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An alternative treatment for Pityriasis versicolor, Tinea cruris, Tinea corporis and Tinea faciei with topical application of honey, olive oil and beeswax mixture: an open pilot study
Abstract
To evaluate the possible role of honey, olive oil and beeswax in the treatment of skin fungal infections.
Thirty-seven patients with pityriasis versicolor, tinea cruris, tinea corporis and tinea faciei were studied. After clinical evaluation of redness, scaling, pruritus and burning/pain sensation and mycological assessment, honey mixture containing honey, olive oil and beeswax (1:1:1) was applied to the lesions three times daily for a maximum of 4 weeks.
Clinical response was obtained in 86% of patients with pityriasis versicolor, 78% of patients with tinea cruris and in 75% of patients with tinea corporis. Mycological cure was obtained in 75, 71 and 62% of patients with PV, tinea cruris and tinea corporis, respectively. The patient with tinea faciei showed clinical and mycological cure 3 weeks after commencement of therapy.
Honey mixture may have place in the management of these skin conditions and rigorous, controlled trials are justified.
... Following the initial incubation, the two organisms were incubated individually to assess the efficiency of the various components. Patients with pityriasis versicolor, tinea corporis, tinea faciei, and tinea cruris were examined for the in vivo antifungal activity of a honey, beeswax, and olive oil mixture (Al-Waili, 2004). Pityriasis versicolor, a superficial skin condition caused by 4 of the 11 Malassezia species, might be linked to pregnancy, conditions like diabetes, chronic malnutrition, or poor personal hygiene. ...
... Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton tonsurans are the two bacteria that cause the exceedingly uncommon infection known as tinea faciei, which affects the face (Nenoff et al., 2014;Fu et al., 2013). For four weeks, the mixture was applied topically every eight hours to 37 patients (14 with Pityriasis versicolor, 14 with Tinea cruris, 8 with Tinea corporis, and 1 with Tinea faciei) (Al-Waili, 2004). The average S.D. (standard deviation) for subjects with Pityriasis versicolor at the start of therapy was 7.10 to 1.35, but by the end of the treatment (fourth week), it was 1.00 to 1.20, with clinical signs arising in 12 of 14 individuals. ...
... The average S.D. (standard deviation) for subjects with Pityriasis versicolor at the start of therapy was 7.10 to 1.35, but by the end of the treatment (fourth week), it was 1.00 to 1.20, with clinical signs arising in 12 of 14 individuals. According to Al-Waili (2004), the average score for patients with Tinea corporis dropped from (8.70 to 2.40) to (1.30 to 1.50) with clinical sign in 6/8 of the patients and from (8.50 to 2.40) to (1.00 to 1.30) with clinical sign in 11/14 of the patients who had Tinea cruris. Four infants with diaper dermatitis were used as test subjects for the honey, beeswax, and olive oil mixture's antibacterial activity. ...
Beeswax is a naturally occurring substance produced by the wax glands of the species Apis mellifera and Apis cerana, while the upper part of the digestive tract of the honey bee and blossom nectar are the sources of honey. Beeswax is a component that makes up a honeycomb's structure, which bees produce in order to construct the structures in which they store their honey. Long-chained alcohols and fatty acids are abundant in it. Beeswax and honey were initially employed in medicine in the 14th century, but after that, they were exclusively utilized in the food and cosmetics sectors. Beeswax use is prevalent in beauty and body care products because of its strong hydrophobic protective characteristics. Beeswax and honey have regained popularity in the medical community due to the growing need for employing natural resources as a remedy for various illnesses. Beeswax is further utilized in the food business as an ingredient (E901) to add gloss to foodstuffs or as a wrapping film for cheese maturation. Beeswax has a number of medicinal qualities that are of considerable importance to humans, just like honey. It is believed to be very beneficial in treating burns, inflammation, and bruising. Despite the fact that there are currently few studies in the literature focusing solely on the action of beeswax, research interests have recently expanded to include the antibacterial capabilities of beeswax. Beeswax has been shown in a few trials to be beneficial against a variety of microorganisms, including Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. These inhibitory effects are strengthened when combined with other organic products like honey or olive oil.
... The antifungal activity of the mixture of honey, beeswax and olive oil was also tested in vivo in patients with pityriasis versicolor, tinea cruris, tinea corporis and tinea faciei [21]. Pityriasis versicolor is a canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes that primarily affects the face and arms and spreads by contact with pets [22]; tinea faciei is a very rare infection that affects the face whose causative agents are Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton tonsurans [22.23]. ...
... The mixture was applied topically in 37 patients (14 suffering from pityriasis versicolor, 8 from tinea corporis, 14 from tinea cruris, and 1 from tinea faciei) every eight hours for 4 weeks [21]. For patients with pityriasis versicolor at the beginning of the therapy the average score ± s.d. was ( [21]. ...
... The mixture was applied topically in 37 patients (14 suffering from pityriasis versicolor, 8 from tinea corporis, 14 from tinea cruris, and 1 from tinea faciei) every eight hours for 4 weeks [21]. For patients with pityriasis versicolor at the beginning of the therapy the average score ± s.d. was ( [21]. ...
Beeswax is the substance that forms the structure of a honeycomb; the bees secrete wax to build the honeycombs where to store honey. Thanks to its rich hydrophobic protective properties, the beeswax is in fact present within cosmetics and body products. Also beeswax is used in the food industry: as a film to wrap cheese for maturing or as a food additive (E901) to give shine to the products. Exactly as the honey which it contains, beeswax is also characterized by several therapeutic properties of great interest to us; it is thought to be particularly effective in healing bruises, inflammation and burns. Recently the interest of researchers has moved even on antimicrobial properties of beeswax although there are still few studies in the literature focused only on the action of beeswax. The few studies showed an anitimicrobic effectiveness of beeswax against overall Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Salmonella enterica (S. enterica), Candida albicans and Aspergillus nuger (A. niger); these inhibitory effects are enhanced synergistically with other natural products such as honey or olive oil. This little review aims to be a collection of major scientific works that have considered the antimicrobial activity of beeswax alone or in combination with other natural products in recent years.
... It has been reported that honey contains more than 200 substances such as sugars, proteins, minerals, some vitamins, organic acids and antioxidants (phenolic compounds, enzymes, flavonoids, amino acids, carotenoid-like substances and other phytochemicals) [22,[24][25][26]. According to some studies, honey by its antioxidants can increase cytokine release and has antimicrobial effects [27][28][29]. Moreover it can prevent cellular oxidative damage which leads to aging, diseases and death [22]. ...
... Although the exact mechanism of action of "honey" is not definitely known, osmolality, acidity, and the production of hydrogen peroxide have been proposed to be the main factors [20]. By reducing prostaglandin synthesis at the site of application, honey lowers plasma prostaglandin concentrations [29]. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacies and increases nitric oxide (NO) in the lesions [29]. ...
... By reducing prostaglandin synthesis at the site of application, honey lowers plasma prostaglandin concentrations [29]. It also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory efficacies and increases nitric oxide (NO) in the lesions [29]. It is proposed that, sweet substances per se stimulate the salivation reflex due to their hyperosmolarity. ...
Oral mucositis is one of the common complications of cancer chemotherapy and about 40% of the patients who take chemotherapy protocols, experience this irritating problem. The purpose of this study was to draw comparison between the therapeutic effects of our treatment modalities (topical steroid, honey, honey plus coffee) in patients suffering from oral mucositis.
This was a double blinded randomised clinical trial of a total of 75 eligible adult participants which they randomly fell into three treatment groups. For all the participants a syrup-like solution was prepared. Each 600 grams of the product consisted of “20 eight-mg Betamethasone solution ampoules” in the Steroid (S) group, “300 grams of honey plus 20 grams of instant coffee” in the Honey plus Coffee (HC) group, and “300 grams of honey” for the Honey (H) group. The participants were told to sip 10 ml of the prescribed product, and then swallow it every three hours for one week. Severity of lesions was clinically evaluated before the treatment and also one week after the initiation of the intervention. This study adhered to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and guidelines of Good Clinical Practice.
This study showed that all three treatment regimens reduce the severity of lesions. The best reduction in severity was achieved in HC group. H group and S group took the second and third places. In other words, honey plus coffee regimen was the most effective modality for the treatment of oral mucositis.
Oral mucositis can be successfully treated by a combination of honey and coffee as an alternative medicine in a short time. Further investigations are warranted in this field.
Trial registration
Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT: 201104074737N3, (9 May 2011).
