Abstract

JAGUA-GUALDRON, Andrés. Cancer therapy with bee products. Systematic review of experimental studies. rev.fac.med. [online]. 2012, vol.60, n.2, pp.79-94. ISSN 0120-0011.

Background. The beehive products have been used for more than two millennia with therapeutic purposes. Theoretical models based on the composition of products suggest that might be useful in cancer management. Objective. To summarize experimental evidence available to date on the use of beehive products in cancer management. Methods. A systematic review of experimental studies published was performed through PUBMED, LILACS and OVID databases in which evaluate the usefulness of the beehive products on tumor cell cultures or animal models of cancer. A qualitative analysis of information was performed and summary tables were constructed. Results. A total of 391 articles was founded of 55 met the inclusion criteria. Bee venom, honey and propolis are the products with a greater number of publications. Most are studies invitro and few animal models that have been made. Mechanisms of action through which they may come to exert pharmacological properties useful in cancer management were described. Conclusion. Application of beehive products in cancer is a nascent but promising field of research. Experimental evidence documents biological plausibility of this application. Animal models are needed to help describe the behavior of products and document their safety and therapeutic use in cancer.

Keywords : Neoplasms; Apitherapy; Bee Venoms; Honey.

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