Unprocessed Honey Research Articles

Comparative Evaluation of Honey Versus Alcohol as a Fixative in Cytological Samples: An Institutional Study.

Fixation plays an important role in fixing the cells, making them amenable for evaluation. Ethanol (95%) has been used as a standard cytological fixative. Honey can be introduced as a natural fixative. 1. To study cytomorphological features of smears fixed in 20% unprocessed honey. 2. To study the efficacy of honey as a fixative when compared with ethanol in both hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) stain and Papanicolaou (PAP) stain for cytological samples. A cross-sectional study was done in the Department of Pathology for 2 months on 100 cytological samples consisting of body fluids (peritoneal and pleural), cervical smears, and FNACs. These smears were fixed separately in 95% ethanol and 20% unprocessed honey for 5 minutes and were stained with both PAP and H and E stain. The cytomorphologies of both the smears were compared based on five parameters, clarity of staining, uniformity of staining, overall morphology, nuclear details, and cytoplasmic details, and the final score was calculated by adding all the scores: Total Score ≤2, poor score; 3-4, good score; 5, excellent score. Cervical smears fixed in honey showed similar features to ethanol-fixed smears. Fluid smears fixed in honey and stained with PAP yielded superior results compared to those stained with H and E, as shown by a kappa value of 0.259. However, neither of the smears demonstrated statistical significance. The FNAC samples stained with H and E and PAP exhibited nearly identical results, with a kappa value of 0.688 and 0.647, respectively. FNAC and PAP smears were the next two most successful cytological smear types, with cervical smears exhibiting the best results of the three. In honey-fixed smears, we can easily observe all cellular features with clarity. It enhances safety and the working environment in the laboratory. Honey can serve as an effective substitute in situations where resources are limited.

The High Pressure Preservation of Honey: A Comparative Study on Quality Changes during Storage.

In commercially available honey, the application of a heat treatment to prevent spoilage can potentially compromise its beneficial properties and quality, and these effects worsen with extended storage. The high-pressure processing (HPP) of honey is being explored, but its long-term impact on honey quality has not been characterised yet. This study evaluated the effects of HPP and thermal processing on the microbial load, physicochemical quality (i.e., hydroxymethylfurfural content and diastase activity), and antioxidant capacity of honey after treatment and following extended storage (6, 12, and 24 months) at 20 °C. Pasteurization (78 °C/6 min) effectively eliminated the microorganisms in honey but compromised its physicochemical quality and antioxidant activity. HPP initially showed sublethal inactivation, but storage accelerated the decrease in yeasts/moulds and aerobic mesophiles in honey (being <1 log CFU/g after 24 months of storage) compared to unprocessed honey and honey thermally treated under mild conditions (55 °C/15 min). The physicochemical characteristics of the quality of HPP-treated honey and raw unprocessed honey did change after long-term storage (24 months) but remained within regulatory standards. In conclusion, HPP emerged as a more suitable and safe preservation method for Apis mellifera honey, with a minimal risk of a loss of antioxidant activity compared to traditional industrial honey pasteurization.

Characterisation of Phenolics to comprehend ‘Gunantaradhana (Qualitative transformation)’ of Madhu (Honey) with special reference to Gallic and Tannic acid components

Background: Madhu (honey) has been used as a remedy for diseases such as Prameha (diabetes). Medoroga (dyslipidaemia) and Sthoulya (obesity) are rooted in the principle of "Yogavahitva” or synergism. Kaiyadeva Nighantu speculates on honey's potential after Samskara or processing to obtain specific outcomes. Differences in activities of Madhu mixed and processed with Triphala Kashaya are attributed to polyphenols, among which, Tannic and Gallic acids are significant. Objective: The present study is aimed at identifying Phenolic components in Madhu in the form of Samyoga and Samskara with Triphala Kashaya and quantification of Gallic and Tannic acid through LC-MS/MS. Materials and Methods: Honey was procured from its natural habitat and stored for 1 year. Four samples were prepared and subjected to total phenolic estimation using UV Spectrophotometry and characterisation and quantification through LC-MS/MS. Results: Total phenolic content was BDL in unprocessed Madhu. Triphala Kashaya got 52% higher Tannic acid than Gallic acid content. Gallic acid was reduced by 32% and Tannic acid by 73% in sample 3 (mixing with unprocessed honey) as compared to Triphala Kashaya. In Samskarita Madhu (processed with Triphala Kashaya), Gallic acid was increased by 33.14% and Tannic acid by 19% as compared to Samyoga (sample 3). Conclusion: Triphala Kashaya contains a higher concentration of Tannic acid but it is greatly reduced in Triphala Kashaya Mishra Madhu. However, the concentration of Gallic acid is less affected. Tannic acid has an affinity towards sugar molecules thus reducing its concentration due to the formation of transient bonds. The majority of compounds in the samples remain unidentified, which may contribute to the diverse pharmacological activities.