... While its primary use is in skin diseases and wound healing due to its perceived efficacy, honey's benefits extend to reducing edema, inflammation, and pain, fostering regeneration, and providing wound deodorization [5,6]. Research by Al-Waili (2001, 2003, 2004 on UAE honey demonstrates its effectiveness in treating dermatological conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, fungal infections, and herpes simplex [7][8][9]. ...
... While its primary use is in skin diseases and wound healing due to its perceived efficacy, honey's benefits extend to reducing edema, inflammation, and pain, fostering regeneration, and providing wound deodorization [5,6]. Research by Al-Waili (2001, 2003, 2004 on UAE honey demonstrates its effectiveness in treating dermatological conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, fungal infections, and herpes simplex [7][8][9]. ...
Growing concern over antimicrobial resistance in chronic wound patients necessitates the exploration of alternative treatments from natural sources. This study suggests that honey’s phenolic compounds may offer antimicrobial benefits, warranting further investigation for therapeutic development. The main aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of phenolic compounds and to determine the effects of their sub-inhibitory concentrations against Escherichia coli (E. coli). 3-phenyllactic acid (PLA), p-coumaric acid (PCA), and phloretin were tested against the bacterial strain of E. coli ATCC 25922. Comparison of the antimicrobial activity of honey constituents in vitro was performed using a broth culture assay. Measurement of the inhibitory properties of constituents in vitro was conducted using disc and well diffusion assays. The effects of sub-inhibitory concentrations of PCA on the susceptibility of E. coli ATCC 25922 to penicillin–streptomycin were tested. The results demonstrated that PLA was the most efficient antimicrobial agent, followed by PCA, whereas phloretin, at lower (2 mg/mL) concentrations, led to an increase in the growth of E. coli. Various modifications of the agar diffusion assay did not reveal the antibacterial properties of the studied phytochemicals. The enhancing effect of a sub-inhibitory concentration of PCA in cooperation with penicillin–streptomycin was shown. These findings might be helpful for the further investigation and development of new antimicrobial agents for the treatment of skin infections and wounds.
... Beeswax has been demonstrated to be specifically effective against Brevibacterium [23]. A combination of honey, beeswax, and olive oil when mixed in equal concentrations is effective at inhibiting the growth of S. aureus and C. albicans isolated from infected people [24]. Honey, beeswax, and olive oil were also evaluated in vivo for antifungal effectiveness against Pityriasis versicolor, Tinea cruris, T. corporis, and T. faciei [24]. ...
... A combination of honey, beeswax, and olive oil when mixed in equal concentrations is effective at inhibiting the growth of S. aureus and C. albicans isolated from infected people [24]. Honey, beeswax, and olive oil were also evaluated in vivo for antifungal effectiveness against Pityriasis versicolor, Tinea cruris, T. corporis, and T. faciei [24]. A crude extract of beeswax inhibited S. aureus, S. enterica, C. albicans, and Aspergillus niger [23]. ...
Bees produce beeswax, which is used to make honeycombs is biodegradable, sustainable, compostable, eco-friendly. In addition to honey and pollen, honey bees use comb to store nectar and rear their young. More than 300 things are made with beeswax, such as candles, shoe polish and vehicle and floor polishes. Beeswax can also be used in the food processing and packaging, wax crayons, metal casting and modelling, food processing, and cosmetics industries. In addition to these, embalming, papyrus preservation, and artwork conservation are all possible uses for honey beeswax. Beeswax has numerous industrial, pharmacological, and medical uses that demand an understanding of its chemical makeup. Similar to honey, beeswax is considered effective in the treatment of bruising, inflammation and burns. Beeswax’s antibacterial properties have recently been the subject of inquiry, despite the fact that there are currently few studies on the subject. For example, beeswax has been proven to significantly reduce affectivity of disease casing bacteria like: Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Salmonella enterica . This study discusses the characteristics, composition, and adulteration of beeswax, as well as its medicinal effects as an antibiotic and in skin therapy.
... The use of honey and propolis as a treatment for genital herpes virus has been reviewed (Munstedt, 2019). A cross-over study on genital herpes in men and women compared honey treatment to acyclovir treatment (Al-Waili, 2004). The evaluators considered honey a more effective treatment than acyclovir. ...
... The treatment was considered to be efficacious. The efficacy of the same formulation (honey, olive oil, and beeswax) was studied in patients with pityriasis versicolor, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, and tinea faciei (Al-Waili, 2004). The formulation was applied topically every 8 h for 3À4 weeks. ...
At the starting of recorded history are descriptions of the uses of bee products as nutraceuticals and as remedies for various maladies. Honey, beeswax, propolis, royal jelly, and bee venom are the most commonly used products. These nutraceuticals are used to improve wellness, in skin care, mouth care, dental surgery, and in the management of wounds, burns, and skin conditions. Bee products have antimicrobial activity and are used in treating Helicobacter pylori, candidiasis, herpes infections, and fungal infections of the skin and genitalia. Bee products are being investigated in ophthalmology as replacements for the prophylactic use of antibiotics, treatment of keratoconjunctivitis, and their use in artificial tears. In reproduction, bee products are used as supplements to increase fertility. They are being investigated to replace antibiotics in semen extenders and for their use in vitrification of embryos. Bee products are being used as a treatment for premenstrual syndrome, mensural distress, reduction of birthing pain, and to reduce the genitourinary syndrome in postmenopausal women. Bee products are being used in the management of complications from antineoplastic treatments and as supplements to reduce fatigue in cancer patients. Bee venom is being investigated for its use in autoimmune diseases, especially osteoarthritis. Individuals can have allergic reactions to bee products. Profit margins on bee products, especially honeys, can be increased by adulterating them with various substances. Environmental contaminants can be present in bee products. Honey can contain phytotoxins. Phytotoxins in nectar are concentrated in the honey-making process. Nutraceuticals are being studied in bees to replace the use of antimicrobial prophylactics. Nutraceuticals and probiotics are being investigated and used to increase the health of bees.
... Pagrindiniais komponentais puskiečių preparatų modeliavimui pasirinkti bičių vaškas, alyvuogių aliejus. Alyvuogių aliejus ir bičių vaškas yra natūralios kilmės medžiagos, savo sudėtyje turinčios flavonoidų, antioksidantų, antibakterinių ir priešgrybelinių medžiagų, kurios, vartojamos odos paviršiuje, paveikia odos ląstelės citokinų gamybą [3][4][5][6]. Geltonasis bičių vaškas dažnai naudojamas dermatologijoje (tepalų, kremų, balzamų formose) kaip natūralus produktas, maitinantis, minkštinantis odą, saugantis ją nuo drėgmės netekimo ar neigiamo aplinkos poveikio. Šis bičių produktas pasižymi emulsuojančiomis, klampą didinančiomis bei antispetinėmis savybėmis [7]. ...
... Šv. Ignaco Lojolos kolegijos Sveikatos mokslų ir technologijų katedra3 Lietuvos sveikatos mokslų universiteto Klinikinės farmacijos katedra SVEIKATOS MOKSLAI / HEALTH SCIENCES IN EASTERN EUROPE ISSN 1392-6373 print / 2335-867X online 2020, 30 tomas, Nr.6, p. 69-72 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35988/sm-hs.2020.143 VISUOMENĖS SVEIKATA / PUBLIC HEALTH kokybę įvertinti biofarmaciniais tyrimais in vitro. ...
Aktualu sumodeliuoti tokią sistemą, kuri būtų sudaryta ne tik iš natūralios veikliosios medžiagos, bet ir iš natūralaus pagrindo. Tyrimo tikslas – sumodeliuoti tepalus su bičių vašku ir propolio tirštuoju ekstraktu ir įvertinti jų kokybę biofarmaciniais tyrimais in vitro. Tepalų pagrindui buvo pasirinktos natūralios medžiagos: geltonasis bičių vaškas, alyvuogių aliejus. Pagamintos stabilios puskietės sistemos su bičių vašku ir propolio tirštuoju ekstraktu yra priimtinų fizinių savybių ir pH. Propolis, kaip veiklioji medžiaga, buvo įterptas į puskietes nešiklio sistemas tirštojo ekstrakto pavidalu. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad bičių vaškas kaip pagalbinė medžiaga ir jo kiekis turi įtakos propolio fenolio junginių atpalaidavimui iš puskiečių tepalų.
... Known as oleocanthal, this substance is found only in olive oil. It influences the enzymes that cause inflammation in the body and can thus encounter the complications caused by inflammation (Al-Waili, 2004;Eidi et al., 2012). In another similar study entitled "A compound of olive oil and fish oil in patients with RA," Berbret et al. (2005) showed that there was a significant difference (p < .05) in G2 (fish oil containing omega 3 fatty acids, 3 g/day) and G3 (fish oil containing omega 3 fatty acids [3 g/day] plus 9.6 ml olive oil daily) in comparison with G1 (received corn oil as a placebo) in terms of pain degree of joints, ability to fist hands after 12 and 24 weeks, and morning stiffness. ...
