Bee Pollen as a Source of Biopharmaceuticals for Neurodegeneration and Cancer Research: A Scoping Review and Translational Prospects

Bee Pollen (BP) has many advantageous properties relying on its multitargeting potential, a new tendency in managing many challenging illnesses. In cancer and neurodegeneration, the multiple effects of BP could be of unequaled importance and need further investigation. Although still limited, availa...

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Main Authors: Rachid Kacemi, Maria G. Campos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/24/5893
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author Rachid Kacemi
Maria G. Campos
author_facet Rachid Kacemi
Maria G. Campos
author_sort Rachid Kacemi
collection DOAJ
description Bee Pollen (BP) has many advantageous properties relying on its multitargeting potential, a new tendency in managing many challenging illnesses. In cancer and neurodegeneration, the multiple effects of BP could be of unequaled importance and need further investigation. Although still limited, available data interestingly spotlights some floral sources with promising activities in line with this investigation. Adopting scoping review methodology, we have identified many crucial bioactivities that are widely recognized to individual BP compounds but remain completely untapped in this valuable bee cocktail. A wide range of these compounds have been recently found to be endowed with great potential in modulating pivotal processes in neurodegeneration and cancer pathophysiology. In addition, some ubiquitous BP compounds have only been recently isolated, while the number of studied BPs remains extremely limited compared to the endless pool of plant species worldwide. We have also elucidated that clinical profits from these promising perspectives are still impeded by challenging hurdles such as limited bioavailability of the studied phytocompounds, diversity and lack of phytochemical standardization of BP, and the difficulty of selective targeting in some pathophysiological mechanisms. We finally present interesting insights to guide future research and pave the way for urgently needed and simplified clinical investigations.
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spelling doaj-art-9fd0a9b3f6834d8ea080989dd41ba8242025-08-20T02:43:42ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492024-12-012924589310.3390/molecules29245893Bee Pollen as a Source of Biopharmaceuticals for Neurodegeneration and Cancer Research: A Scoping Review and Translational ProspectsRachid Kacemi0Maria G. Campos1Observatory of Drug-Herb Interactions, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heath Sciences Campus, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, PortugalObservatory of Drug-Herb Interactions, Faculty of Pharmacy, Heath Sciences Campus, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, PortugalBee Pollen (BP) has many advantageous properties relying on its multitargeting potential, a new tendency in managing many challenging illnesses. In cancer and neurodegeneration, the multiple effects of BP could be of unequaled importance and need further investigation. Although still limited, available data interestingly spotlights some floral sources with promising activities in line with this investigation. Adopting scoping review methodology, we have identified many crucial bioactivities that are widely recognized to individual BP compounds but remain completely untapped in this valuable bee cocktail. A wide range of these compounds have been recently found to be endowed with great potential in modulating pivotal processes in neurodegeneration and cancer pathophysiology. In addition, some ubiquitous BP compounds have only been recently isolated, while the number of studied BPs remains extremely limited compared to the endless pool of plant species worldwide. We have also elucidated that clinical profits from these promising perspectives are still impeded by challenging hurdles such as limited bioavailability of the studied phytocompounds, diversity and lack of phytochemical standardization of BP, and the difficulty of selective targeting in some pathophysiological mechanisms. We finally present interesting insights to guide future research and pave the way for urgently needed and simplified clinical investigations.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/24/5893agingapoptosisautophagybee pollencancerepigenetics
spellingShingle Rachid Kacemi
Maria G. Campos
Bee Pollen as a Source of Biopharmaceuticals for Neurodegeneration and Cancer Research: A Scoping Review and Translational Prospects
Molecules
aging
apoptosis
autophagy
bee pollen
cancer
epigenetics
title Bee Pollen as a Source of Biopharmaceuticals for Neurodegeneration and Cancer Research: A Scoping Review and Translational Prospects
title_full Bee Pollen as a Source of Biopharmaceuticals for Neurodegeneration and Cancer Research: A Scoping Review and Translational Prospects
title_fullStr Bee Pollen as a Source of Biopharmaceuticals for Neurodegeneration and Cancer Research: A Scoping Review and Translational Prospects
title_full_unstemmed Bee Pollen as a Source of Biopharmaceuticals for Neurodegeneration and Cancer Research: A Scoping Review and Translational Prospects
title_short Bee Pollen as a Source of Biopharmaceuticals for Neurodegeneration and Cancer Research: A Scoping Review and Translational Prospects
title_sort bee pollen as a source of biopharmaceuticals for neurodegeneration and cancer research a scoping review and translational prospects
topic aging
apoptosis
autophagy
bee pollen
cancer
epigenetics
url https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/29/24/5893
work_keys_str_mv AT rachidkacemi beepollenasasourceofbiopharmaceuticalsforneurodegenerationandcancerresearchascopingreviewandtranslationalprospects
AT mariagcampos beepollenasasourceofbiopharmaceuticalsforneurodegenerationandcancerresearchascopingreviewandtranslationalprospects