Linking Measure of the Tropical Stingless Bee (Apidae, Meliponini, and Heterotrigona itama) Honey Quality with Hives Distance to the Source of Heavy Metal Pollution in Urban and Industrial Areas in Sabah, Borneo.

Honey is a natural product of bees, and its chemical composition depends on the nectar sources of the surrounding flora as well as environmental factors. However, keeping hives in areas polluted with heavy metals can affect the quality of bee products such as honey. To date, there have been very few studies on the health risks of consuming honey at various locations in the Malaysian state of Sabah, Borneo, in relation to food standards and heavy metal contamination of honey from the stingless bee, Heterotrigona itama in association with pollutant sources. A total of 63 samples of raw and unprocessed honey were collected directly from beekeepers producing honey at five sites in the industrial areas. All selected heavy metals were measured using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer (ICP-OES). Overall, the most frequently detected element was Zn (0.090 mg/kg), followed by Pb (0.012 mg/kg), As (0.004 mg/kg), and Cr (0.003 mg/kg), while Cd (0.001 mg/kg) was the lowest element in honey from all areas. With the exception of Cr and Zn, a significant correlation was found between PCA factor score 1 and heavy metal concentration in honey for Pb, Cd, and As, suggesting that the source of pollution for these metal elements was from hives closer to major roads, cities/town, petrochemical hub, and power plants. Although the heavy metal concentrations in the honey samples did not exceed the food standard limits and therefore do not pose a health risk, the observed increase in heavy metal concentrations in honey in industrial areas could pose a potential risk in the future due to the growing interest in rearing of stingless bees for honey production in these areas of Sabah.

Protective effect of mixture of honey and Garcinia kola extract against cyclophosphamide–induced reproductive toxicity in male albino rats

Cyclophosphamide is a widely used drug for the treatment of many human malignant tumors. This study evaluated the protective potentials of fresh honey and Garcinia kola extract against reproductive toxicity caused by Cyclophosphamide in male Wistar rat. Group A served as the negative control and were administered feed and normal saline (2 ml/kg bw) daily for six weeks by oral gavage. Group B served as positive control and received feed and Cyclophosphamide (100mg/kg bw) via injection after 24hrs was given normal saline for six weeks. Groups C, D and E received Cyclophosphamide (100 mg/kg bw) via injection after 24hrs was respectively administered fresh honey (2ml/kg bw), a mixture of Garcinia kola and unprocessed Honey (2 ml/kg bw) plus Garcinia kola extract (100mg/kg bw) for the next six weeks. Animals in groups C, D and E revealed increased in body weight gain and this was statistically significant at p&lt;0.05. The final body weight of the cyclophosphamide treated rats was significantly reduced from 183.2±8.02 to 195.10±8.08. A significant (P&lt;0.05) reduction in the weight of the testis of the rats administered with cyclophosphamide compared with the positive control was observed (0.93±0.050 vs 1.22±0.15). However, post treatment with fresh honey, Garcinia kola and a combination of honey and Garcinia kola significantly improved the weights of testes compared with positive control (Group C: 1.13±0.05 vs 0.93±0.05; Group D: 1.20 ±0.020 Vs 93±0.05; Group E: 1.18±0.040 vs 93±0.05). The serum concentration of Luteinizing Hormone, Follicle Stimulating Hormone and testosterone was significant (P&lt;0.05) reduced in group B rats compared with Group A rats. Separate treatments with Garcinia kola extracts and unprocessed honey cause an elevation in serum LH, FSH and testosterone levels compared with the positive control rats. The mixture of Garcinia kola extracts and fresh honey improved serum levels LH, FSH and testosterone significantly (p&lt;0.05) (Group E) compared with group B. The results obtained indicated that fresh honey and Garcinia kola either used separately or in combination can ameliorate Cyclophosphamide (CPA) induced reproductive toxicity in rats.