... As a matter of fact, olive oil reduces pain and inflammation. Therefore, topical use of olive oil as an anti-inflammatory agent with analgesic properties can be recommended in the treatment of skin diseases (Al-Waili, 2004;Al-Waili, Saloom, Al-Waili, & Al-Waili, 2006). ...
Purpose:
This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of olive oil in controlling morning inflammatory pain of phalanges and knees among women with rheumatoid arthritis.
Design:
This is a randomized clinical trial, which was done in Arak, Iran.
Method:
After selecting 60 women based on a convenience sampling method, they were randomly allocated into five groups. A demographic questionnaire, the Visual Analogue Scale, and the Disease Activity Score 28 were completed. After 12 weeks of interventions, the last two scales were again completed. All data were analyzed using t test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Friedman test.
Results:
The mean age of the women was 40 ± 10.5 years. The result of the Friedman test showed a significant difference (p ≤ .001) among the total mean of groups before and after interventions. The post hoc test (least significant difference [LSD]) showed a significant difference (p ≤ .001) between the mean of Disease Activity Score 28 in the group using olive oil for massaging. Results also showed that there are significant differences (p ≤ .001) among the mean of Visual Analogue Scale rates, among the mean of the number of painful joints, and among the mean of the number of swollen joints after intervention in the five groups.
Conclusion:
Applying topical extra virgin olive oil, Piroxicam gel, and paraffin oil; dry massaging; and taking routine drugs alone were all effective on controlling rheumatic arthritis manifestations, respectively. Therefore, applying topical extra virgin olive oil for controlling of inflammatory pain of joints in rheumatic arthritis is recommended.
Clinical relevance:
In comparison with other medical ointments for RA, olive oil has lower expenditure and is findable in many homes.
... Il agit comme un agent bactéricide en raison de la présence de peroxyde d'hydrogène, qui provient de l'enzyme glucose oxydase, qui est le principal facteur antibactérien. De plus, le miel a des propriétés bactériostatiques en raison de son pH bas, qui empêche la croissance de nombreuses espèces bactériennes [53]. ...
... Different biocompatible lipids like stearic acid, cetyl palmitate, cetyl alcohol, trimyristin, glyceryl monostearate, etc., have been used for the formulations of Lipid nanoparticles (Dastidar et al., 2019;Dolatabadi et al., 2015;Wissing et al., 2004). In the present study, beeswax, a non-toxic natural wax, was used as a lipid source as it is known for its effectiveness against ringworm, jock itch, and fungal skin infections (Al-Waili, 2004). Beeswax constitutes-four unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, linoleic, palmitoleic, and linolenic), two saturated fatty acids (tetracosanoic and palmitic), and some other hydrocarbons, and wax esters (Fratini et al., 2016). ...
Targeted delivery has not been achieved for anthelmintic treatment, resulting in the requirement of excess drug dose leading to side effects and therapeutic resistance. Gastrointestinal helminths take up lipid droplets from digestive fluid for energy production, egg development, and defense which inspired us to develop biocompatible and orally administrable albendazole-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN-A) that were derived from beeswax and showed drug loading efficiency of 83.3 ± 6.5 mg/g and sustained-release properties with 84.8 ± 2.5% of drug released at pH 6.4 within 24 h at 37 °C. Rhodamine B-loaded SLN showed time-dependent release and distribution of dye in-vitro in Haemonchus contortus. The sustained-release property was shown by the particles that caused enhancement of albendazole potency up to 50 folds. Therefore, this formulation has immense potential as an anthelminthic drug delivery vehicle that will be able to reduce the dose and drug-induced side effects by enhancing the bioavailability of the drug.
... Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of honey might be utilized for the treatment of chronic inflammatory skin conditions and some cutaneous infections. For instance, the series of studies with the use of honey from UAE conducted by Al-Waili demonstrated efficacy of honey constituents for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, diaper dermatitis, fungal infections, seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff, and recurrent herpes simplex [3][4][5][6]. Braithwaite et al. conducted the randomized controlled trial revealing the efficiency of topical 90% medical-grade kanuka honey in treatment of rosacea [12]. Alangari et al. (2017) reported the significant improvement of atopic dermatitis lesions in 14 patients after one-week course with manuka honey application. ...
... Such effects could be at least partially dependent on the plant-derived compounds of beeswax[2] [57].A mixture of beeswax, honey and olive oil can be used successfully against dermatitis, psoriasis, against fissures variegated, against fissures of the anus and hemorrhoids and against burns. This mixture also containing propolis has been used successfully against oral mucositis[58] [59][60].Oral administration of a mixture of six beeswax alcohols called D-002(50 to ...
Abstract
The chemical composition of each of the eight total products of beekeeping,
which are honey, bee venom, propolis, royal jelly, drone brood, bee pollen,
bee bread and beeswax, is analyzed. Each beekeeping product has its own
chemical composition which varies from producer to producer. Some of these
bee products have been used for centuries in traditional medicine, but to date
research has demonstrated many other medicinal properties of these products
that were not known. Therapeutic properties of bee products have been discovered
even against various types of cancer and scientists are continuing
their research to discover other secrets behind the therapeutic properties of
bee products. In addition, therapeutic effects of bee products have also been
discovered against COVID-19 disease which has significantly affected global
health. Finally, it is concluded that bee products are proven to be one of the
most valuable medicines that nature can offer showing the great value of the
science of beekeeping.
... Furthermore, the levulose and fructose present in honey may improve local nutrition and promote epithelialization [93,94]. Honey also has immunomodulatory effects, as it influences the activation of macrophages and the proliferation of B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes [95], in addition to decreasing the inflammatory process by inhibiting cyclooxygenase pathway and reducing prostaglandin synthesis [96]. The beneficial effects of honey may also be due to its moisturizing effect, low pH, and viscosity which inhibit the proliferation of bacteria [35]. ...
Cancer, a major world public health problem, is associated with chemotherapy treatments whose administration leads to secondary concerns, such as oral mucositis (OM). The OM disorder is characterized by the presence of ulcers in the oral mucosa that cause pain, bleeding, and difficulty in ingesting fluids and solids, or speaking. Bioactive compounds from natural sources have arisen as an effective approach for OM. This review aims to summarize the new potential application of different natural products in the prevention and treatment of OM in comparison to conventional ones, also providing a deep insight into the most recent clinical studies. Natural products, such as Aloe vera, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Camellia sinensis, Calendula officinalis, or honeybee crops, constitute examples of sources of bioactive compounds with pharmacological interest due to their well-reported activities (e.g., antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, or wound healing). These activities are associated with the bioactive compounds present in their matrix (such as flavonoids), which are associated with in vivo biological activities and minimal or absent toxicity. Finally, encapsulation has arisen as a future opportunity to preserve the chemical stability and the drug bioa vailability of bioactive compounds and, most importantly, to improve the buccal retention period and the therapeutic effects.
... Beeswax is a non-toxic natural wax known for its effects against ringworm, jock itch, and fungal skin infections, having anti-allergenic and anti-swelling properties, and has been used in pain-relieving, lowering cholesterol, and reducing diaper rashes (NS, 2004). Beeswax constitutes-four unsaturated acids (oleic, linoleic, palmitoleic, and linolenic), two saturated fatty acids (tetracosanoic and palmitic), some other hydrocarbons, and wax esters. ...
Targeted delivery has not been achieved for anthelmintic treatment, resulting in the requirement of excess drugs dose leading to side effects and therapeutic resistance. Gastrointestinal helminths ingest lipid droplets from digestive fluid for energy production, development, and defense. Worm’s habit inspired us to develop biocompatible, oral administrable, bee-wax derived solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) with excellent drug (albendazole) loading efficiency of 83.3 ± 6.5 mg/g and sustained-release properties (86.4 ± 3.9 % of drug released within 24 h). Rhodamine B-loaded SLN showed time-dependent release and distribution of dye in vivo in Haemonchous contortus . The intestinal sustained-release property was shown by the particles that caused enhancement of albendazole potency for up to 50 folds. Therefore, this formulation has immense potential as an anthelminthic drug delivery vehicle that will not only be able to reduce the dose but will also reduce the drug-induced side effects by enhancing the bioavailability of the drug.
