Therapeutic manuka honey: no longer so alternative

D A Carter; S E Blair; N Cokcetin; D Bouzo; Peter R Brooks; R C Schlothauer; E J Harry

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2016.00569

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Therapeutic manuka honey: no longer so alternative

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Therapeutic manuka honey: no longer so alternative

D A Carter, S E Blair, N Cokcetin, D Bouzo, Peter R Brooks, R C Schlothauer and E J Harry

Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol.7(569)

2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2016.00569

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Abstract

manuka honey

antibacterial

leptospermum

methyl glyoxal

natural product

Medicinal honey research is undergoing a substantial renaissance. From a folklore remedy largely dismissed by mainstream medicine as "alternative", we now see increased interest by scientists, clinical practitioners and the general public in the therapeutic uses of honey. There are a number of drivers of this interest: first, the rise in antibiotic resistance by many bacterial pathogens has prompted interest in developing and using novel antibacterials; second, an increasing number of reliable studies and case reports have demonstrated that certain honeys are very effective wound treatments; third, therapeutic honey commands a premium price, and the honey industry is actively promoting studies that will allow it to capitalize on this; and finally, the very complex and rather unpredictable nature of honey provides an attractive challenge for laboratory scientists. In this paper we review manuka honey research, from observational studies on its antimicrobial effects through to current experimental and mechanistic work that aims to take honey into mainstream medicine. We outline current gaps and remaining controversies in our knowledge of how honey acts, and suggest new studies that could make honey a no longer "alternative" alternative.

Details

Title: Therapeutic manuka honey: no longer so alternative
Authors: D A Carter (Author) - University of Technology Sydney
S E Blair (Author) - University of Technology Sydney
N Cokcetin (Author) - University of Technology Sydney
D Bouzo (Author) - University of Technology Sydney
Peter R Brooks (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
R C Schlothauer (Author) - Comvita NZ Limited, New Zealand
E J Harry (Author) - University of Technology Sydney
Publication details: Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol.7(569); 11
Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation
Date published: 2016
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00569
ISSN: 1664-302X
Copyright note: Copyright © 2016 Carter, Blair, Cokcetin, Bouzo, Brooks, Schlothauer and Harry. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99449235502621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Microbiology

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