Backed by Research
Stingless bee honey has been the subject of growing scientific interest because of its unique composition and naturally occurring bioactive compounds. Researchers around the world have studied its chemical profile, antioxidant activity, naturally occurring trehalulose, and other characteristics to better understand how it differs from conventional honey.
Below are summaries of selected peer-reviewed studies highlighting key findings from this research. These summaries are based on the findings of published scientific studies and are provided for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
General Review and Overview
This study, published in the journal Trends in Sciences, found that stingless bee honey contains naturally occurring antioxidants, amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and trehalulose. The researchers reported that the stingless bee honey samples analyzed showed antioxidant activity that was up to 45% higher than the honeybee honey samples included in the study. They also noted that stingless bee honey has a mildly sweet and tangy taste, a thinner consistency, and slower crystallization than conventional honey. Because stingless bees produce much smaller quantities of honey, the authors noted that it is naturally rarer and more labor-intensive to harvest than conventional honey. Read: Stingless bee honey as a functional food
The Value of Stingless Bee Bioproducts for Human Health and Conservation: A Systematic Review
This review, published in the Journal of Food Biochemistry, examined published research on stingless bee honey. The authors reviewed laboratory and animal studies investigating its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, metabolic, and skin-related biological activities. They also reported that stingless bee honey has distinct characteristics compared with conventional honey, including higher moisture content, a mildly sweet and tangy taste, a thinner consistency, and slower crystallization. The review noted that factors such as floral source, geographic location, bee species, and post-harvest processing can influence its composition and antioxidant properties. Read: Stingless bee honey: An overview of health benefits and main market challenges
This review, published in Apidologie, examined published research on the quality, chemical composition, and biological properties of stingless bee honey. The authors reported that stingless bee honey contains naturally occurring sugars, organic acids, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, vitamins, minerals, and other bioactive substances that contribute to its unique composition and antioxidant activity. The review also summarized laboratory and animal studies investigating its biological activities and highlighted that factors such as bee species, floral source, geographic origin, and post-harvest handling can influence the honey's composition and quality. Read: Stingless bee honey (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini): a review of quality control, chemical profile, and biological potential
Stingless bee honey and its potential value: A systematic review
This review, published in Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, examined published research on the characteristics and biological properties of stingless bee honey. The authors reported that stingless bee honey generally has higher moisture content and acidity than conventional honey, contributing to its thinner consistency and tangier taste. The review also found that stingless bee honey contains naturally occurring phenolic compounds and flavonoids and summarized studies reporting higher antioxidant activity than the honeybee honey samples included in those studies. In addition, the authors reviewed laboratory and animal research investigating its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, skin-related, and antioxidant biological activities, while noting that further human studies are needed to better understand these findings. The review also noted that stingless bees typically produce only 1–5 kg of honey per hive each year, making stingless bee honey much rarer than conventional honey. Read: Physiochemical, biological, and therapeutic uses of stingless bee honey
Therapeutic & Health Benefits
This study analyzed honey from the Borneo stingless bee (Heterotrigona itama) collected from a botanical farm in Sarawak. The researchers identified naturally occurring compounds, including phenols and fatty alcohols, and reported antioxidant activity in laboratory testing. They also observed activity against selected bacteria under laboratory conditions. In addition, the honey had lower glucose content than the comparison samples from other regions and contained very low levels of heavy metals, all within established safety limits. The authors suggested that the low heavy metal levels may be related to the bees foraging in a remote, unpolluted environment. Read: High Therapeutic Properties of Honey from the Borneo Stingless Bee, Heterotrigona itama
This review examined published studies comparing stingless bee honey with conventional honey. The authors found that stingless bee honey has a unique nutritional profile, containing naturally occurring phenolic compounds, flavonoids, organic acids, and other bioactive substances. The review also summarized laboratory and animal research investigating its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic properties. Read: The Philippines stingless bee propolis promotes hair growth through activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
