Honey: A Therapeutic Agent for Disorders of the Skin
Problems with conventional treatments for a range of dermatological disorders have led scientists to search for new compounds of therapeutic value. Efforts have included the evaluation of natural products such as honey. Manuka honey, for example, has been scientifically recognised for its anti-micro...
Main Authors: | , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
University Library System, University of Pittsburgh
2016-08-01
|
Series: | Central Asian Journal of Global Health |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://cajgh.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/cajgh/article/view/241 |
id |
doaj-8e7bab57870f4cbb9dce75ab5cd272bd |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-8e7bab57870f4cbb9dce75ab5cd272bd2020-11-24T21:27:57ZengUniversity Library System, University of PittsburghCentral Asian Journal of Global Health2166-74032016-08-015110.5195/cajgh.2016.241137Honey: A Therapeutic Agent for Disorders of the SkinPauline McLoone0Afolabi Oluwadun1Mary Warnock2Lorna Fyfe3Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Nazarbayev University, AstanaDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Ogun StateDietetics, Nutrition and Biological Sciences, Queen Margaret University, Musselburgh, East Lothian, ScotlandDietetics, Nutrition and Biological Sciences, Queen Margaret University, Musselburgh, East Lothian, ScotlandProblems with conventional treatments for a range of dermatological disorders have led scientists to search for new compounds of therapeutic value. Efforts have included the evaluation of natural products such as honey. Manuka honey, for example, has been scientifically recognised for its anti-microbial and wound healing properties and is now used clinically as a topical treatment for wound infections. In this review, scientific evidence for the effectiveness of honey in the treatment of wounds and other skin conditions is evaluated. A plethora of in vitro studies have revealed that honeys from all over the world have potent anti-microbial activity against skin relevant microbes. Moreover, a number of in vitro studies suggest that honey is able to modulate the skin immune system. Clinical research has shown honey to be efficacious in promoting the healing of partial thickness burn wounds while its effectiveness in the treatment of non-burn acute wounds and chronic wounds is conflicted. Published research investigating the efficacy of honey in the treatment of other types of skin disorders is limited. Nevertheless, positive effects have been reported, for example, kanuka honey from New Zealand was shown to have therapeutic value in the treatment of rosacea. Anti-carcinogenic effects of honey have also been observed in vitro and in a murine model of melanoma. It can be concluded that honey is a biologically active and clinically interesting substance but more research is necessary for a comprehensive understanding of its medicinal value in dermatology.http://cajgh.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/cajgh/article/view/241dermatologyhoneyskin cancerwound healing |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Pauline McLoone Afolabi Oluwadun Mary Warnock Lorna Fyfe |
spellingShingle |
Pauline McLoone Afolabi Oluwadun Mary Warnock Lorna Fyfe Honey: A Therapeutic Agent for Disorders of the Skin Central Asian Journal of Global Health dermatology honey skin cancer wound healing |
author_facet |
Pauline McLoone Afolabi Oluwadun Mary Warnock Lorna Fyfe |
author_sort |
Pauline McLoone |
title |
Honey: A Therapeutic Agent for Disorders of the Skin |
title_short |
Honey: A Therapeutic Agent for Disorders of the Skin |
title_full |
Honey: A Therapeutic Agent for Disorders of the Skin |
title_fullStr |
Honey: A Therapeutic Agent for Disorders of the Skin |
title_full_unstemmed |
Honey: A Therapeutic Agent for Disorders of the Skin |
title_sort |
honey: a therapeutic agent for disorders of the skin |
publisher |
University Library System, University of Pittsburgh |
series |
Central Asian Journal of Global Health |
issn |
2166-7403 |
publishDate |
2016-08-01 |
description |
Problems with conventional treatments for a range of dermatological disorders have led scientists to search for new compounds of therapeutic value. Efforts have included the evaluation of natural products such as honey. Manuka honey, for example, has been scientifically recognised for its anti-microbial and wound healing properties and is now used clinically as a topical treatment for wound infections. In this review, scientific evidence for the effectiveness of honey in the treatment of wounds and other skin conditions is evaluated. A plethora of in vitro studies have revealed that honeys from all over the world have potent anti-microbial activity against skin relevant microbes. Moreover, a number of in vitro studies suggest that honey is able to modulate the skin immune system. Clinical research has shown honey to be efficacious in promoting the healing of partial thickness burn wounds while its effectiveness in the treatment of non-burn acute wounds and chronic wounds is conflicted. Published research investigating the efficacy of honey in the treatment of other types of skin disorders is limited. Nevertheless, positive effects have been reported, for example, kanuka honey from New Zealand was shown to have therapeutic value in the treatment of rosacea. Anti-carcinogenic effects of honey have also been observed in vitro and in a murine model of melanoma. It can be concluded that honey is a biologically active and clinically interesting substance but more research is necessary for a comprehensive understanding of its medicinal value in dermatology. |
topic |
dermatology honey skin cancer wound healing |
url |
http://cajgh.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/cajgh/article/view/241 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT paulinemcloone honeyatherapeuticagentfordisordersoftheskin AT afolabioluwadun honeyatherapeuticagentfordisordersoftheskin AT marywarnock honeyatherapeuticagentfordisordersoftheskin AT lornafyfe honeyatherapeuticagentfordisordersoftheskin |
_version_ |
1725972371859308544 |