A Sustainable Niche Market: How Does Honey Behave?

Honey as a Natural Antimicrobial

Honey, a natural product with a rich history of medicinal use, has gained increasing recognition for its potent antimicrobial properties, particularly against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. This review focuses on the antimicrobial mechanisms of honey, including its efficacy against resistant bacteria, such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antimicrobial action of honey is multifactorial, involving hydrogen peroxide production, phenolic compounds, high sugar concentrations, and the presence of bee defensin-1. The composition of honey varies based on its floral source, which can influence its antimicrobial strength. Certain types, such as Manuka honey, are particularly effective in clinical applications due to their higher levels of bioactive compounds. Honey has also been shown to disrupt bacterial biofilms, a major factor in antibiotic resistance, enhancing its therapeutic potential in treating chronic wounds and infections, especially in patients with compromised immune systems. Moreover, honey's ability to improve wound healing, reduce inflammation, and promote tissue regeneration highlights its broad therapeutic profile. As antibiotic resistance continues to challenge modern healthcare, honey offers a promising complementary treatment in antimicrobial therapy. Research into its specific bioactive components and potential synergistic effects with other natural agents, like ginger and propolis, could expand its applications. Standardizing honey products for medical use and establishing clinical guidelines are essential for optimizing its therapeutic benefits. As scientific understanding of honey's antimicrobial mechanisms deepens, its integration into healthcare systems as an adjunct therapy is expected to increase, offering a natural and effective alternative in the fight against infectious diseases.

Bio-functional properties and phytochemical composition of selected Apis mellifera honey from Africa

Globally, the demand for natural remedies such as honey to manage ailments has increased. Yet, the health benefits and chemical composition of African honeys are not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to characterise the bio-functional properties and the phytochemical composition of 18 Apis mellifera honeys from Kenya, Uganda, and Cameroon in comparison to the popular and commercially available Manuka 5+ honey from New Zealand. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay (DPPH-RSA) was used to determine the antioxidant property, whilst the agar well diffusion and broth dilution (Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)) assays were used to determine antimicrobial property. Further, colorimetric methods were used for phytochemical analysis. Our results showed that honeys collected from Rift Valley region of Kenya (e.g. Poi, Salabani and Mbechot) and Western region of Cameron (e.g. Bangoulap) had the highest antioxidant (DPPH RSA of 41.52-43.81%) and antimicrobial (MIC (3.125-6.25% w/v) and MBC (6.25-12.5% w/v)) activities. Additionally, the total flavonoid (770-970 mg QE/100 g), phenol (944.79-1047.53 mg GAE/100 g), terpenoid (239.78-320.89 mg LE/100 g) and alkaloid (119.40-266.57 mg CE/100 g) contents reached the highest levels in these bioactive African honeys, which significantly and positively correlated with their bio-functional properties. The functional and phytochemical composition of these bioactive African honeys were similar to or higher than those of the Manuka 5+ honey. Furthermore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of African honeys revealed 10 most prominent volatile organic compounds that contribute to their geographical distinction: triacontane, heptacosane, (Z)-9-tricosene, tetracosane, 6-propyl-2,3-dihydropyran-2,4-dione, octacosane, 1,2,4-trimethylcyclohexane, 1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) benzene, 2-methylheptane and phytol. Overall, our findings suggest that some of the tested African honeys are natural sources of antimicrobial and antioxidant therapies that can be exploited upon further research and commercialized as high value honey.

International regional competitiveness of rural territories as a factor of their socio-economic development: Methodological aspects

The study aims to develop a scientific and methodological approach to the formation of a model for managing the international competitiveness of rural areas based on an assessment of the existing export and production potential to form priorities for their socio-economic development. Research methods involve a systematic approach, an integrated approach, an algorithmization using methods of integral assessment of competitiveness, etc. The research allowed the development of a conceptual model for managing the international competitiveness of rural regions. The model includes a variable list of determinants and indicators of the formation of competitive advantages of rural territories depending on the export-production potential and strategic goals of their development. The paper presents a model management algorithm and a set of complementary methodological techniques used to assess international and regional competitiveness. The scientific novelty lies in the developed scientific and methodological approaches and practical recommendations for the formation of international and regional competitiveness in rural areas. Moreover, a system of determinants of the competitiveness formation of rural territories and a system of indicators for its assessment have been developed.

