Alzheimer's disease and apitherapy: the therapeutic effect of various honeybee products.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the devastating diseases that has a high incidence without satisfactory preventive and curative strategies. The multi-targeted interventions become a promising alternative to address their complex pathogenesis. This narrative review searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science (January 2010-December 2025) to assess the therapeutic potential of honeybee products for AD management. The use of bee-derived compounds demonstrated neuroprotective advantages via known mechanisms. For instance, honey polyphenols reduce tau hyperphosphorylation and amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions. Pinocembrin a compound of propolis, plays a role in nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B) suppression of microglial activation via its proteolytic degradation and even enhances synaptic plasticity. Phospholipase A2 and melittin inhibited the acetylcholinesterase activity by raising the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Royal jelly has a neurotrophic impact, proven to promote neuroprogenitor cell proliferation, while bee pollen enhances cognitive function via extracellular signal-regulated kinase- cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element-binding protein (ERK-CREB) signaling. Apilarnil can protect and stimulate nerves and possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Despite the notion that apitherapy has a promising role in the management of, challenges including standardization, bioavailability, and clinical validation, warrant more attention prior to the implication in the drug discovery field.