Comparative study of honey, jaggery an ethanol as cytological fixatives

The processing of cytological samples. It is the gold standard cytological fixative used in many laboratories. However, it is an expensive, volatile and flammable liquid with an irritant smell. It has also been shown to be carcinogenic in some animal models. Hence, a need to identify a safer substitute of alcohol cytological fixative is necessary. The aim of study was to analyse the efficacy of cytological smears fixed in ethanol &amp; 20% unprocessed honey and 30% jaggery solution and to compare the efficacy between the three fixatives on staining. Three buccal smears from 50 healthy volunteers each, were collected from either cheek or tongue using wooden spatula. One of the smear was fixed in ethanol (95%) and Rapid Papanicolaou staining was done. And the other two smear was fixed in honey (20%) and Jaggery (30%) and Rapid Papanicolaou staining was done. The cytoplasmic and nuclear details were evaluated using following parameters:- nuclear staining, cytoplasmic staining, cell morphology, clarity of staining and uniformity of staining. The results were recorded by 2 independent oral pathologists. Pearson Chi square test and Bonferroni post hoc test were used for comparison of qualitative data.

In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Different Honey Samples against Clinical Isolates.

Background The emergence of multi-drug-resistant organisms has created a lot of clinical problems. Hence, there is a need to find natural alternative treatment to counter the multi-drug-resistant organisms. Honey has a well-established usage as wound dressing in ancient and traditional medicine. Objective The objective of this study is to establish a baseline for the antibacterial activity of 32 global raw natural and commercial various honey samples against 8 clinical isolates. Methods Thirty-two honey samples (raw and commercial honey) collected from different global countries with different floral origins were tested in vitro for antibacterial activity against 8 clinical isolates collected from patients, at private hospital from Sudan, using disk diffusion technique. The following 6 epsilometer tests (Etest), amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, cefotaxime, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, and tetracycline, were used against 8 clinical isolates for Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Results The following 8 clinical isolates were identified by conventional bacteriological methods: Staphylococcus aureus, (S. aureus) Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), Proteus vulgaris (P. vulgaris), Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi), Shigella sonnei (S. sonnei), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Both raw natural and commercial honey exhibited antibacterial properties against tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The tested organisms showed low sensitivity to antibiotic Etest. Conclusion All of the bacterial species studied were uniformly receptive to all raw and commercial tested honey samples; in contrast, the tested organisms showed low sensitivity to antibiotics. Commercial honey has the same antibacterial activity as the raw natural unprocessed honey against tested clinical isolates. Thus, honey is a successful alternative to conventional antibiotics as has been proved against clinical isolates.

Assessment of Value Chain for Honey and Beeswax Initiatives in Zanzibar

Honey and beeswax production in Zanzibar become important activities in raising livelihood income for rural communities. However, it is still difficult for the production yielded from these to contribute to fighting rural poverty. This research study is geared towards analyzing the performance and efficiency of the honey and beeswax value chain and its challenges in order to disclose opportunities and synergy for reducing income poverty to beekeepers in Zanzibar. The study conducted in Zanzibar focusing both Unguja and Pemba Island, covering two districts from each Island. Descriptive research using both qualitative and quantitative data obtained from primary and secondary sources. Questionnaire was administered to 120 respondents randomly and proportionally selected from beekeepers in four districts. Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interviews and Field visits were also conducted. Data were analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) versions 2016 with Excel Spread Sheet in Office 2016. The result revealed that, the major value chain activities involved were input supply, production, processing, marketing to final consumers. The actors identified were input supplier, producers, processors, traders, and consumers. The study also revealed that, majority 80.4% of beekeepers use traditional/ log hives which proved to give low yield in this study. The result also portrayed that, about 2.8% of respondents that use Langstroth hives whereas 16.0% use top bar hive It was also found that annual average yield of honey per hive types was 9.09litres from traditional/log hive, 10 liters from Top bar hives and 16.85 litres from Langstroth hives. The price of unprocessed honey ranges from TZS 20,000 to 30,000 (9 to 14 US $) per liter while processed honey is T.SH 35,000 to 40,000 (15 to 17 US$) per litre. Various challenges were identified including inadequate supply of modern hive and equipment, climate change and variability, inadequate training and extension services, deforestation and forest fire, inversion of diseases pests and predator, lack of honey processing and marketing centre as well as capital. The profitability analysis indicates that, the annual net revenue per hive is TZS 203,347(US$ 93) for traditional /log hive, TZS 227,166 (US$ 103) for Top bar hive and TZS 342,536 (US$ 156) for Langstroth hive.