Highlights
Albendazole-loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN-A) were formulated using Beeswax as stating material showing high drug loading capacity of 83 mg/g with sustained-release properties and 84 ± 3 % of drug release within 24 h.
SLN-A particles showed 50 fold enhancement of Albendazole activity against Haemonchous contortus worm.
Rhodamine B-loaded SLN particles showed the specific uptake and in-vivo sustained release of dye in the worm.
... Honey has been widely used by many civilizations and generations as food and also as medicine to treat many human pathological conditions [142]. Studies have reported the topical use of honey to treat skin infections and for wound healing [143][144][145]. Selected studies on oral use of honey demonstrate its efficacy for symptomatic treatment of various diseases like hepatitis A/B, type 2 diabetes, risk factors for cardiovascular disease, gastric issues, common cold, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infections, nocturnal cough and sleep disorders [146][147][148][149]. Antimicrobial effect of honey is attributed to its high sugar concentration, low pH, osmotic effect and constituents like phenolic acid, flavonoids, hydrogen peroxide and antioxidants, while immunomodulatory effect is due to increased release of anti-inflammatory cytokines [142]. ...
Recently, the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome cornoavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has become a great perturbation all around the globe and has many devastating effects on every aspect of life. Apart from the oxygen therapy and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, Remdesivir and Dexamethasone have been proven to be efficacious against COVID-19, along with various vaccine candidates and monoclonal antibody cocktail therapy for Regeneron. All of these are currently at different stages of clinical trials. People with weak immunity are more prone to a severe infection of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, early and judicious nutritional supplementation along with pharmacological treatment and clinician collaborations are critical in restituting the current situation. Nutritional supplements help in acquiring strong immunity to prevent the progression of disease any further. Vitamin C, vitamin D, selenium, zinc and many other nutritional and dietary supplements inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines during a viral infection and prevents several unwanted symptoms of infection. Many dietary components like citrus fruits, black elderberry, ginger, and probiotics have the ability to attack viral replication. These supplements can also tame the overriding immune system during coronavirus infection. Keeping in view these facts, nutritional and dietary supplements can be used along with other management modalities. These nutritional and dietary supplements are potential candidates to curb the convulsive unfolding of novel COVID-19, in combination with other standard treatment protocols. In this review, various search engines were used to exploit available literature in order to provide a comprehensive review on nutritional and dietary supplements with respect to the viral infections. It will also provide a brief overview on some of the clinical trials that are in progress to assess the role of nutritional supplements, either alone or in combination with other pharmacological drugs, in fight against COVID-19.
... Al-Waili suggested that these findings indicate that the honey/olive oil/beeswax mixture appears effective for treating these cutaneous fungi and that future-controlled trials evaluating this compound are warranted. 60 In 2005 Al-Waili assessed the effects of the same honey/olive oil/beeswax mixture on the growth of S. aureus and Candida albicans isolated from humans and found that both the honey mixtures as well as honey alone were effective in suppressing bacterial growth, whereas mild-tomoderate growth was observed on media containing olive oil or beeswax. 61 That same year, Al-Waili tested the honey/olive oil/beeswax mixture on 12 infants experiencing diaper dermatitis. ...
Recent epidemiologic evidence suggests an association between olive oil consumption and a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers. The use of topical oil has also been reported in recent years to be effective in treating xerosis, rosacea, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, eczema (including severe hand and foot eczema), seborrhea, pruritus, and various inflammations. The antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties displayed by olive oil are thought to account for its efficacy in addressing cutaneous disorders. At a more granular level the benefits to the skin derived from the use of olive oil are ascribed to key constituents such as oleuropein, oleocanthal, and hydroxytyrosol. Novel and encouraging signs have recently been associated with olive oil aiding in wound healing and protecting against the damage incurred from ultraviolet radiation exposure. Olive oil is currently used in topical applications for the treatment of several skin conditions, including dry skin, itch, and inflammation as well as disorders such as rosacea.
... The antifungal activity of the honey mixture was attributed to the reduction of prostaglandin synthesis at the site of application, increase in nitric oxide on the affected sites, inhibition of concomitant bacterial growth, inhibition of leukotriene B4, and also to the mixture's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. 9 The mixture inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans in vitro at 66-100% concentration. 10 Although there are several published studies which investigated the antibacterial property of honey, there have only been a few which studied its in vitro antifungal property, specifically its anticandidal property. ...
Objective. To determine the antifungal properties of honey from two different floral sources (sunflower and coconut) and Philippine propolis against selected dermatophytes and Candida albicans. Methods. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of honey and propolis against Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum, Epidermophyton floccosum and Candida albicans was determined using the broth macrodilution method (NCCLS M38-P). Disk diffusion method was used to determine the zones of inhibition. Clotrimazole served as comparator drug. Results. Sunflower and coconut honey inhibited all test fungi, with coconut honey yielding lower MICs. However, propolis performed better than both sunflower and coconut honey. T. mentagrophytes was most sensitive to the test agents. Zones of inhibition were not produced by sunflower honey for Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum, and Epidermophyton floccosum; by coconut honey for Microsporum gypseum, and by propolis for Epidermophyton floccosum. No zone of inhibition was exhibited by honey and propolis for Candida albicans. Conclusion. Honey and aqueous propolis extract exhibit antifungal properties against Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, Microsporum gypseum, Epidermophyton floccosum and Candida albicans. Although honey and propolis have inhibitory activities against these organisms, clotrimazole is still relatively superior based on the zone of inhibition produced by the test drugs.
... [25] The Tinea group of dermatophytes have also been shown to be susceptible to honey therapy. [26] Honey is said to mediate at least some of its antifungal properties by immune-modulation. [25] Illustrative case A 47-year-old male diabetic was referred to the oral and maxillofacial surgery clinic of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital with an ulcerated foul smelling palatal excoriation [ Figure 1]. ...
... În Evul Mediu, pentru turnarea statuilor de bronz s-a folosit procedeul în ceară pierdută, care permitea turnarea dintr-o singură bucată, în timp ce în Antichitate se folosea metoda turnării pe bucăți, urmată de asamblarea acestora (2) . ...
Wax represents an important group of ingredients used for the implementation of cosmetic and decorative products. From a chemical point of view, waxes are complex mixtures of hydrocarbons and fatty acids combined with esters. They have a long-lasting consistency and are highly resistant to moisture, oxidation and microbial attack. The paper aims to present a series of waxes used in cosmetics and not only. There are briefly presented the characteristics, the methods of obtaining and the uses of wax in the cosmetic field.
... The use of functional excipients may bring additional therapeutic advantages to the system. Beeswax has antioxidant properties, plus humectants and antimicrobial agents in its composition 3 . Melaleuca oil has antiseptic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties 4 . ...
... In spite of the fact that the underlying mechanism of action of honey is not well elucidated, it is likely that factors like osmolality, phenol content, flavanoid levels, acidity, and the release of hydrogen peroxide are thought to be the most important factors for its activity [43]. Honey is known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and the increase of nitric oxide (NO) in the lesions [25, 43, 44]. Being sweet, honey may per se stimulate the salivation reflex due to their hyperosmolarity. ...
One of the most common complications of cancer chemotherapy is oral mucositis. This study evaluates the therapeutic effects of honey with the focus on grade III and IV oral mucositis, reduction of bacterial and fungal infections, duration of episodes of oral mucositis, and body weight in pediatric leukemic patients undergoing chemo/radiotherapy. This is an open labeled randomized controlled study conducted at our hospital on 40 pediatric cancer patients undergoing chemo/radiotherapy. All the 40 patients included in this study experienced a sum total of 390 episodes of fever and neutropenia associated with oral mucositis. A significant reduction of oral mucositis, associated Candida , and aerobic pathogenic bacterial infections was noted in patients in the honey treatment group. Also, there is a significant decrease in the duration of hospitalization for all those in the treatment group combined with a significant increase of body weight, delayed onset, and decreased severity of pain related to oral mucositis. Complications of oral mucositis can be tremendously reduced by the topical application of local Saudi honey and honey should be used as an integrative approach in prophylaxis and treatment of chemo/radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis in pediatric cancer patients. Further research is needed to elucidate and better understand the underlying mechanism.
... There are studies investigating the efficacy of honey in the treatment of skin disorders including wounds, of which the effects may be caused by the in vivo immunomodulatory properties of honey (Jull et al., 2015;Naidoo et al., 2011). For example, a honey mixture (containing honey, beeswax and olive oil) was found to significantly improve the symptoms of atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, pityriasis versicolor and tinea cruris (Al-Waili, 2001, 2003, 2004). ...
