Effects of acacia honey on wound healing in various rat models

Phytother Res. 2010 Apr;24(4):583-6. doi: 10.1002/ptr.2990.

Abstract

Honey is a traditional remedy for the treatment of infected wounds, and is becoming more important as microbial resistance to conventional therapeutic agents increases. A study was conducted to assess the wound-healing activity of Acacia honey using incision, excision, burn and dead-space wound models in rats. Different formulations of honey were used and rats were treated topically as well as orally. Both the higher and lower doses of honey produced a significant effect on healing (p < 0.05). The area of epithelization was found to increase, followed by an increase in wound contraction, skin-breaking strength, tissue granulation. The hydroxyproline content also increased in the rats treated with higher doses of honey compared to control, indicating an increase in collagen formation.

MeSH terms

  • Acacia*
  • Administration, Oral
  • Administration, Topical
  • Animals
  • Burns / therapy*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • Female
  • Honey* / toxicity
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Toxicity Tests, Acute
  • Wound Healing*
  • Wounds, Penetrating / therapy*