The impact of ultrasound decrystallization on enzymatic, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of honey

The aim of the research was to assess the impact of liquefying honey by ultrasound processing on its biological activity. Four solid honey samples of different botanical origin were decrystallized by using the ultrasound (sonic bath, 40 kHz, 800 W) and conventional thermal processing (water bath, 40 °C). The biological properties of liquefied and control solid honeys were compared. The ultrasound processing significantly shortened the time of honey liquefaction (from 24 h to 15 min) and delayed of the re-crystallization process compared to conventional method (from 1 to 4 months). Diastase number was comparable in ultrasound and unprocessed honeys, but decreased in conventionally liquefied samples (by 8 to 20.6%) whereas the activity of α-mannosidase and β-galactosidase was insignificantly affected only. Growth inhibition of S. aureus and E.coli by 12.5% water solution of control honey samples was variety-dependent, the lowest for rape (12 and 19%) and the highest for honeydew (32 and 38%, respectively). No significant changes were observed after ultrasound treatment. The antioxidant properties of ultrasound processed honeys were insignificantly reduced up to 8%, while total polyphenols content increased by 3–6% in 75% of tested samples. The hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content significantly increased after both treatments (from 31 to 40%), however without exceeding the allowable limit. Industrial relevanceHoney crystallization during storage is natural but undesirable serious problem in processing and marketing of the honey. The ultrasound processing shortened the processing time (saved costs), limited the honey biological activity deterioration, and delayed the re-crystallization of processed honeys. Ultrasound processing is a beneficial non-thermal alternative for conventional liquefying of honey by heating.

Periodical changes in quality parameters of honey during storage and processing

The effect of storage upto 15 months on apiary honey with an increase in storage period upto 15 months resulted in an increase in the refractive index, pfund value, TRS, glucose, HMF and yeast and decrease in the moisture, pH and sucrose levels. The properties of honey changed with the advancement of storage. The honey when subjected to indirect heating at different temperatures revealed that moisture content of honey was reduced when heated beyond 50 0C. A slight variation in TRS content was also observed. In addition to that, the increasing trend in HMF content of honey with the increasing temperature was found. The observation on yeast population in honey exhibited significant growth during the storage. The pollen and yeast counts of processed and unprocessed honey were reduced significantly from 53,760.33 to 38,132.67 and 47,927.33 to 1734.33, respectively.

Comparative Evaluation of the Antiplaque Eff ect of unprocessed Honey Mouthwash, Manuka Honey Mouthwash and Chlorhexidine Mouthwash

Background: The importance of honey for medicinal purposes is well documented in world’s oldest literature. Manukahoney is gaining attention for its effectiveness against a wide range of pathogens. Aim: Comparative evaluation of the anti - plaque effect of Manuka honey mouthwash and unprocessed honey mouthwash with chlorhexidine mouthwash. Objectives: To assess antiplaque effect of Manuka honey, raw (unprocessed) honey mouthwash and to compare antiplaque effect of Manuka honey mouthwash and unprocessed honey mouthwash to chlorhexidine mouthwash (gold standard). Study Design :Double‑blind, randomized controlled trial. Materials and Methods: 30periodontally healthy subjects between the age group 18 and24years were randomly allocated to 3 groups : Raw honey (RH), Manuka honey (MH) , and Chlorhexidine (CHX) mouthwash groups. The four day plaque regrowth model was used and plaque scores were assessed using the S. Turesky modification of Quigley Hein Plaque Index. Results :A significant increase in the mean plaque scores at baseline, that is, after scaling and at 5 days in all the three groups. Conclusion : Thus,Manuka honey mouthwash and unprocessed honey mouthwash are potent antiplaque agents and can be used as natural alternatives to chlorhexidine. Key Words Inflammation, Honey, Plaque, Chlorhexidine.