Biotechnical Control of Varroa in Honey Bee Colonies: A Trade-Off between Sustainable Beekeeping and Profitability?

Beekeeping faces several challenges, such as the Varroa mite. Few studies have measured the economic performance of farms in relation to the practices used for Varroa control. Our study analyzed various biotechniques (total brood removal, TBR; queen caging, QC; royal cell insertion, CI) and other methods (chemical treatments, CT; thymol use, THY) adopted by Italian beekeepers to show whether the adoption of biotechniques leads to farm profitability or a necessary trade-off between sustainability and profitability. Beekeepers were interviewed about the methods and operations conducted on their farms. The net incomes (NIs) of the farms were calculated and inter- and intrafarm comparisons were performed. A detailed schema of each practice was designed. The net income derived from TBR was the highest in eight out of the nine case studies, followed by CI and then QC. The NI calculated for farms using CT was lower than that for farms using other methods in two of the case studies. We also analyzed different biotechniques applied by the same farm and found that the NI resulting from TBR was higher than that achieved from the use of QC and CI. Our study suggests that use of biotechniques represents a long-term sustainable solution for reducing the level of Varroa infestation, which affects farm net income.

A Choice Experiment Model for Honey Attributes: Italian Consumer Preferences and Socio-Demographic Profiles

Honey production is currently experiencing a great deal of media attention, with many positive attributes of this hive product emerging. The purpose of the study is to investigate consumer preference and what key information informs people's purchase of honey. This study is based on consumer surveys and experimental evaluation. First of all, the relative importance assigned by consumers to 12 honey product attributes was defined by using the best-worst scaling (BWS) methodology. Secondly, the latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify different honey consumers based on preferences. The findings demonstrate that "health aspects" and "organoleptic compound" are the main categories of information that consumers tend to research. The sample segmentation defined four different consumer clusters: people who value health, sustainability, organic sourcing and quality. Additionally, socio-demographic characteristics such as age, education level and profession also played a part on consumer choice and the characterisation of each cluster. This study can contribute to fostering good nutrition and improving sustainability within communities.

The impact of packaging design on the perceived quality of honey by Brazilian consumers

This study aimed to construct and validate a scale to evaluate the honey consumer perception. Furthermore, the impact of packaging design on honey's perceived quality and purchase intention was evaluated. Brazilian consumers (n = 343) answered the 21 self-descriptive statements of the scale using 7-point Likert scales. Furthermore, six different packages were presented, and the consumer perception (health, origin, safety, and taste) and purchase intention were evaluated using 5-point and 7-point Likert scales, respectively. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses and PLS path modeling were employed. The validated scale had 13 self-descriptive statements (indicators with factor loading higher than 0.4) and showed discriminant (heterotrait-monotrait ratio values < 0.85) and convergent validity (average variance extracted > 0.4) and adequate reliability (composite reliability > 0.70). The consumers associated honey with health properties and a safe product. Furthermore, they preferred honey purchased directly from producers due to its perceived quality (natural and pure). Honey packaged in glass jars with or without dipper was perceived as healthier, tastier, higher quality, and from trusted origin. Furthermore, glass jars were considered more practical and sustainable packages.

Protective Roles of Honey in Reproductive Health: A Review

Nowadays, most people who lead healthy lifestyles tend to use natural products as supplements, complementary medicine or alternative treatments. Honey is God's precious gift to mankind. Honey has been highly appreciated and extensively used since ancient history due to its high nutritional and therapeutic values. It is also known to enhance fertility. In the last few decades, the important role of honey in modern medicine has been acknowledged due to the large body of convincing evidence derived from extensive laboratory studies and clinical investigations. Honey has a highly complex chemical and biological composition that consists of various essential bioactive compounds, enzymes, amino and organic acids, acid phosphorylase, phytochemicals, carotenoid-like substances, vitamins and minerals. Reproductive health and fertility rates have declined in the last 30 years. Therefore, this review aimed to highlight the protective role of honey as a potential therapeutic in maintaining reproductive health. The main role of honey is to enhance fertility and treat infertility problems by acting as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy for protecting the vagina and uterus from atrophy, protecting against the toxic effects of xeno-oestrogenic agents on female reproductive functions and helping in the treatment of gynaecological disorders, such as vulvovaginal candidiasis infection, that affect women's lives.