The medicinal properties of Irish honey

Abstract

Manuka honey is an internationally recognized honey licensed as a medicinal product for wounds1 . Medicinal honeys are often used in hospitals for partial thickness burns2 to surgical wounds and in veterinary clinics for surgical and traumatic wounds3 . Outside of the osmotic action and acidic environment of any honey a number of other components contribute to their medicinal properties. These components vary depending on the floral origin of the honey4 . A preliminary sign that a honey is medicinally active is the total phenolic content (TPC) which correlates with the honeys potential antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Many honeys have exhibited immunomodulatory effects where stimulation or inhibition of pro-inflammatory components (TNF-α , IL-1β , NF-κB, and IL-6) as well as antiinflammatory components (IL-10, TGF- β, and VEGF) is observed after exposure. Because of their immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties honeys can be used for chronic wounds arrested in the inflammatory phase due to high reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, poor circulation (diabetes), and infections5 .