Honey: A Potential Anthelmintic Agent

Honey is a product derived from the action of bees using flower nectar. It consists of a mixture rich in biomolecules such as proteins and sugars, as well as some organic acids and other minor components responsible for the organoleptic properties and characteristics. Over the years, honey has been used in food and medicine. Modern research has confirmed that honey has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and a number of other properties, including anthelmintic action. In this context, helminthic infections remain one of the major problems faced by humanity. Soil-transmitted helminthiasis is still one of the most important neglected diseases in the word. In addition, the control and treatment of these parasites is often inadequate, leading to resistance. Therefore, new control alternatives for helminthiasis are urgently needed. Thus, this chapter aims to discuss the potential use of honey as an anthelmintic agent. We will review what the scientific literature already presents on the subject and on the perspectives of research and applications.