Indonesian honey as a natural remedy: Accelerating wound healing in Staphylococcus-infected mice
Abstract
Honey derived from different geographical and floral origins exhibits varying antibacterial properties, likely influenced by differences in chemical composition. Honey contains flavonoids, phenols, and various minerals that act as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, antibacterial agents, and immune system boosters, promoting wound healing. In this study, Balb/c mice with normal blood glucose levels were inflicted with two circular full-thickness skin wounds and subsequently infected with Staphylococcus aureus. The wounds were treated with the following: hydrocolloid dressing alone as a control (Control group), hydrocolloid dressing with Java honey (Java group), hydrocolloid dressing with Kalimantan honey (Borneo group), and hydrocolloid dressing with East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) honey (NTT group). The results indicated that body weights were higher in the NTT and Borneo groups compared to other groups, though the differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Exudate weight measurements revealed that the NTT group had the lowest exudate weight, while the control group had the highest. Daily wound area ratio measurements showed that the NTT group exhibited the smallest wound area ratio, whereas the control group had the largest (p < 0.05 on days 1–7). Leukocyte counts were lowest in the NTT group, but no significant differences were observed among the honey-treated groups (p > 0.05). However, a significant difference was observed when comparing the NTT group to the control group (p = 0.037). The NTT group also demonstrated superior performance in terms of re-epithelialization percentage and collagen deposition. Although no significant differences were found among the honey-treated groups on days 3 and 7 (p > 0.05), the NTT group showed statistically significant advantages compared to the control group (p < 0.05). These findings highlight the benefits of honey in wound treatment, with East Nusa Tenggara honey demonstrating the most significant advantages across multiple parameters.
There is no Figure or data content available for this article
References
- 1. Landén NX, Li D, Ståhle M. Transition from inflammation to proliferation: a critical step during wound healing. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2016;73(20):3861-3885. doi:10.1007/s00018-016-2268-0
- 2. Khan FR, Abadin ZU, Rauf N. Honey: Nutritional and medicinal value. Int J Clin Pract. 2007;61(10):1705-1707. doi:10.1111/j.1742-1241.2007.01417.x
- 3. Jull AB, Cullum N, Dumville JC, Westby MJ, Deshpande S, Walker N. Honey as a topical treatment for wounds. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;2015(3). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005083.pub4
- 4. Astrini D, Wibowo MS, Nugrahani I. Aktivitas antibakteri madu pahit terhadap bakteri gram negatif dan gram positif serta potensinya dibandingkan terhadap antibiotik kloramfenikol, oksitetrasiklin dan gentamisin. Acta Pharm Indones. 2014;39(3 & 4):75-83. doi:10.5614/api.v39i3 & 4.5252
- 5. Tashkandi H. Honey in wound healing: An updated review. Open Life Sci. 2021;16(1):1091-1100. doi:10.1515/biol-2021-0084
- 6. Haryanto H, Mukai K, Suriadi S, Sugama J. Effectiveness of indonesian honey on the acceleration of cutaneous wound healing: an experimental study in mice. Wounds. 2012;24(4):110-119. PMID: 25876247
- 7. Sukarno A, Hidayah N, Musdalifah M. Effectivity of Indonesian Honey on Diabetic Foot Ulcers Healing Process: Observational Case Study. Int J Nurs Heal Serv. 2019;2(2):20-28. doi:10.35654/ijnhs.v2i2.88
- 8. Eko Naning Sofyanita. Comparison Of Giving Three Types Of Honey On Exudate Weight In The Healing Process Of Acute Wounds In Balb/C Mice. J Glob Res Publ. 2024;1(1):08-11. doi:10.59435/jgrp.v1i1.2024.2
- 9. Lasito B, Koto Y. Honey Therapy can Decrease the Wound Healing Process in Diabetes Mellitus Patients. J Complement Nurs. 2021;1(1):19-26. doi:10.53801/jcn.v1i01.4
