The investigation of biochemical and microbiological properties of four different honey types produced in turkey and the comparison of their effects with silver sulfadiazine on wound healing in a rat model of burn injury

Background: To determine and compare the effects of different honey types on wound healing in an animal model, with silver sulfadiazine as the standard treatment. Materials and Methods: Five different groups were created with eight rats in each group. Partial-depth burns were created, and different types of honey and silver sulfadiazine were applied to the respective groups. Rats were monitored for 21 days, and wound cultures were obtained. Histopathological evaluation and cytokine analysis of final tissue samples were performed. In addition, the biochemical and microbiological analyses of the four types of honey used in the study were performed. Results: Wound shrinkage comparisons showed that all four honey-treated groups (Bingöl, Konya, cotton, and citrus) performed better than the silver sulfadiazine group (honey groups, respectively, 86.86%, 84.72%, 89.61%, and 95.33% vs. control 82.90%). However, only citrus honey caused a significant difference in wound shrinkage rate when compared with other groups as well with control group (95.34% vs. 82.9%, P < 0.05). In tissues, all honey groups had higher cytokine (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1B, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α) values compared with controls (P < 0.001). Honey analysis showed a significant inverse relationship between Fe (iron) and the number of diastases. Conclusions: The results of this study support the role of honey in wound healing, due to its antibacterial and immunomodulatory effects. More studies are needed to identify the role of honey composition in wound healing.