Stingless bee propolis: a comprehensive review of chemical constituents and health efficacy
This review examined published research on stingless bee honey and found that it is naturally rich in phenolic compounds, flavonoids, amino acids, and other bioactive substances with antioxidant properties. The authors reviewed laboratory and animal studies investigating its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities and concluded that stingless bee honey shows promise for future research. Read: The potential neuroprotective effects of stingless bee honey
This review, published in Biomolecules, examined published laboratory and animal research on stingless bee honey. The authors reported that stingless bee honey is naturally rich in phenolic compounds and flavonoids, which contribute to its antioxidant activity. The review also summarized studies reporting higher antioxidant and biological activity than the honeybee honey samples included in those studies and discussed research investigating its skin-related biological activities in laboratory models. In addition, the authors noted that darker-colored stingless bee honey generally contains higher levels of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. They concluded that more human studies are needed to better understand its potential applications. Read: Antioxidant-Based Medicinal Properties of Stingless Bee Products: Recent Progress and Future Directions
Chemical, Nutritional, & Bioactive Composition
This study, published in Scientific Reports, analyzed stingless bee honey from five bee species across Malaysia, Australia, and Brazil. The researchers identified trehalulose as a major naturally occurring sugar, representing 13% to 44% of the honey's composition, making stingless bee honey the first known food with trehalulose as a major component. The authors suggested that trehalulose may serve as a distinctive marker for authenticating stingless bee honey and noted that its presence may contribute to some of the biological activities reported in previous laboratory and animal studies. Read: Stingless bee honey, a novel source of trehalulose: a biologically active disaccharide with health benefits
This review examined published research on the chemical composition and biological properties of stingless bee honey. The authors found that stingless bee honey contains naturally occurring phenolic compounds and other bioactive substances that contribute to its antioxidant activity. The review also summarized laboratory and animal studies investigating its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic properties, while noting that additional human clinical studies are needed to better understand its potential health benefits. Read: Investigation of phenolic compounds, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in stingless bee honey (Meliponinae)
Proximate, nutritional, phytochemical and stability analysis of stingless bee pollen from Sarawak, Malaysia
This study analyzed stingless bee honey from three Malaysian stingless bee species and found that each had unique physicochemical characteristics and naturally occurring bioactive compounds. The researchers reported the presence of trehalulose, phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity, with differences observed among the bee species. Read: Physicochemical Characteristics, Antioxidant Capacity, and Antimicrobial Activity of Stingless Bee Honey from Malaysia: Heterotrigona itama, Lophotrigona canifrons, and Tetrigona binghami
This study examined the physicochemical characteristics and biological properties of stingless bee honey. The researchers reported that the honey contained naturally occurring phenolic compounds and flavonoids and demonstrated antioxidant activity in laboratory testing. They also found that the honey's composition and antioxidant activity varied depending on factors such as floral source, geographic origin, and bee species. The study concluded that these natural differences contribute to the unique characteristics of stingless bee honey. Read: Antioxidant and antibacterial capacity of stingless bee honey from Borneo (Sarawak)
Clinical & Experimental Studies / Wound Healing
This study, published in Molecules, investigated the chemical composition of stingless bee honey and identified naturally occurring phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and other bioactive substances that contribute to its antioxidant activity. The researchers reported that the honey demonstrated antioxidant activity in laboratory testing and that its composition varied depending on factors such as bee species, floral source, and geographic origin. The study concluded that these naturally occurring compounds contribute to the unique characteristics of stingless bee honey. Read: A Review on Recent Progress of Stingless Bee Honey and Its Hydrogel-Based Compound for Wound Care Management
This paper examined published research on stingless bee honey and found that it contains naturally occurring bioactive compounds, including phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties. The authors reviewed studies investigating its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and metabolic activities, and concluded that stingless bee honey shows promise as a functional food. Read: Stingless-bee (Trigona itama) honey adversely impacts the growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines (HSC-2)
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