Studies have shown that honeys from around the world can inhibit the growth of a range of dermatologically important microbes. In addition to reports of the antimicrobial properties of honey, a number of recent in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that honey is able to modulate immunological parameters related to the skin immune system. Paradoxically, both immune-stimulatory and anti-inflammatory effects have been observed. In this review, scientific research investigating the immunomodulatory properties of honeys from around the world, in relation to disorders of the skin, is evaluated. While there is sufficient evidence to suggest that honey does indeed have immunomodulatory properties, which may at least partially explain the ability of honey to promote the healing of wounds, there are still gaps in the scientific knowledge and literature. More research is necessary for a more complete understanding of the immune-modulating properties of honey and to enable the utilisation of honey as an immune-modulating agent in dermatology.
... In addition, after 3 weeks of therapy, the lone patient with tinea faciei exhibited clinical as well as mycological resolution. Al-Waili suggested that these findings indicate that the honey/olive oil/beeswax mixture appears effective for treating these cutaneous fungi and that future controlled trials evaluating this compound are warranted ( Al-Waili, 2004 ). In 2005, Al-Waili assessed the effects of the same honey/ olive oil/beeswax mixture on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans isolated from humans and found that both the honey mixture as well as honey alone were effective in suppressing bacterial growth, whereas mild to moderate growth was observed on media containing olive oil or beeswax ( Al-Waili, 2005a ). ...
The primary source of fat in the Mediterranean diet, known to be one of the healthiest around the world, olive oil (. Olea europaea) has long been considered one of the most important of the natural essential oils. For millennia, as long as it has been part of the human diet, people have also used olive oil for various non-culinary purposes, including for its beneficial effects on the skin. The ancient Egyptians and Romans used olive oil in food, cosmetics, massage oil for athletes, anointing oil, and salve for soothing wounds, and the ancient Greeks bathed with olive oil. In recent years, the topical application of olive oil has been reported to be an effective option in treating xerosis, rosacea, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis (particularly diaper dermatitis), eczema (including severe hand and foot eczema), seborrhea, pruritus, and various inflammations, burns and other cutaneous damage. In addition, olive oil is showing promise as a potential photoprotective agent. This chapter focuses on the chemical constituents of olive oil believed to confer beneficial health effects before concentrating on the dermatologic implications of olive oil consumption and topical application, including a brief discussion of some of the available formulations.
... 197 The healing effect of honey in postoperative infection, gynecological procedures (caesarian sections, hysterectomies, etc), burns, necrotizing fasciitis, infected and nonhealing wounds, and ulcers, boils, and diabetic foot ulcers are ascribed to honey's broad-spectrum antibacterial action. 4,140,141,202,[217][218][219][220][221][222][223][224][225][226][227] Other explanations for the wound-healing activity of honey include high acidity, high sugar content, high viscosity, immunomodulatory action, stimulation of inflammatory cytokines from monocytic cells, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of honey, and presence of kynurenic acid with its antinociceptive action. 4,223-232 ...
Honey has been widely accepted as food and medicine by all generations, traditions, and civilizations, both ancient and modern. For at least 2700 years, honey has been used by humans to treat a variety of ailments through topical application, but only recently have the antiseptic and antimicrobial properties of honey been discovered. Honey has been reported to be effective in a number of human pathologies. Clinical studies have demonstrated that application of honey to severely infected cutaneous wounds rapidly clears infection from the wound and improves tissue healing. A large number of in vitro and limited clinical studies have confirmed the broad-spectrum antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antimycobacterial) properties of honey, which may be attributed to the acidity (low pH), osmotic effect, high sugar concentration, presence of bacteriostatic and bactericidal factors (hydrogen peroxide, antioxidants, lysozyme, polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, methylglyoxal, and bee peptides), and increase in cytokine release, and to immune modulating and anti-inflammatory properties of honey; the antimicrobial action involves several mechanisms. Despite a large amount of data confirming the antimicrobial activity of honey, there are no studies that support the systemic use of honey as an antibacterial agent.
... Previous studies have shown that honey reduces inflammation, swelling and pain and promotes wound healing (7,8,9 and10). Also a mixture of honey has been effective in treating diaper dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, and skin fungal infections (11,12).Honey relieved itching (13).Since anal fissure and haemorrhoids cause pain, itching, irritation, edema, signs of inflammation, and bleeding, honey may be effective medication to relieve patients (4). So the study designed to evaluate the effect of honey on anal fissure and hemorrhoid symptoms. ...
Background: Hemorrhoid and anal fissure are common problems with annoying
complaints. Many studies have shown antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic
and healing properties of honey. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of
topical honey on hemorrhoid and anal fissure symptoms.
Method: In a Randomized double-blind clinical trial study, patients with internal
hemorrhoid or chronic anal fissure were evaluated in two groups. In one group
patients applied amixture of honey and Vaseline topically and in the other group,
patients used Vaseline as placebo for 10 days. Severity of pain, pruritus and
bleeding were assessed during the course of trial.
Results: 105 patients were completed the study, case (53 patients) and control
group (52 patients).There was no significant difference between the two groups in
age, gender and diagnosis. Decrease in mean pain score, pruritus, and bleeding
prevalence in both groups were observed after 10 days. In the case group, patients
with anal fissure showed significant decrease in symptoms compared with the
control group. However in patients with hemorrhoid decreasing the severity of
symptoms was not statistically significant. Burning sensation was observed in 9
patients in the case groupbut it was tolerable.
Conclusion: Topical honey is effective in alleviation of anal fissure symptoms.
But it had no significant effect on the symptoms of hemorrhoid. Burning
sensation was an adverse effect of topical honey. But it was tolerable and didn’t
cause discontinuation of treatment.
Beeswax (BW) is the substance that forms the structure of a honeycomb, made by bees to store honey. Compared with honey and propolis, beeswax as a by-product possesses several favorable therapeutic properties and is of great interest to the scientific community. In this chapter, the various health benefits of beeswax and its applications are systematically introduced, including mainly the protection of skin disease, wound healing, oxidative damage, antimicrobial activities, and other health applications, with the aim to make more common the use of this by-product for human health. Beeswax, due to its beneficial components and special structural properties, could even assist in preventing and treating some types of cancers or some metabolic diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Therefore, this chapter aims to update the major scientific works that have highlighted the various health benefits exerted by beeswax in different types of pathological conditions.
This book was written to fill the gap in biochemistry courses taught in associate and undergraduate programs. The topics of pollen, bee bread, beeswax and bee venom in this book can be used as a resource in associate and undergraduate programs. I hope this book will be a resource for instructors and students.
Honey possesses antibacterial, anti‐inflammatory, and healing properties that benefit wound healing and tissue regeneration. For centuries, honey has been utilized in traditional medicine as a binder or vehicle for creams and lotions and also for therapeutic purposes. The overuse of antibiotics and antimicrobial agents leading to drug resistance has emphasized the resurgence of honey's application in wound care. For many dermatological disorders, there is an interest in developing therapeutics with fewer side effects than traditional therapies and enhanced wound healing abilities to expedite tissue regeneration. This paper reviews the properties and components of honey that contribute to its wound‐healing‐based applications, the types of honey employed in medicine, and its dermatological applications. Based on the evidence from case reports, clinical trials, and in vitro studies, honey has been characterized as a safe, cost‐effective, and readily available treatment option for many skin conditions, including microbial infections, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, necrotizing fasciitis, ulcers, as well as thermal and other types of wounds.
Background:
Beeswax is a naturally occurring product secreted from worker bees that has varied uses in modern day. In skincare, its function ranges from its role as an occlusive, helping to create a semi-occlusive skin barrier that minimizes transepidermal water loss; as a humectant, locking in hydration; and an emollient to soften and soothe the skin. As a natural substance, its use has been shown to help alleviate symptoms associated with common cutaneous conditions like dermatitis, psoriasis, and overgrowth of normal skin flora.
Aims:
In this narrative review, we aim to describe current uses of beeswax in skincare that has been published in the literature.
Materials and methods:
A review of beeswax related publications was performed by searching the PubMed database studies.
Results:
A total of five clinical studies were included with three studies on animals and two studies in humans.
Discussion:
Several studies show the benefits of topical beeswax in supporting the skin barrier.
Conclusion:
Beeswax can be a low-cost, natural ingredient for use in products. Further studies with topical beeswax are warranted.
Bee products such as honey, propolis, bee pollen, royal jelly, beeswax, and bee venom constitute important pharmaceutical and cosmetic components. Each bee product is characterized by the content of the active substance, which differentiates one bee product from another, and causes that each of them is worth using for a different skin problem. In addition, flavonoids and phenolic acids play a crucial role in influencing those products on the skin. For example, honey, propolis, and pollen are used to heal burn wounds.