One year randomized controlled trial to compare the effectiveness of honey dressing versus povidone iodine dressing for diabetic foot ulcer at Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and MRC, Belagavi

Background: The objective of the study is to find out the effect of honey dressing versus povidone iodine dressing for reduction of wound size in diabetic foot ulcer.Methods: This randomized controlled trial was done in the Department of General Surgery, KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital, Belagavi from January 2017 to December 2017. 64 patients were randomized into 32 group each undergoing unprocessed honey dressing and other group undergoing povidone iodine dressing.Results: The mean wound size in honey dressing was 23.16 cm2 and 23.03 cm2 in povidone dressings at baseline, 23.16 cm2 and 22.94 cm2 at 1st day follow up, 23.16 cm2 and 22.94 cm2 at 3rd day follow up, 19.38 cm2 and 20.28 cm2 at 5th day follow up, 16.13 cm2 and 17.06 cm2 at 7th day follow up, 12.44 cm2 and 16.13 cm2 at 10th day follow up and the end of 15th day, it was 10.69 cm2 and 15.06 cm2 respectively in honey dressing group and povidone dressing group. The difference in the wound size in honey dressing group and povidone dressing group at 1st day, 3rd day, 5th day, 7th day, 10th day follow up period were statistically not significant (p&gt;0.05). The difference in the wound size in honey dressing group at 15th day follow up period were statistically significant (p&lt;0.05).Conclusions: This study shows more favorable results with honey dressing for reduction of wound size in diabetic foot ulcers.

Knowledge and Practice of Nutritionists in Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus with Honey: A Case of Hospitals in Nairobi County

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia, due to defects in insulin secretion, action activity or both. The prevalence of DM in Kenya is at 3.3% and is reported to be rising. Administration of drugs, healthy eating and exercises are the recommended management of the disease. Combining anti-diabetic drugs with natural remedies including honey has been reported to be more effective than use of drugs alone. However many Kenyans are sceptical about the use of honey in the management of DM on account of its high sugar. The prescription of honey for management of DM by the medical personnel is therefore viewed with cynicism. This study was therefore designed to assess the knowledge and practice of use of honey in diabetes management by the nutritionists working in hospitals. The study was cross-sectional, involving 57 practicing nutritionists drawn from different departments of public and private hospitals within Nairobi County, and the heads of the nutrition departments as key informants. Data was collected by administering a structured questionnaire to the consenting respondents. The study was granted approved by Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH)/ University of Nairobi (UoN) Ethics and Research Committee. Results showed that up to 50.9% of the respondents do not have knowledge on the use of honey in the management of DM, while 42.1% indicated having the knowledge. The gains indicated by the respondents who had knowledge included lowering glycaemic index (7%), control of blood glucose (19.3%), medicinal value (7%), and provision of energy (3.5%), alternative sweetener (1.8%) and antioxidant (1.8%). Only 19.3% of the respondents were aware of studies on use of honey in DM management. Most of the nutritionists recommend unprocessed honey (94.1%) The common forms of usage of the honey were indicated as spreads on bread (41.2%), sweetener of foods such as tea and porridge (17.6%), solution in hot water (11.8%) and direct eating (5.9%). The quantity of honey recommended one teaspoon (41.2%), two teaspoons (29.4%), three teaspoons (23.5%) and four teaspoon (5.9%). Nutritionist who did not recommend honey based their arguments on such reasoning as honey raising blood glucose (60%), lack of knowledge on efficacy (20%), ignorance (17.5%) and patient’s non-acceptance (2.5%). The study concludes that knowledge among nutritionists on the use of honey in management of type-2 DM is very low and therefore prescription/recommendation also very limited. Keywords : Nutritionist, Knowledge and Practice, use of honey, Type-2 Diabetes management DOI : 10.7176/FSQM/91-06 Publication date :October 31 st 2019

Is Honey an Answer for Eradication of Biofilms?

