Quality Assessment of Native Iranian Cedar and Citrus Honeys: Bioactive Components, Antioxidant Activity, and Estrogenic Properties in MCF-7 Cells

This study investigates the antioxidant and estrogenic properties of native Iranian honeys, particularly in human breast cancer. Honey’s bioactive compounds are crucial in combating oxidative stress and preventing chronic diseases such as cancer, yet limited research has focused on these effects spe...

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Main Authors: Maryam Asnaashari, Zahra Tayarani-Najaran, Dina Shahrampour, Ataollah Rahimi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Food Quality
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jfq/4928391
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author Maryam Asnaashari
Zahra Tayarani-Najaran
Dina Shahrampour
Ataollah Rahimi
author_facet Maryam Asnaashari
Zahra Tayarani-Najaran
Dina Shahrampour
Ataollah Rahimi
author_sort Maryam Asnaashari
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the antioxidant and estrogenic properties of native Iranian honeys, particularly in human breast cancer. Honey’s bioactive compounds are crucial in combating oxidative stress and preventing chronic diseases such as cancer, yet limited research has focused on these effects specific to Iranian honeys. Utilizing the E-screen method, the proliferative effects (PEs) of cedar and citrus honeys versus commercial varieties were analyzed. The findings revealed that cedar honey possessed the highest phenolic content (93.09 mg/100 g) followed by citrus honey of southern Iran (61.06 mg/100 g) and citrus honey of northern Iran (43.18 mg/100 g), significantly enhancing its antioxidant activity, as evidenced by a DPPH free radical inhibition of 47.1%. Estrogenic activity was also notable, with cedar honey promoting MCF-7 cell proliferation (PE = 1.21) more effectively than other samples. However, increased concentrations induced cytotoxic effects, inhibiting cell growth from 5 mg/mL onwards. Intriguingly, citrus honeys also elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) at 0.1 mg/mL, suggesting a complex interplay between antioxidant and estrogenic actions. Also, cedar honey had a greater ability to inhibit MCF-7 cells with an apoptosis rate of 25.5% compared to the others. Overall, cedar and citrus honeys exhibit dose-dependent estrogenic activity and promote ROS production, underscoring their potential as functional foods in cancer prevention strategies.
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issn 1745-4557
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publishDate 2025-01-01
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series Journal of Food Quality
spelling doaj-art-c37ba4d403754fe7bdc69fc42b678ea12025-08-20T03:53:46ZengWileyJournal of Food Quality1745-45572025-01-01202510.1155/jfq/4928391Quality Assessment of Native Iranian Cedar and Citrus Honeys: Bioactive Components, Antioxidant Activity, and Estrogenic Properties in MCF-7 CellsMaryam Asnaashari0Zahra Tayarani-Najaran1Dina Shahrampour2Ataollah Rahimi3Halal Research Center of IRITargeted Drug Delivery Research CenterDepartment of Food Safety and Quality ControlAnimal Science Research DepartmentThis study investigates the antioxidant and estrogenic properties of native Iranian honeys, particularly in human breast cancer. Honey’s bioactive compounds are crucial in combating oxidative stress and preventing chronic diseases such as cancer, yet limited research has focused on these effects specific to Iranian honeys. Utilizing the E-screen method, the proliferative effects (PEs) of cedar and citrus honeys versus commercial varieties were analyzed. The findings revealed that cedar honey possessed the highest phenolic content (93.09 mg/100 g) followed by citrus honey of southern Iran (61.06 mg/100 g) and citrus honey of northern Iran (43.18 mg/100 g), significantly enhancing its antioxidant activity, as evidenced by a DPPH free radical inhibition of 47.1%. Estrogenic activity was also notable, with cedar honey promoting MCF-7 cell proliferation (PE = 1.21) more effectively than other samples. However, increased concentrations induced cytotoxic effects, inhibiting cell growth from 5 mg/mL onwards. Intriguingly, citrus honeys also elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) at 0.1 mg/mL, suggesting a complex interplay between antioxidant and estrogenic actions. Also, cedar honey had a greater ability to inhibit MCF-7 cells with an apoptosis rate of 25.5% compared to the others. Overall, cedar and citrus honeys exhibit dose-dependent estrogenic activity and promote ROS production, underscoring their potential as functional foods in cancer prevention strategies.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jfq/4928391
spellingShingle Maryam Asnaashari
Zahra Tayarani-Najaran
Dina Shahrampour
Ataollah Rahimi
Quality Assessment of Native Iranian Cedar and Citrus Honeys: Bioactive Components, Antioxidant Activity, and Estrogenic Properties in MCF-7 Cells
Journal of Food Quality
title Quality Assessment of Native Iranian Cedar and Citrus Honeys: Bioactive Components, Antioxidant Activity, and Estrogenic Properties in MCF-7 Cells
title_full Quality Assessment of Native Iranian Cedar and Citrus Honeys: Bioactive Components, Antioxidant Activity, and Estrogenic Properties in MCF-7 Cells
title_fullStr Quality Assessment of Native Iranian Cedar and Citrus Honeys: Bioactive Components, Antioxidant Activity, and Estrogenic Properties in MCF-7 Cells
title_full_unstemmed Quality Assessment of Native Iranian Cedar and Citrus Honeys: Bioactive Components, Antioxidant Activity, and Estrogenic Properties in MCF-7 Cells
title_short Quality Assessment of Native Iranian Cedar and Citrus Honeys: Bioactive Components, Antioxidant Activity, and Estrogenic Properties in MCF-7 Cells
title_sort quality assessment of native iranian cedar and citrus honeys bioactive components antioxidant activity and estrogenic properties in mcf 7 cells
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jfq/4928391
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AT dinashahrampour qualityassessmentofnativeiraniancedarandcitrushoneysbioactivecomponentsantioxidantactivityandestrogenicpropertiesinmcf7cells
AT ataollahrahimi qualityassessmentofnativeiraniancedarandcitrushoneysbioactivecomponentsantioxidantactivityandestrogenicpropertiesinmcf7cells