Moreover, bee venom called apitoxin contains active peptides and amines used in the wound’s healing process. Therefore, findings connected with wound dressing containing honey, propolis, or bee venom can be applied during wound healing therapy. Furthermore, the advantages of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics based on bee products are high effectiveness with minimal side effects. Therefore, bee products may become a new strategy in skin therapy.
Candida is a fungus commonly involved in diseases of the skin and mucous membranes and has a high resistance to antifungal drugs. Moreover, there are few therapeutic options to treat these infections. Honey is a popular product that is easily accessible and has a diverse chemical composition, such as phenolic compounds that can have an antimicrobial effect in various metabolic pathways. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to characterize the antifungal activity of tree popular Brazilians honey against Candida species. Aroeira, Eucalyptus and Assa-Peixe honey was characterized by total phenolics and its antifungal activity on Candida species was tested by the microdilution method, antibiofilm activity, yeast to hypha (Y–H) transition, combination assays, multistage resistance study, and antibi-scanning electron microscopy of the fungi. Aroeira honey showh potent antifungal activity in vitro against planktonic cells of C. albicans (MIC 20–30% w/v) and non-albicans (MIC 30–40% w/v) and also breaks down mature biofilms formed by these yeasts at 40% w/v. Urethral catheters sensitized with 30% Aroeira honey reduced adhesion and biofilm formation by C. albicans. Aroeira honey did not induce resistance in C. albicans during the 21-day exposure. Its ability to alter fungal membrane structure contributes to the synergistic effects of Aroeira honey with commercial antifungal agents (miconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole). Aroeira honey inhibits yeast-to-alpha transition in C. albicans, and its prior exposure for 1 h reverses the azole resistance profile of a highly resistant strain of C. albicans. Taken together, these results indicate that Aroeira honey is a promising therapeutic agent against superficial candidiasis.
Benign kemik tümörleri kendi içinde çeşitlilik gösteren semptomlar
bulundurur ve farklı patololojik formlarda ortaya çıkmaktadırlar. Klinik
davranışları ve prognozlar farklılık göstermekte olup multidisipliner bir yaklaşım
gerektirmektedirler. Bu yaklaşım ortopedi ve travmatoloji uzmanı, radyoloji
uzmanı, onkoloji uzmanı ve patoloji uzmanından oluşmaktadır.(1) Bu tümörler
genellikle asemtomatik olup, tedavileri tartışmalıdır
Artificial intelligence is intertwined with our daily lives and has begun to be used in the field of medicine. The aim of this study is to critically evaluate the recent and new literature on artificial intelligence in orthopedics and to discuss its potential impact in the field of orthopedics. For this purpose, literature studies were carried out from databases by SMS method.
Four types of antifungal drugs are available that include inhibitors of ergosterol synthesis, of fungal RNA biosynthesis, and of cell wall biosynthesis as well as physiochemical regulators of fungal membrane sterols. Increasing resistance to antifungal drugs can severely limit treatment options of fungal nail infections, vaginal candidiasis, ringworm, blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, and Candida infections of the mouth, throat, and esophagus, among other infections. Development of strategies focused on new fungicides can effectively help tackle troublesome fungal diseases. The virulence and optimal growth of fungi depend on various extracellular secreted factors, among which proteases, such as serine proteases, are of particular interest. A specific extracellular proteolytic system enables fungi to survive and penetrate the tissues. Given the role of fungal proteases in infection, any molecule capable of selectively and specifically inhibiting their activity can lead to the development of potential drugs. Owing to their specific mode of action, fungal protease inhibitors can avoid fungal resistance observed with currently available treatments. Although fungal secreted proteases have been extensively studied as potential virulence factors, our understanding of the substrate specificity of such proteases remains poor. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in the design and development of specific serine protease inhibitors and provide a brief history of the compounds that inhibit fungal serine protease activity.
Olive oil and olive extracts have been used in folk medicine since ancient times. Romans and Greeks employed olive extracts to treat many diseases and an extract of boiled olive leaves was administered as a drink to malaria patients during the 19th century. Hence, the Mediterranean countries have cultivated the olive tree (Olea europaea L.) to produce olive oil, table olives and olive leaf extracts for centuries. At present, both olive oil and table olives are important components of the Mediterranean diet and are largely consumed throughout the world. In addition, there are many enterprises that commercialize olive leaf extracts to treat a myriad of diseases, many of them caused by microorganisms. Recently, the importance of preventive medicine has been gradually recognized in the field of orthopaedic surgery with a concept that peak bone mass should be increased in childhood as much as possible for the prevention of osteoporosis (Ohtani et al., 2009). The aim of the current study is to explore the antimicrobial activity of olive oil against microbial infections. To achieve the aim of research, the researcher applied the exploratory approach where dozens of relevant studies were reviewed and explored in order to collect the results needed to enrich the discussion within the current study. The results of study indicated the efficiency of antimicrobial activity of olive oil against microbial infections.
Maize is the one of important crops in Egypt. Aflatoxins (AFs) are the foremost cancer present compounds by Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) and cause health risks to human and animals. This study aimed to suppression of aflatoxins production by A. flavus by using different concentrations of natural substances (carnation oil, lemongrass oil, propolis and beewax) and chemical substances (salicylic acid and potassium sorbate) on maize grains. The strains of A. flavus were isolated from local maize grains on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and detect its ability of aflatoxins production on coconut agar media. Samples (100g) of sterilized maize grains were treated individually with different concentration of carnation oil, lemongrass oil, salicylic acid and potassium sorbate (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0%) and at concentration 1% and 4% for propolis and beeswax each, then inoculated with A. flavus and stored for 30 days at 28±2˚C. AFs reduction was determined by using High Performance liquid Chromatography (HPLC). All the tested substances had active effect in inhibition of AFs production by A. flavus in stored maize grains. The production of Aflatoxin B1 and B2 (AFB1 and AFB2) was decreased to about 93% and 99% at concentration of 0.25% carnation oil. Lemongrass oil almost completely inhibited AFB1and AFB2 production (99.12% - 99.98% and 99.98% -99.99%, respectively) at concentration of 2% - 6%. Potassium sorbate and salicylic acid (0.25%- 6%) that were significantly effective controlling aflatoxins production on maize grains compared with control. While, the propolis and beewax found to be the most active to protect maize grains against fungi. Natural substances, carnation oil, lemongrass oil, beewax and propolis had higher active effect at low concentration on aflatoxin production more than salicylic acid and more safe for human used.
Honey has been and is being used for medical, pharmaceutical, and domestic needs. Besides, it is used as a conventional medicine and has various pharmacological properties. A variety of polyphenolic compounds are stated in honey and among them important polyphenols are Caffeic acid (CA), Quercetin (QU), Chrysin (CR), Kaempferol (KF), Apigenin (AP), Galangin (GA), Acacetin (AC), Caffeic acid phenyl ester (CAPE), Pinocembrin (PC), and Pinobanksin (PB) that have evolved as potential pharmacokinetic agents in the cure of cancer. Caffeic acid, a naturally occurring phenolic compound commonly found in honey, is being comprehensively studied for its therapeutic use and is being described as a cancer-causing agent in preliminary studies, but the same compound in combination with other antioxidants has been revealed to repress colon tumors in rats. CAPE was similarly proposed to have anticarcinogenic, antimitogenic, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory potential. In a related progressive study, influence of CA against UVB (280–320 nm) irradiation-induced IL10 appearance and stimulation of MAPKs (Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases) in skin of mouse was observed. The findings strongly propose that chrysin exercises growth inhibitory properties either by prompting p38 MAPK leading to buildup of p21Waf1/Cip-1 protein or by arbitrating the repression of proteosome action. It is also a well-established fact that chrysin prompts cell death in association with stimulation of caspase-3 and Akt signal corridor, which plays a vital role in chrysin-incited cell death in U937 cells. Galangin and its antiproliferative outcome on HL-60 cells was expressed in a manner that is dependent on dose, and it also prompted DNA breakage without any loss of integrity of cell membrane. Similarly, quercetin was also shown in an in vitro study to impede HL-60 cell propagation in association with repression of cytosolic PKC (Protein Kinase C) and TPK (tyrosine protein kinase) membrane bound. Acacetin, another important flavonoid, was revealed to impede the propagation of A549 cells, prompt apoptosis, and block cell cycle promotion at G1 cell cycle phase and also heightened the appearance of p53 protein and Fas ligands. Besides was also depicted to impede HepG2 cell propagation and incite cell death by boosting p53 protein and Fas ligands as in case of A-549 cells. Kaempferol-mediated cell death in H-460 cells was complemented by substantial DNA coiling/condensation and amassing ATP content. Besides, it altered the levels of Caspase-3 and AIF (Apoptosis-Inducing Factor). Pinocembrin has been shown to induce loss of MMP (mitochondrial membrane potential) with further release of cytochrome c and processing of caspase 3 and 9 in colon HCT116 cancer cells. Apigenin has been shown to exert antiproliferative influence against colon, breast, neuroblastoma, cervical, and liver cancer cell lines. The chapter has clearly put forth certain honey-based compounds that have been tested in laboratory setups and have been revealed to be hopeful pharmacological agent for hindering cancer propagation.