Biofilm formation in chronic ulcers is an important cause for delayed healing of wounds. Eradication of biofilms is a challenge as this is not amenable to standard methods of ulcer management. Currently, there are very limited options for its eradication except manual debridement which is painful, needs repeated anesthesia, and cannot be done on daily basis. Unprocessed naturally extracted honey has multiple unique properties as a local applicant which aid in faster healing. This article presents the incidence of biofilms in chronic ulcers and use of honey as a local applicant in enhancing healing. Sixty-four patients with ulcers were studied for presence of biofilm. Among them, 43 (67%) had biofilms which took significantly long time to heal in comparison with ulcers without biofilms (p < 0.002). Later, efficacy of honey in eradication of biofilms was studied in 56 patients with chronic ulcers having biofilms. There was a significant reduction in time for eradication, (p < 0.0175) healing of ulcers, and total duration of hospital stay in comparison with ulcers managed by standard methods. Results suggest that natural unprocessed honey has a great potential in eradication of biofilms.

Anti-obesity and Anti-hyperlipidemic activity of Processed Honey - A Randomised, Open labeled, Controlled Clinical Study

Background: Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat is accumulated to the extent that it may have a negative impact on life of an obese patient. Sthoulya (Obesity) is an excessive deposition of Medodhatu (adipose tissue) in the body. Madhu (Honey) processed with Triphala Kashaya (decoction of Three Myrobalans) has been studied for its anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemic activity on experimental models. Objectives: To evaluate the anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemic activity of processed honey and to compare its efficacy with unprocessed honey and lifestyle (diet and exercise) management on obesity. Materials and Methods: 90 obese individuals were randomly allocated into 3 groups consisting 30 subjects in each group and were managed with lifestyle management (Diet and exercise), unprocessed honey and processed honey respectively for the period of One Mandala Kala (48 days). Body weight, Body Mass Index, Waist Hip Ratio and Lipid profile were considered as assessment parameters. Observations and results: Significant reduction was noticed in unprocessed and processed honey treated groups with respect to all parameters (Body weight, Body Mass Index, Waist circumference, Hip Circumference, lipid profile), whereas Group A, which was only managed with lifestyle modification exhibited better response only with respect to body weight and BMI. Conclusion: Processed honey has better anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-obesity effects, which can be suitably adopted along with lifestyle modification in obese individuals.

Physicochemical and Antioxidant Potential of Raw Unprocessed Honey From Malaysian Stingless Bees

Objective: The current study investigates the physicochemical, phytochemical, nutritional composition and antioxidant activity of raw unprocessed honey produced by two Malaysian stingless bees, Heterotrigona itama and Geniotrigona thoracica collected from different places in the Southern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Materials and Methods: Physicochemical (pH, color) and nutritional compositions (moisture, ash, protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals) were determined and evaluated using standard methods. Phytochemical content (flavonoid and phenolic compounds) and antioxidant activites were determined spectrophotometrically. Results: pH of collected honey samples were found to be acidic, ranging from 3.24-3.42, while the colors ranged from 85.34-490.37 mm Pfund (golden to dark amber).The moisture, ash, protein, fat and carbohydrate contents of honey samples ranged from 26.5±0.00 to 31.8±0.00 g/100 g, 0.15±0.01 to 0.67±0.00 g/100 g, 0.016t 0.54 g/100 g, 0.02 to 0.15 g/100 g and 67.12 to 73.26 g/100 g, respectively. The total flavonoid content of honey samples dissolved in distilled water and methanol ranged from 53.81±4.12 mg rutin equivalents kg–1 to 549.05±9.74 mg rutin equivalents kg–1 while total phenolic content in both solvents ranged from 357.14±3.57 mg gallic acid equivalents kg–1 to 520.83±4.49 mg gallic acid equivalents kg–1. The antioxidant activity of this honey displayed superior antioxidant potential and was higher than Manuka honey. Conclusion: Clearly, honey produced by these two stingless bee types in the Southern part of PeninsularMalaysia is a budding functional food and possible nutraceuticals with great potential for use in complementary and alternative medicines.

