Antibacterial Properties of Tualang Honey and Its Effect in Burn Wound Management: a Comparative Study

Overview

Journal BMC Complement Altern Med

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2010 Jun 26

PMID 20576085

Citations 32

Authors

Nur-Azida Mohd Nasir

Ahmad Sukari Halim

Kirnpal-Kaur Banga Singh

Ananda Aravazhi Dorai

Mehru-Nisha Muhammad Haneef

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The use of honey as a natural product of Apis spp. for burn treatment has been widely applied for centuries. Tualang honey has been reported to have antibacterial properties against various microorganisms, including those from burn-related diagnoses, and is cheaper and easier to be absorbed by Aquacel dressing. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential antibacterial properties of tualang honey dressing and to determine its effectiveness as a partial thickness burn wound dressing.

Methods: In order to quantitate the bioburden of the swabs, pour plates were performed to obtain the colony count (CFU/ml). Swabs obtained from burn wounds were streaked on blood agar and MacConkey agar for bacterial isolation and identification. Later, antibacterial activity of Aquacel-tualang honey, Aquacel-Manuka honey, Aquacel-Ag and Aquacel- plain dressings against bacteria isolated from patients were tested (in-vitro) to see the effectiveness of those dressings by zone of inhibition assays.

Results: Seven organisms were isolated. Four types of Gram-negative bacteria, namely Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas spp. and Acinetobacter spp., and three Gram-positive bacteria, namely Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus aureus (CONS) and Streptococcus spp., were isolated. Total bacterial count decreased on day 6 and onwards. In the in-vitro antibacterial study, Aquacel-Ag and Aquacel-Manuka honey dressings gave better zone of inhibition for Gram positive bacteria compared to Aquacel-Tualang honey dressing. However, comparable results were obtained against Gram negative bacteria tested with Aquacel-Manuka honey and Aquacel-Tualang honey dressing.

Conclusions: Tualang honey has a bactericidal as well as bacteriostatic effect. It is useful as a dressing, as it is easier to apply and is less sticky compared to Manuka honey. However, for Gram positive bacteria, tualang honey is not as effective as usual care products such as silver-based dressing or medical grade honey dressing.

Citing Articles

Medicinal activities of Tualang honey: a systematic review.

Azman A, Tan J, Abdullah M, Bahari H, Lim V, Yong Y BMC Complement Med Ther. 2024; 24(1):358.

PMID: 39367403 PMC: 11453070. DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04664-2.

Geographical Origin Authentication-A Mandatory Step in the Efficient Involvement of Honey in Medical Treatment.

Magdas T, David M, Hategan A, Filip G, Magdas D Foods. 2024; 13(4).

PMID: 38397509 PMC: 10887874. DOI: 10.3390/foods13040532.

Effectiveness of stingless bee (Kelulut) honey versus conventional gel dressing in diabetic wound bed preparation: A randomized controlled trial.

Rosli M, Mohd Nasir N, Mustafa M, Othman M, Zakaria Z, Halim A J Taibah Univ Med Sci. 2023; 19(1):209-219.

PMID: 38124990 PMC: 10730855. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtumed.2023.11.003.

Physicochemical Characteristics and Bioactive Compounds of Different Types of Honey and Their Biological and Therapeutic Properties: A Comprehensive Review.

Al-Kafaween M, Alwahsh M, Mohd Hilmi A, Abulebdah D Antibiotics (Basel). 2023; 12(2).

PMID: 36830249 PMC: 9952753. DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12020337.

Physicochemical and Medicinal Properties of Tualang, Gelam and Kelulut Honeys: A Comprehensive Review.

Kamal D, Ibrahim S, Kamal H, Kashim M, Mokhtar M Nutrients. 2021; 13(1).

PMID: 33435215 PMC: 7827892. DOI: 10.3390/nu13010197.

References

Church D, Elsayed S, Reid O, Winston B, Lindsay R . Burn wound infections. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2006; 19(2):403-34. PMC: 1471990. DOI: 10.1128/CMR.19.2.403-434.2006. View

Dunford C, Cooper R, Molan P, White R . The use of honey in wound management. Nurs Stand. 2002; 15(11):63-8. DOI: 10.7748/ns2000.11.15.11.63.c2952. View

Bhende S, Spangler D . In vitro assessment of chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated polyurethane foam antimicrobial dressing using zone of inhibition assays. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2004; 25(8):664-7. DOI: 10.1086/502458. View

Molan P . The evidence supporting the use of honey as a wound dressing. Int J Low Extrem Wounds. 2006; 5(1):40-54. DOI: 10.1177/1534734605286014. View

Wright J, Lam K, Burrell R . Wound management in an era of increasing bacterial antibiotic resistance: a role for topical silver treatment. Am J Infect Control. 1998; 26(6):572-7. DOI: 10.1053/ic.1998.v26.a93527. View

Cooper R, Molan P, Harding K . Antibacterial activity of honey against strains of Staphylococcus aureus from infected wounds. J R Soc Med. 1999; 92(6):283-5. PMC: 1297205. DOI: 10.1177/014107689909200604. View

Nasser S, Mabrouk A, Maher A . Colonization of burn wounds in Ain Shams University Burn Unit. Burns. 2003; 29(3):229-33. DOI: 10.1016/s0305-4179(02)00285-1. View

Basualdo C, Sgroy V, Finola M, Marioli J . Comparison of the antibacterial activity of honey from different provenance against bacteria usually isolated from skin wounds. Vet Microbiol. 2007; 124(3-4):375-81. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2007.04.039. View

Tan H, Rahman R, Gan S, Halim A, Hassan S, Sulaiman S . The antibacterial properties of Malaysian tualang honey against wound and enteric microorganisms in comparison to manuka honey. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2009; 9:34. PMC: 2753561. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6882-9-34. View

10.

Danilla S, Andrades P, Gomez M, Chamorro M, Leniz P, Pineros J . Concordance between qualitative and quantitative cultures in burned patients. Analysis of 2886 cultures. Burns. 2005; 31(8):967-71. DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2005.08.019. View

11.

Pieper B . Honey-based dressings and wound care: an option for care in the United States. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2009; 36(1):60-6. DOI: 10.1097/01.WON.0000345177.58740.7d. View

12.

Lusby P, Coombes A, Wilkinson J . Bactericidal activity of different honeys against pathogenic bacteria. Arch Med Res. 2005; 36(5):464-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2005.03.038. View

13.

Johnson R, Richard R . Partial-thickness burns: identification and management. Adv Skin Wound Care. 2003; 16(4):178-87; quiz 188-9. DOI: 10.1097/00129334-200307000-00010. View

14.

Steer J, Papini R, Wilson A, McGrouther D, Parkhouse N . Quantitative microbiology in the management of burn patients. II. Relationship between bacterial counts obtained by burn wound biopsy culture and surface alginate swab culture, with clinical outcome following burn surgery and change of dressings. Burns. 1996; 22(3):177-81. DOI: 10.1016/0305-4179(95)00117-4. View

15.

Cooper R, Molan P . The use of honey as an antiseptic in managing Pseudomonas infection. J Wound Care. 1999; 8(4):161-4. DOI: 10.12968/jowc.1999.8.4.25867. View

16.

Wright J, Lam K, Hansen D, Burrell R . Efficacy of topical silver against fungal burn wound pathogens. Am J Infect Control. 1999; 27(4):344-50. DOI: 10.1016/s0196-6553(99)70055-6. View

17.

Atiyeh B, Costagliola M, Hayek S, Dibo S . Effect of silver on burn wound infection control and healing: review of the literature. Burns. 2006; 33(2):139-48. DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2006.06.010. View