Honey dressings attract attention as a therapeutic alternative for wound care due to its antibacterial, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory action. To obtain better medicinal properties, the formulation of honey requires the characterization of physicochemical and mechanical properties. This chapter aims to provide an in-depth account of the value of characterizing the honey dressing. Physical tests, such as swelling capacity, water vapor transmission rate, and thermal studies, are described. Therapeutic testings of honey wound dressings and their clinical applications have been covered. Recent developments in the formulation of honey dressings are also discussed in this chapter.
Honey is the material made by mixing of nectar and sweet deposits from plants and later on modified by honey bees. Honey is one of the most appreciated and valued natural products introduced to humankind since ancient times. Honey is a nutritional material that is traditionally known for its medicinal properties. Honey is used as a traditional medicine in treating various clinical ailments from wound healing to cancer apart from being used as a nutritional product. In dermatology, honey is used in the treatment of eczema, ulcers, wounds, atopic dermatitis (AD), allergies, and much more due to its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties. In conclusion, honey could be considered as a natural therapeutic agent for various medicinal purposes. Sufficient evidences recommend the use of honey in the management of disease conditions especially skin- related disorders. Based on these facts, the use of honey in clinical wards is highly recommended. However, more rigorous scientific studies are needed to confirm its benefits in health care settings especially in the field of dermatology.
Metabolic disorders occur when unusual chemical reactions take place in the body amend usual metabolic pathways. Diabetes mellitus a metabolic disorder is generally characterized by high glucose level in blood over longer period of time. In type 1 diabetes, pancreas fails to produce adequate insulin and the same effect is due to the loss of beta cells of pancreas. Type 2 diabetes begins with resistance to insulin and accordingly gives no response to insulin. Gestational diabetes mellitus is similar to type 2 diabetes in various aspects and is having combination of inadequate insulin and sensitivity to it. For many years, honey is being used as a substitute for sugar and for providing medicinal benefits. In animal as well as human studies, convincing evidence specifies that honey displays antidiabetic as well as hypoglycemic effects. Additionally, honey consumption improved other disorders related to metabolism and to diabetes such as reduced levels of HbA1c (glycosylated hemoglobin) and hepatic transaminases and increased HDL cholesterol. The same was in addition to lowering hyperglycemia and oxidative stress. Besides depicting hypoglycemic effect, research has indicated that honey improves lipid anomalies in rats and humans suffering from diabetes. The beneficial effects of honey could also be limiting other disorders of metabolism and lessening damaging effects on various organs of the body that ultimately result in diabetic complications. Although there are few studies in the literature which are contrary to the above-depicted discussions regarding the beneficial effects of honey and its use in diabetic disorder. Also the clinical trials or studies on humans (both diabetic and healthy) are rather very sparse. It is anticipated that this book chapter will encourage fundamental investigation intended at explicating the mode of actions by which oligosaccharides present in honey improves antidiabetic/hypoglycemic effects.
Plants have developed effective defence strategies to protect themselves from phytopathogenic microbes and herbivores in their environment. Disease resistance in plants depends on the activation of coordinated, multicomponent defence mechanisms. One mechanism for disease resistance in plants is their ability to accumulate low‐molecular‐weight compounds (secondary metabolites) with high antimicrobial activities, such as alkaloids, coumarins, isoflavonoids, polyacetylenes, quinones, tannins and terpenes.
Based on this knowledge, there is every reason to believe that the plant kingdom is an important source of new antimicrobial agents with special biological targets. Thus, in the last two decades, hundreds of different new secondary metabolites were screened for their potential antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activities. For instance, several secondary metabolites with antiviral properties have exhibited competitive in vitro and in vivo activities with those found for synthetic antiviral drugs. It has been shown that phyto‐antiviral agents interfere with many viral targets, ranging from adsorption of the virus to the host cell via the inhibition of virus‐specific enzymes (e.g. reverse transcriptase, protease) to release virus from the cells.
It is generally accepted that bioactive plant‐derived secondary metabolites are useful leads to synthesize new and more active antimicrobial agents as well as substances with new pharmacological effects by repeated structural modification. It is expected that structurally modified natural products will exhibit increased potency, selectivity, duration of action, bioavailability and reduced toxicity.
Bal mumu arı kolonisinin yaşamsal faaliyetlerini üzerinde yürüttüğü peteğin ham maddesidir. Arıcılık işletmeleri için bal, polen, arı sütü ve arı ekmeği gibi bal mumu da bir arı ürünüdür. Bal mumu absorbe etme yeteneği kaynaklı kovan içi ve dışı kirleticileri bünyesinde biriktirebilmektedir. Bu şekilde kalıntı içeren peteklerden üretilen arı ürünleri insan ve arı sağlığı için risk oluşturmaktadır. Aynı zamanda eski petekler patojen mikroorganizmalar için konak işlevi görebilmektedir. Özellikle petek işleme tesisleri eski peteklerin hijyenik hale gelmesi açısından oldukça önemli bir sorumluluk taşımaktadır. Bal mumunun çok geniş bir kullanım alanı içermesi dikkatleri de üzerine çekmiştir. Gıda sektöründe kaplayıcı ajan olarak, kozmetikte sabun ve kremlerde geniş kullanım yanısıra, tekstil, boya, kâğıt sanayinde ve sağlık sektöründe birçok alanda kullanılan bir üründür. Bal mumundan yapılan birçok süs eşyası da bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışmada bal mumu ile ilgili son çalışmalar ışığında ilgili sektörlerinde faydalanabilecekleri yeni bakış açıları sunulması amaçlanmıştır.
Tinea pedis affects the life quality distinctly and patients those with a prolonged disease often resort to non‐medical methods. We sought to evaluate patients’ knowledge about tinea pedis and approaches to the non‐pharmacological agents. A cross‐sectional study was conducted on 152 patients with tinea pedis who answered the survey between July‐November 2019. Demographic and clinical features, patients’ attitudes, behaviors, and opinions about non‐pharmacological treatments related to tinea pedis were evaluated. Of 152 patients, 65 (42.8%) were female and 87 (57.2%) were male. The frequency of at least one non‐pharmacological agent use for tinea pedis was 55.9%. The most common non‐pharmacological agent was cologne (27.0%), followed by saltwater, vinegar, and henna. The rate of non‐pharmacological agent use was not significantly different between genders and patients with different education levels. Information sources for tinea pedis were dermatologists in only 42 patients (27.8%). The opinion that the disease will improve spontaneously was not significantly different between the groups according to the education level (P = 0.154). Tinea pedis needs awareness as a health problem particularly in Muslim populations. Patients should be prevented from applying wrong practices and informed about the risk factors, contagiousness, and treatment options by physicians.
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Problems with conventional treatments for a range of dermatological disorders have led scientists to search for new compounds of therapeutic value. Efforts have included the evaluation of natural products such as honey. Manuka honey, for example, has been scientifically recognised for its anti-microbial and wound healing properties and is now used clinically as a topical treatment for wound infections. In this review, scientific evidence for the effectiveness of honey in the treatment of wounds and other skin conditions is evaluated. A plethora of in vitro studies have revealed that honeys from all over the world have potent anti-microbial activity against skin relevant microbes. Moreover, a number of in vitro studies suggest that honey is able to modulate the skin immune system. Clinical research has shown honey to be efficacious in promoting the healing of partial thickness burn wounds while its effectiveness in the treatment of non-burn acute wounds and chronic wounds is conflicted. Published research investigating the efficacy of honey in the treatment of other types of skin disorders is limited. Nevertheless, positive effects have been reported, for example, kanuka honey from New Zealand was shown to have therapeutic value in the treatment of rosacea. Anti-carcinogenic effects of honey have also been observed in vitro and in a murine model of melanoma. It can be concluded that honey is a biologically active and clinically interesting substance but more research is necessary for a comprehensive understanding of its medicinal value in dermatology.
