Honey and royal jelly could become part of the arsenal of weapons against cancer, researchers say.A team from the University of Zagreb, in Croatia, found a range of honey-bee products stopped tumours growing or spreading in tests on mice.
Writing in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, they say human cancer sufferers may also see benefits.
But they said the products should be considered for use along with, not instead of, chemotherapy treatment.
Tumour growth
The researchers looked at the potential benefits of bee venom and honey.There is no doubt that honey has beneficial properties and can be very good for you Dr Emma Croager, Cancer Research UK
They also examined compounds found in propolis, or bee glue, a resin-like substance which is used in the hive to varnish over rubbish in the hive - a bit like brushing the dirt under the carpet.
And they also looked at royal jelly, produced by the hypopharyngeal glands in the head of the worker bee - used as food for young larvae,
Tumours were generated in the mice via the injection of cancer cells, and each bee product was given to different mice before, at the same time, or afterwards.
It was found that giving honey orally appeared to inhibit the development of tumours when it was given before the injection of cancer cells - although if given afterwards, it appeared to fuel the development of secondary cancers.
Injecting the mice with royal jelly at the same time as they were injected with tumour cells significantly reduced the spread of the cancer.
