Sains Malaysiana 47(11)(2018): 2705–2711

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2018-4711-14

 

Malaysian Tualang Honey and Its Potential Anti-Cancer Properties: A Review

(Madu Tualang Malaysia dan Potensi Sifat Anti-Kansernya: Suatu Kajian)

 

AHMAD FIRDAUS BIN KHALID1, JUN JIE TAN2 & YOKE KEONG YONG1*

 

1Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

2Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200 Kepala Batas, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

 

Received: 8 March 2018/Accepted: 30 July 2018

 

ABSTRACT

The use of honey as a therapeutic agent dates back at 8000 years and has markedly increased interest into its potential health benefits. The by-products of the flower nectar have a complex chemical composition which promotes benefits in underlying mechanism of human diseases. Malaysian Tualang Honey (MTH) is a multifloral jungle honey produced by the rock bee (Apis dorsata). This review consolidates the results of carious studies involving biochemical assays of tissue culture and animal trials of anti-cancer properties of MTH. Often studied in the context of breast cancer cell lines, MTH has promising data for possible mechanisms in anti-cancer activity. These include apoptosis via depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane, caspase-dependent apoptosis, reduction of angiogenesis and the promotion of cell cycle arrest without posing cytotoxic effect on normal cell lines. Despite positive outcomes in tissue cultures, the oral administration of MTH in breast cancer animal models showed slower tumour progression, reduction in tumour size and better grading of histological features. The alleviation of breast carcinogenesis via modulation of hematologic, estrogenic and apoptotic activities promotes MTH as a promising anticancer agent. With confidence in a conclusion that MTH is a useful treatment for cancer, further experimental and clinical studies should be conducted.

 

Keywords: Anti-cancer; anti-proliferative; breast cancer; Malaysian Tualang Honey

 

ABSTRAK

Penggunaan madu sejak 8000 tahun yang lalu sebagai agen terapeutik telah meningkat dengan ketara kerana potensi manfaatnya kepada kesihatan. Produk sampingan daripada nektar bunga ini mempunyai komposisi kimia yang kompleks dan menpromosikan manfaat untuk mengubati penyakit manusia pada peringkat asas mekanisme penyakit tersebut. Madu Tualang Malaysia (MTH) adalah madu hutan pelbagai jenis flora yang dihasilkan oleh lebah Tualang, lebah madu gergasi atau dikenali sebagai naning (Apis dorsata). Kertas ini melaporkan keputusan pelbagai kajian yang melibatkan ujian biokimia untuk menguji sifat anti-kanser MTH yang dijalankan terhadap kultur tisu dan model haiwan. Kajian yang dijalankan ke atas sel selanjar kanser payudara menunjukkan bahawa MTF mempunyai aktiviti anti-kanser. Perkara ini termasuklah apoptosis melalui depolarisasi membran mitokondria, apoptosis bersandarkan-caspase, pengurangan angiogenesis dan pemberhentian kitaran sel tanpa mempunyai kesan sitotoksik terhadap sel selanjar normal. Walaupun kesan positif MTF terhadap kultur sel, pemberian MTH secara oral kepada model kanser payudara haiwan menunjukkan bahawa MTH memperlahankan perkembangan tumor, mengurangkan saiz tumor dan membaiki gred histologi sel tumor. Kesan MTH terhadap pengurangan karsinogenesis payudara melalui modulasi aktiviti hematologi, estrogen dan apoptosis memungkinkan MTH menjadi agen anti-kanser yang berpotensi. Untuk memperoleh keputusan yang lebih meyakinkan bahawa MTH boleh menjadi rawatan yang berguna untuk kanser, uji kaji lanjutan dan kajian klinikal perlu dilakukan.

 

Kata kunci: Anti-kanser; anti-proliferasi; kanser payudara; Madu Tualang Malaysia

 

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*Corresponding author; email: yoke_keong@upm.edu.my

 

 

 

 

 

 

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