PHL scientists develop wound dressing from irradiated honey

This could be sweet news for the Philippine medicine: state scientists have developed a low-cost wound dressing made from local honey.

 

Science research specialists from the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute's Biomedical Research Section said the dressing is a cheap alternative to antibiotics.

 

“Honey has, since ancient days, been used for medicinal purposes; its composition makes it a very effective agent for healing wounds,” said Biomedical Research Section head Zenaida de Guzman.

 

Honey mix

 

PNRI said sodium alginate made from brown algae, used by hospitals for dressings, serves as a base for the honey.

 

It is mixed and molded into a gauze before being sprayed with calcium chloride to bind them.

 

After being cured, dried and packaged in vacuum-packed aluminum foil, the dressing is "irradiated at 25 kilogray at PNRI’s Multipurpose Irradiation Facility to keep it microbe-free and longer-lasting."

Indigenous honey
 

Using samples from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, scientists focused on three indigenous types of honey:

 

- pineapple flower honey from Bacolod which proved comparable to the average antibiotic

- scarce coconut honey from Mindanao

- natural dark honey found in the highlands of Northern Luzon

 

The honey from Mindanao and Luzon "matched and at times even bested antibiotics in dealing with pathogens such as Staphylococus aureus," the PNRI said.

 

"As they are readily available, these honey samples provided the material for the research section’s honey dressings," it added.

 

De Guzman pointed out honey is ideal as a wound dressing due to its antimicrobial and potentially anti-inflammatory composition.

 

She also cited its low pH level that is suitable for fast healing.

 

Also, the PNRI said honey's sugar content helps in the granulation of wounds, while its low moisture allows a longer shelf-life.

 

"Furthermore, honey’s low water activity helps the dressing draw out water and pus, thereby drying the wound and reducing the chances of infection," the PNRI said.

 

The Biomedical Research Section applied for a patent for the honey dressing in 2013.

 

It expects to eventually finish the clinical tests, even as de Guzman expects the product to be commercialized  by 2015.

 

Initial testing

 

The PNRI said initial testing in rabbits showed the dressing healed the wounds around the same time as the generic Neomycin.

 

In some cases, the honey treatment was a day ahead of that with the antibiotic, it added.

 

Pre-clinical testing conducted in a government hospital also showed that with the honey dressing, "full treatment of a burn patient was achieved earlier by a month than the usual healing time."  — ELR, GMA News