Abstract
Honey was used to treat wounds since ancient times till nowadays. The present study aimed at preparing a honey-based hydrogel and assay its antimicrobial properties and wound healing activity; in-vitro and in-vivo. Topical honey hydrogel formulations were prepared using three honey concentrations with gelling agents; chitosan and carbopol 934. The prepared formulae were evaluated for pH, spreadability, swelling index, in-vitro release and antimicrobial activity. The pH and spreadability were in the range of 4.3–6.8 and 5.7–8.6 cm, respectively. Chitosan-based hydrogel showed higher in-vitro honey release with diffusional exponent ‘n ≤ 0.5 indicates Fickian diffusion mechanism. Hydrogel formulae were assessed for in-vitro antimicrobial activity using Disc Diffusion antibiotic sensitivity test against common burn infections bacteria; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia and Streptococcus pyogenes. The 75% honey-chitosan hydrogel showed highest antimicrobial activity. This formula was tested for in-vivo burn healing using burn-induced wounds in mice. The formula was evaluated for burn healing and antibacterial activities compared to commercial product. 75% honey-chitosan hydrogel was found to possess highest healing rate of burns. The present study concludes that 75% honey-chitosan hydrogel possesses greater wound healing activity compared to commercial preparation and could be safely used as an effective natural topical wound healing treatment.
Highlights
Burns are a common health problem in both developing and industrialized countries
Using honey in treating burns has the advantage of creating a moist environment, it saves the integrity of the burn surface as it is non- adherent, it provides a bacterial barrier that prevents cross-infection and prevents infecting bacteria
The present study aims at overcoming the disadvantages of direct application of honey by formulation of honey-chitosan or honey-cabopol 934 hydrogels, to obtain a pharmaceutical honey topical preparation with desirable healing effects and antibacterial properties
Summary
May result in serious complications due to the low public hygiene measures which might lead to secondary bacterial infections with need to urgent use of antimicrobial agents. The need for effective natural products, such as honey, is essential to overcome the problems of using chemotherapeutics. Honey is widely used due to its evidenced broad therapeutic uses. It is a well-known antibacterial[2], anti-parasitic[3], pain-reliever[4] and it has proven efficiency against respiratory tract infections[5]. Honey has anti-inflammatory properties as it debrides the wound, inhibits scarring and it encourages wound healing by stimulating tissue regeneration in addition to reducing the need for skin grafting. There are no adverse effects from using honey in burn healing[10]
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