- 10. Yaghoobi R, Kazerouni A, kazerouni O. Evidence for clinical use of honey in wound healing as an anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory anti-oxidant and anti-viral agent: A review. Jundishapur J Nat Pharm Prod. 2013;8(3):100-104. doi:10.17795/jjnpp-9487
- 11. Sofyanita EN, Iswara A, Riadi A. Angiogenesis Stimulation in Bacteria-Infected Acute Wound Healing With Honey Treatment in Balb/C Mice. J Eng Technol Ind Appl. 2023;9(42):16-20. doi:10.5935/jetia.v9i42.869
- 12. Hadisoesilo S. The Diversity of Indigenous Honey Bee Species of Indonesia. Biodiversitas J Biol Divers. 1970;2(1):123-128. doi:10.13057/biodiv/d020107
- 13. Kahono S, Peggie D, Sulistyadi E. Diversity of the Closed-Nested Honey Bees (Apidae: Apis Spp.) and the Traditional Honey Collecting and Beekeeping in Four Islands of Indonesia. Treubia. 2021;48(2):141-152. doi:10.14203/treubia.v48i2.4267
- 14. Irish J, Blair S, Carter DA. The antibacterial activity of honey derived from Australian flora. PLoS One. 2011;6(3). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0018229
- 15. Maghsoudi H, Salehi F, Khosrowshahi M, Baghaei M, Nasirzadeh M, Shams R. Comparison between topical honey and mafenide acetate in treatment of auricular burn. Am J Otolaryngol - Head Neck Med Surg. 2011;32(1):28-31. doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2009.07.005
- 16. Moussa A, Noureddine D, Mohamed HS, Abdelmelek M, Saad A. Antibacterial activity of various honey types of Algeria against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2012;5(10):773-776. doi:10.1016/S1995-7645(12)60141-2
- 17. Iswara A, Tanaka K, Ishijima T, et al. Wound healing in db/db mice with type 2 diabetes using non-contact exposure with an argon non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet device. PLoS One. 2022;17(10 October):1-19. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0275602
- 18. Molan P. Why honey is effective as a medicine: 2. The scientific explanation of its effects. Bee World. 2001;82(1):22-40. doi:10.1080/0005772X.2001.11099498
- 19. Vandamme L, Heyneman A, Hoeksema H, Verbelen J, Monstrey S. Honey in modern wound care: A systematic review. Burns. 2013;39(8):1514-1525. doi:10.1016/j.burns.2013.06.014
- 20. Molan PC. Potential of honey in the treatment of wounds and burns. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2001;2(1):13-19. doi:10.2165/00128071-200102010-00003
- 21. McCarty SM, Cochrane CA, Clegg PD, Percival SL. The role of endogenous and exogenous enzymes in chronic wounds: A focus on the implications of aberrant levels of both host and bacterial proteases in wound healing. Wound Repair Regen. 2012;20(2):125-136. doi:10.1111/j.1524-475X.2012.00763.x
- 22. Suleman L. Extracellular bacterial proteases in chronic wounds: A potential therapeutic target? Adv Wound Care. 2016;5(10):455-463. doi:10.1089/wound.2015.0673
- 23. Bucekova M, Jardekova L, Juricova V, et al. Antibacterial activity of different blossom honeys: New findings. Molecules. 2019;24(8). doi:10.3390/molecules24081573
- 24. Mathew S, Abraham TE, Zakaria ZA. Reactivity of phenolic compounds towards free radicals under in vitro conditions. J Food Sci Technol. 2015;52(9):5790-5798. doi:10.1007/s13197-014-1704-0
- 25. Platzer M, Kiese S, Tybussek T, et al. Radical Scavenging Mechanisms of Phenolic Compounds: A Quantitative Structure-Property Relationship (QSPR) Study. Front Nutr. 2022;9(April):4-8. doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.882458
- 26. Hunt TK. Accelerated Healing of Full-Thickness Skin Wounds in a Wet Environment. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2000;106(3):613-614. doi:10.1097/00006534-200009030-00013
- 27. Martinotti S, Ranzato E. Honey, wound repair and regenerative medicine. J Funct Biomater. 2018;9(2). doi:10.3390/jfb9020034
- 28. Greener B, Hughes AA, Bannister NP, Douglass J. Proteases and pH in chronic wounds. J Wound Care. 2005;14(2):59-61. doi:10.12968/jowc.2005.14.2.26739
- 29. Lambeth JD. NOX enzymes and the biology of reactive oxygen. Nat Rev Immunol. 2004;4(3):181-189. doi:10.1038/nri1312
