Therapeutic Review
Therapeutic Review: Manuka Honey

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Historical Use and Clinical Application

The use of topical honey applied in wound care has been documented for several millennia, with records of use dating back to early Egyptian civilizations.2 Across the globe, honeys from separate floral sources have been used to aid in wound treatment; however, it was not until the 20th century that evidence-based medicine supported the use of honey as a medicinal aid.3 In human medicine, honey has been successfully used for the treatment of burns and ulcerated skin wounds with noted advantages

Mechanism of Action

Manuka honey comes from the manuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium) that is native to New Zealand and southern Australia. Like other types of honey, manuka generates a favorable environment in the wound bed during the early stages of healing. Osmolarity, pH, hydrogen peroxide production, and nutrient content all contribute to the beneficial healing effects of honey.3 However, unlike other honeys, manuka also contains a nonperoxide component that offers greater antibacterial activity. Although much

Wound Dressings

The dressing/bandage applied to the wound is critical for wound management success. A multitude of honey-impregnated dressings are now available (Table), although application of store-bought manuka honey is commonly practiced and equally effective. During the early stages of healing, excess exudate is produced from the wound, necessitating bandage changes anywhere from 1 to 3 times daily. Manuka honey can initially be applied to the primary layer; this may consist of gauze or another adherent

Exotic Animal Application

Soft tissue wounds are common among companion animal exotic, wildlife, and zoo animal species. Fight wounds from cage mates, thermal burns, pododermatitis, dental abscesses, and other traumatic injuries are just a few examples of representative wounds diagnosed in exotic animal medicine. The process of wound healing in reptilian and amphibian species is similar to other animals, with only minor differences observed, particularly when the epidermal scales of reptiles are affected.18 Although

Summary

Manuka honey is an inexpensive therapeutic agent that can be used as an effective, topical medication applied to soft tissue wounds. Although manuka honey is still not commonly used in veterinary medicine, the current literature does support the use of manuka honey in wound management. Manuka honey has both antibacterial and proinflammatory properties that aid in wound healing through promotion of granulation tissue. Furthermore, manuka honey, unlike other commercial honeys, contains an active

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References (22)

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    Topical application of honey in the treatment of burns

    Br J Surg

    (1991)
  • Cited by (20)

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      Also, they adversely impact the proton efflux pumps and subsequently, with a modification in the pH range, destroy the membrane's surface charge [50]. Essential oils and honey are other well-known examples of materials in wound care [51,52]. Honey possesses a naturally acidic pH, provoking macrophages to reduce bacteria and biofilm levels.

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      The antimicrobial activity is classified as non-peroxide antibacterial activity (NPA). So the manuka honey has important value in medicine and commerce and can be applied as a stomach-protecting health product, soft tissue wound healing agent and medical skin care ingredient [2,3]. It has been demonstrated that methylglyoxal (MGO) in manuka honey is an effective substance of NPA [4].

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      Although, honey in the presence of catalase (an enzyme that degrades hydrogen peroxide) displays a decreased antimicrobial activity [131]. To surpass this drawback, Manuka Honey (MH), which is obtained from the manuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium), unlike other honeys, contains a non-peroxide component, that is not degraded by catalase, is able to sustain its antibacterial activity in biologic fluids [131,132]. MH inhibits the growth of a broad range of microorganisms (including gram-positive strains such as MRSA and S. pyogenes, as well as gram-negative strains like E. coli, Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis), Enterobacter cloacae, and P. aeruginosa) and avoids biofilm formation at the wound site [143].

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