Physicochemical characterization of unique unifloral honey: Euphorbia resinifera

ABSTRACTThe physicochemical characteristics of Euphorbia resinifera honey were studied. Considering the low water content, the majority of the honeys presented a proper maturity. The values of acidity revealed the absence of inappropriate fermentation, while the low values of hydroxymethylfurfural (0.4–16.48 mg/kg) were suitable for of unprocessed honeys. The average values for electrical conductivity and ashes were 451 µS/cm and 1.6 g/kg, respectively. As for the mineral content, the K was the most abundant element; Ca, Na, Mg, P, S, and Si are all present in differing quantities in the honeys. On the other hand, Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Stepwise Discriminant Analysis (SDA) were applied to distinguish between three related Euphorbia honey types. PCA showed that the cumulative variance of the two first factors explained approximately 53%. The results of SDA showed that variables with a higher discriminant power were K, C*ab and a*, and 100% of the samples were properly classified in their corresponding class.

Fournier's gangrene. A clinical review.

Fournier's gangrene is a rare, necrotising fasciitis of the external genitalia, perineal or perianal regions. The disease has a higher incidence in males and risk factors for development include diabetes, HIV, alcoholism and other immune-compromised states. The aggressive disease process is associated with a high mortality rate of 20-30%. In addition, the increasing age and prevalence of diabetes in the population, begs the need for increased clinical awareness of Fournier's gangrene with emphasis on early diagnosis and management. This review aims to highlight the relevant research surrounding Fournier's gangrene, in particular the various prognostic indicators and management strategies. A search was conducted on the MEDLINE database for all applicable research; clinical reviews, retrospective studies and case reports. In addition to which a search of the European Association of Urology, the British Association for Urological Surgeons and the British Medical Journal was conducted for the most recent recommendations. Immediate broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and urgent surgical debridement are the core managerial principles of Fournier's gangrene. The use of adjunctive therapies such as hyperbaric oxygen and vacuum assisted closure are supported in some aspects of the literature and disputed in others. The lack of randomized controlled studies limits the use of these potential additional therapies to patients unresponsive to conventional management. The value of unprocessed honey as a topical antimicrobial agent has been highlighted in the literature for small lesions in uncomplicated patients. Fournier's gangrene is a urological emergency with a high mortality rate despite advances in the medical and surgical fields. The aggressive nature of the infection advocates the need for early recognition allowing immediate surgical intervention. The opposing results of available research as well as the lack of high quality evidence surrounding emergent therapies prevents their routine use in the management of Fournier's gangrene. The absence of a specific care pathway may hinder efficient management of Fournier's gangrene, thus based on current guidelines a management pathway is suggested.

A Comparative Study on Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity of Honey at Different Processing Stages

In present study, the antibacterial and antioxidant activity of mixed floral honey has been evaluated at different processing stages, like unprocessed, filtered and processed. The antibacterial activity was evaluated against human pathogens namely, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Vibrio cholerae. All the three honey varieties exhibited potential antibacterial activity against all the strains, except E. coli. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the honey samples against pathogens varied significantly. The MIC of unprocessed, filtered and processed honey were found to be 6.25, 25 and 50 % (v/v) respectively against the tested strains. The antioxidant activity of mixed floral honey samples ranged from 70.86 to 90.00 %. The study shows that unprocessed honey has higher antibacterial and antioxidant property than the processed samples, and thus significant loss takes place during processing of honey.

Honey ‘The Life Saviour’ in Necrotising Fascitis: A Case Report

Introduction: Necrotising facitis is rapidly spreading inflammation and necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue and the fascia. Surgical debridement is the treatment of choice along with broad spectrum antibiotics and supportive measures. Although the modern day surgeons are sceptic about the use of honey as a dressing material but it is a good debriding agent with anti-inflammatory properties which can make even plastic surgery unnecessary in some cases. Case Report: We present the case of a young boy who suffered a life threatening necrotizing fasciitis leading to massive skin and subcutaneous tissue loss. But the boy made a remarkable recovery due to dressing with unprocessed honey. Conclusion: This lays a huge stress over the fact that unprocessed honey is a safe, effective, cheap and life-saving alternative to the other costly debriding agents and dressings in life threatening skin and soft tissue infections