STUDY OF WOUND HEALING AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FOUND IN HONEY FROM DIFFERENT FLORA OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

Honey is naturally sweet substance produced by honeybees from the nectar of plants or from secretions of living parts of plant. The composition and flavor of honey varies with the plant source of the nectar. A study was designed to explore the medicinal values of commercially available raw honey of different flora of Pakistan. Samples of honey from Acacia, Ziziphus, Citrus and Brassica were collected from different areas of Pakistan and evaluated for physicochemical properties including pH, acidity, moisture, HMF, diastase, sucrose, glucose, fructose and total sugars by using Official Methods of Analysis (AOAC). The trace elements and minerals (macro and micronutrients) were evaluated by using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer and Flame Emission spectrophotometer respectively. The levels of these nutrient were significantly different in all honey types. The pH of honey samples used in our study ranged from 3.30 – 6.56. It was observed that ash contents and electrical conductivity was higher for Ziziphus honey. The highest levels of K, Na, Fe and Ca were found whereas very low concentration of B was found in honey samples i.e. 0.11- 2.53μg/g. For the assessment of Bioactivity wound healing activity of honey was tested. The doses of different concentrations of honey on the basis of body weight of animals were applied locally against incision, excision, dead space and burn model of rats. All topical treatments produced a significant reduced in the period of epithelization and an increase in wound contraction in the excision model compared to the control while in the incision wound model there was a significant increase in the breaking strength of the wound. The antibacterial activity of honey was assessed against selected microorganisms causing wound infection. Quantification of microbial growth inhibition was determined by measuring the diameter of zones clear of microbial growth around the wells in the agar (including the xivwell). The mean inhibition zone diameter (mm) for Acacia, Ziziphus, Brassica and Citrus were 30.02 + 0.21, 29.35 + 0.26, 16.50 + 0.12 and 15.67 + 0.14 respectively. Agar dilution method was used to assess the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The MIC for different honeys was found to be significantly different from each other. The minimal inhibitory concentration of different honey samples of Acacia, Ziziphus, Brassica and Citrus were recorded as 7.65 + 0.47 % v/v, 7.66 + 0.46 % v/v, 9.21 + 0.42 % v/v and 9.02 + 0.66 % v/v respectively. Finally medicinal and economical values of honey were compared with other tradition medicines available in the market for the suitability of this natural product for the health purposes.