how honey decreases the hepatotoxicity of various hepatotoxicants because of its antioxidant, free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, and CYP2E1 inhibitory activities. To establish the exact bioefficacy, bioavailability, and signaling pathways of honey for cell transduction in the management of oxidative-associated liver disorders, further preclinical and clinical studies are encouraged.