Cancer remains a major global health challenge, with approximately 19.3 million new cases and 10 million deaths reported in 2020. This burden is expected to grow by 2040 due to aging populations, shifting lifestyles, and environmental influences. Although conventional treatments—such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy—have advanced, limitations like drug resistance, adverse effects, and high costs drive the search for safer, more effective anticancer drugs. Natural products have played a crucial role in oncology drug development, accounting for nearly 60% of FDA-approved anticancer agents, including doxorubicin and bleomycin. Recently, the honeybee (Apis mellifera) microbiome has gained attention as a largely untapped reservoir of bioactive compounds, thanks to its unique symbiotic relationships and evolutionary adaptations. The bee gut hosts specialized bacteria (e.g., Snodgrassella, Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium) and fungi that generate metabolites with antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and antitumor effects. Additionally, hive products such as propolis (rich in caffeic acid phenethyl ester, CAPE) and royal jelly (containing 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, 10-HDA) exhibit promising anticancer activity in preclinical studies. Honeybee-associated microbes also exhibit ecological resilience, such as pesticide degradation and immune enhancement, which could inspire therapies balancing potency with lower toxicity. However, challenges persist in standardizing compound extraction, scaling production, and translating findings into clinical use. This review consolidates current research on anticancer agents from honeybee-associated microbes, connecting ecological insights with biomedical applications. By exploring this symbiotic system, we highlight its potential to address unmet needs in cancer therapy while advocating for sustainable approaches that support both drug discovery and pollinator conservation.
Zina, H., Shaban, A., Elrefaey, A., Mahdy, H., & Kalaba, M. (2025). Honeybees to Hospitals: Harnessing Microbial Diversity for Anticancer Drug Discovery. Journal of Plant and Food Sciences, 3(1), 102-126. doi: 10.21608/jpfs.2025.377482.1035
MLA
Hamada A. Zina; Abdelghany S. Shaban; Ahmed A. Elrefaey; Hesham M. Mahdy; Mohamed H. Kalaba. "Honeybees to Hospitals: Harnessing Microbial Diversity for Anticancer Drug Discovery", Journal of Plant and Food Sciences, 3, 1, 2025, 102-126. doi: 10.21608/jpfs.2025.377482.1035
HARVARD
Zina, H., Shaban, A., Elrefaey, A., Mahdy, H., Kalaba, M. (2025). 'Honeybees to Hospitals: Harnessing Microbial Diversity for Anticancer Drug Discovery', Journal of Plant and Food Sciences, 3(1), pp. 102-126. doi: 10.21608/jpfs.2025.377482.1035
VANCOUVER
Zina, H., Shaban, A., Elrefaey, A., Mahdy, H., Kalaba, M. Honeybees to Hospitals: Harnessing Microbial Diversity for Anticancer Drug Discovery. Journal of Plant and Food Sciences, 2025; 3(1): 102-126. doi: 10.21608/jpfs.2025.377482.1035
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