- 30. Dunnill C, Patton T, Brennan J, et al. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and wound healing: the functional role of ROS and emerging ROS-modulating technologies for augmentation of the healing process. Int Wound J. 2017;14(1):89-96. doi:10.1111/iwj.12557
- 31. Lambeth JD, Cheng G, Arnold RS, Edens WA. Novel homologs of gp91phox. Trends Biochem Sci. 2000;25(10):459-461. doi:10.1016/S0968-0004(00)01658-3
- 32. Al-Jadi AM, Kanyan Enchang F, Mohd Yusoff K. The effect of Malaysian honey and its major components on the proliferation of cultured fibroblasts. Turkish J Med Sci. 2014;44(5):733-740. doi:10.3906/sag-1303-43
- 33. Chung LY, Schmidt RJ, Andrews AM, Turner TD. A study of hydrogen peroxide generation by, and antioxidant activity of, Granuflex® (DuoDERM®) hydrocolloid granules and some other hydrogel/hydrocolloid wound management materials. Br J Dermatol. 1993;129(2):145-153. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2133.1993.tb03517.x
- 34. Love NR, Chen Y, Ishibashi S, et al. Amputation-induced reactive oxygen species are required for successful Xenopus tadpole tail regeneration. Nat Cell Biol. 2013;15(2):222-228. doi:10.1038/ncb2659
- 35. Caley MP, Martins VLC, O’Toole EA. Metalloproteinases and Wound Healing. Adv Wound Care. 2015;4(4):225-234. doi:10.1089/wound.2014.0581
- 36. Chang M. Restructuring of the extracellular matrix in diabetic wounds and healing: A perspective. Pharmacol Res. 2016;107:243-248. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2016.03.008
- 37. Majtan J, Bohova J, Garcia-Villalba R, et al. Fir honeydew honey flavonoids inhibit TNF-?-induced MMP-9 expression in human keratinocytes: A new action of honey in wound healing. Arch Dermatol Res. 2013;305(7):619-627. doi:10.1007/s00403-013-1385-y
- 38. Santibanez JF, Obradovic H, Kukolj T, Krstic J. Developmental Dynamics - 2017 - Santibanez - Transforming growth factor? matrix metalloproteinases and urokinase?type.pdf. Dev Dyn. 2018;(247):382–395. doi:10.1002/dvdy.24554
- 39. Sanchez MC, Lancel S, Boulanger E, Neviere R. Targeting oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in the treatment of impaired wound healing: A systematic review. Antioxidants. 2018;7(8):1-14. doi:10.3390/antiox7080098
- 40. Schäfer M, Werner S. Oxidative stress in normal and impaired wound repair. Pharmacol Res. 2008;58(2):165-171. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2008.06.004
- 41. Bucekova M, Sojka M, Valachova I, et al. Bee-derived antibacterial peptide, defensin-1, promotes wound re-epithelialisation in vitro and in vivo. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):1-13. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-07494-0
How to Cite This
Copyright and Permissions
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Publishing your paper with Jurnal Teknologi Laboratorium (JTL) means that the author or authors retain the copyright in the paper. JTL granted an exclusive reuse license by the author(s), but the author(s) are able to put the paper onto a website, distribute it to colleagues, give it to students, use it in your thesis etc, even commercially. The author(s) can reuse the figures and tables and other information contained in their paper published by JTL in future papers or work without having to ask anyone for permission, provided that the figures, tables or other information that is included in the new paper or work properly references the published paper as the source of the figures, tables or other information, and the new paper or work is not direct at private monetary gain or commercial advantage.
JTL journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. This journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. This license lets others remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
JTL journal Open Access articles are distributed under this Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA). Articles can be read and shared for All purposes under the following conditions:
- BY: You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- SA: If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original.