Evaluation of antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and wound-healing properties of multifloral honey

In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in using honey produced by the Apis mellifera bee to treat a variety of diseases. Honey is considered one of the most widely used natural products. The purpose of the present work was to assess the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and wound-healing properties of honey harvested from a semi-arid region of Algeria. The antibacterial activity was performed against 11 bacterial species isolated from burn wound infections, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytocae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Citrobacter koseri, Enterobacter aerogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and Enterococcus faecalis. The anti-inflammatory effect was achieved by denaturing albumin and stabilising the membrane. The wound-healing effect was tested on dorsal skin burns in Wistar rats. The treatments were administered daily for 32 days. The liver was analysed for glutathione, glutathione-S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase. The skin sections were examined under a light microscope to determine the effect of the treatment on cells. Honey effectively inhibited the growth of ten pathogenic bacteria, with inhibitory diameters ranging from 11.5 ± 0.33 for K. pneumoniae to 30.83 ± 0.78 for E. faecalis. The anti-inflammatory effect was demonstrated by a percentage inhibition of albumin denaturation ranging from 13.86 to 74.40%, as well as a percentage membrane stabilisation ranging from 11.38 to 83.80%. The honey-treated burns healed completely by the 28th day, outperforming both untreated burns and those treated with Cicatryl-Bio. Honey treatment resulted in earlier scar formation, reduced inflammation, and decreased cell necrosis, demonstrating its superior efficacy in burn healing. In rats treated with honey, oxidative stress parameters were consistently close to the standards. Honey is an ideal dressing because due to its humidity and composition, it can provide a better environment for wound healing, while also acting as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and stimulating protection against infections.