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Royal jelly (RJ) is a complex beehive product that is important for larval development and queen nutrition in the hive and may also have beneficial effects on human health, according to in vitro and in vivo studies. The main proteins in RJ belong to the Major royal jelly proteins family (MRJPs), representing up to 90% of the total proteins. This narrative review aims to compile the results of studies on MRJPs and their derived peptides to understand their biological effects better, their most important activities being antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-tumor, hypotensive, hypolipidemic, cell growth promoting, wound healing, anti-aging, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory.

The nutritional and therapeutic aspects of natural products have gained more interest in recent years, owing to the importance that has been given to health and well-being. In this regard, honey represents an organic product whose high level of biologically active compounds and valuable nutrients have been extensively studied in order to prove its ability to provide an enhancement in health status. The use of honey in the process of healing or preventing certain diseases has been practiced throughout history and is now known as apitherapy. The aim of this review is to expand the knowledge and understanding towards the physicochemical characteristics of honey and the action of its main bioactive compounds towards health-beneficial properties (antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, etc.) for apitherapeutic purposes. Notwithstanding all the assets, the usage of honey for medical purposes encounters some limi-tations regarding the factors that may affect the therapeutic potential of honey in apitherapy that will be pointed out in this overview.