This chapter focuses on the health benefits of traditional culinary and medicinal plants of the Mediterranean region. The Mediterranean diet is mentioned to be rich in fruits and vegetables, monounsaturated fatty acids and olive oil and the diet has a negative association with incidence of metabolic syndrome that contributes to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Mediterranean plants are believed to prevent or cure a wide range of ailments based on their bioactive components that can exert anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic or anti-diabetic activities. A table is presented that gives a list of Mediterranean plants and their health benefits as well as brief accounts of the medicinal use of the plants and includes rosemary, licorice, chamomile and olive oil among others. The consumption of olive oil has a strong correlation with reduced hypertension, cancers of the prostate, breast and colon. It highlights the mechanism of action of the bioactive components and the molecular targets derived from these plants.
Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) belongs to the Herpesviridae family and genus simplex virus. This virus is usually acquired during childhood and is transmitted through direct mucocutaneous contact or droplet infection from infected secretions. The aim of the present study was to compare antiviral effects of honey, royal jelly, and acyclovir on herpes simplex virus-1 in an extra-somatic environment.
Vero cells were cultured in the Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) along with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) in 12-welled microplates. Various dilutions of honey, royal jelly, and acyclovir (5, 10, 50, 100, 2500, 500, and 800 μg/mL) were added to the Vero cells along with a 100-virus concentration of TCID50. The plaque assay technique was used to evaluate the antiviral activities.
The results showed that honey, royal jelly, and acyclovir have the highest inhibitory effects on HSV-1 at concentrations of 500, 250, and 100 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, honey, royal jelly, and acyclovir decreased the viral load from 70 795 to 43.3, 30, and 0 PFU/mL at a concentration of 100 μg/mL, respectively.
The results of the present study showed that honey and royal jelly, which are natural products with no reports about their deleterious effect at least in laboratory conditions, can be considered alternatives to acyclovir in the treatment of herpetic lesions. However, it should be pointed out that further studies are necessary to substantiate their efficacy because hard evidence on their effectiveness is not available at present.
Cough is a common symptom of upper respiratory tract infection. One of the causes of chronic cough is persistent post-infectious cough (PPC). PPC is a cough that persists longer than three weeks after a "common cold". PPC has poor response to routine treatments. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the therapeutic effects of prednisolone, coffee, honey, and "honey plus coffee" in the treatment of PPC. This was a Meta-analysis of three double blind randomized clinical trials conducted on 245 adult participants presenting PPC during an eight-year period from 2005 to 2013. The included participants were assigned into five groups. For each group a special jam-like paste was prepared. Every participant was told to dissolve 25 grams of his/her prescribed product in 200 mL of warm water and drink it every eight hours for one week. All the participants were evaluated before the treatment and two weeks later, to measure the severity of their cough. Comparing the effectiveness of all five regimens, this study found "honey with coffee" as the most effective treatment modality for PPC. Honey plus coffee can successfully treat PPC at a short time. So, it is recommended.
Fish oil has a preventive role in cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases, but little is known about the effect of olive oil, which is widely consumed in Mediterranean regions. We examined the influence of dietary olive oil, corn oil and fish oil-rich diets on the production of superoxide anion (O2-) and nitric oxide (.NO) by resident macrophages stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and their effect on arachidonic acid release, prostaglandin G/H synthase-2 (PGHS-2) expression and the subsequent prostaglandin E(2) production. Resident peritoneal macrophages stimulated by PMA from rats fed with olive oil or corn oil had the same level of O2- production, but these levels were increased by the fish oil diet. Olive oil and the fish oil diets increased .NO and decreased arachidonic acid mobilization and the production of prostaglandin E(2). PGHS-2 expression, however, was not affected by diet. We conclude that although olive oil and fish oil reduce arachidonic acid mobilization and subsequent metabolism through the PGHS-2 pathway in PMA-stimulated macrophages, only olive oil offers an additional beneficial effect by increasing .NO/O2- production.
The Mediterranean diet, rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, has been associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer, partly because of its high proportion of bioactive compounds such as vitamins, flavonoids and polyphenols. The major lipid component of such diet is the drupe-derived olive oil, that can be distinguished from other seed oils for the peculiar composition of its non-triglyceride fraction. In fact, several minor components, including polyphenols, grant the oil its particular taste and aroma. Oleuropein, the most abundant among these components, has been shown to be a potent antioxidant endowed with antiinflammatory properties. We investigated the effects of oleuropein on NO release in cell culture and its activity toward nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. The results show that oleuropein dose-dependently enhance nitrite production in LPS-challenged mouse macrophages. This effect was blocked by the iNOS inhibitor L-NAME, indicating increased iNOS activity. Also, Western blot analysis of cell homogenates show that oleuropein increases iNOS expression in such cells. Taken together, our data suggest that, during endotoxin challenge, oleuropein potentiates the macrophage-mediated response, resulting in higher NO production, currently believed to be beneficial for cellular and organismal protection.
We have evaluated the effects of hydroxytyrosol (HT), a potent antioxidant present in olive oil, on the formation of arachidonic acid 5-lipoxygenase metabolites by leukocytes in vitro. HT, a simple phenolic compound, extracted from first-pressure oil, was isolated by HPLC and characterized by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. HT inhibited in a dose-related manner the production of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) by calcium ionophore-stimulated leukocytes. As expected, similar inhibition was observed for ω-oxidized metabolites of LTB4, namely 20-hydroxy and 20-carboxy-LTB4. The results disclose a new biological activity of olive oil-derived phenols on leukocyte eicosanoid production. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd
Honey has been used as a medicine since ancient times in many cultures and is still used in ‘folk medicine’. The use of honey as a therapeutic substance has been rediscovered by the medical profession in more recent times, and it is gaining acceptance as an antibacterial agent for the treatment of ulcers and bed sores, and other infections resulting from burns and wounds. In many of the cases in the cited reports, honey was used on infections not responding to standard effective in rapidly clearing up infection and promoting healing. Honey has also been found to be effective in treating bacterial gastoentertis in infants. This is the published version of an article published in the journal: Bee World. Used with permission.
Unprocessed honey was inoculated with toxigenic strains of Aspergillus flavus NRRL 5862 and A. parasiticus NRRL 2999. The fungi grew and sporulated in varying amounts of honey diluted with water, but none of the cultures produced detectable levels of aflatoxin. Growth and subsequent sporulation were seen only in media containing up to and including 60% of honey. Media having 40% of honey showed growth and sporulation by day two. Neither species of Aspergillus produced toxins even in 10% honey. These results confirm our earlier observations that pure honey inhibited fungal growth and now even diluted honey seems capable of inhibiting toxin production or possibly neutralizing it. The general procedures recommended by the AOAC for extraction and thin layer chromatography were applied successfully in analyzing the honey substrate for aflatoxin.
D-002 is a natural mixture of higher aliphatic primary alcohols, isolated and purified from beeswax which has anti-inflammatory properties, reduces leukotrienes (LTB4) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) in exudated carrageenan-induced pleurisy, and has anti-ulcer activity in different experimental models. This study was conducted to determine the effect of D-002 on the pre-ulcerative phase of carrageenan-induced colonic ulceration in guinea-pigs.
Animals were randomly distributed among a negative control, a positive control group treated with the vehicle Tween 20 in H2O and two experimental groups receiving D-002 at 25 and 50 mg kg−1. All treated animals received degraded carrageenan for three days for induction of colonic ulceration. Significant reductions in wet weight, wall thickness, counts of infiltrating polymorphonuclear neutrophils and of macrophages, and histological index were observed in colonic mucosa of D-002-treated animals compared with controls.
It is concluded that D-002 has a protective effect on the pre-ulcerative phase of carrageenan-induced colonic ulceration in the guinea-pig.
The antimicrobial potential of eight phenolic compounds isolated from olive cake was tested against the growth of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. The phenolic compounds included p-hydroxy benzoic, vanillic, caffeic, protocatechuic, syringic, and p-coumaric acids, oleuropein and quercetin. Caffeic and protocatechuic acids (0.3 mg/ml) inhibited the growth of E. coli and K. pneumoniae. The same compounds apart from syringic acid (0.5 mg/ml) completely inhibited the growth of B. cereus. Oleuropein, and p-hydroxy benzoic, vanillic and p-coumaric acids (0.4 mg/ml) completely inhibited the growth of E. coli, K. pneumoniae and B. cereus. Vanillic and caffeic acids (0.2 mg/ml) completely inhibited the growth and aflatoxin production by both A. flavus and A. parasiticus, whereas the complete inhibition of the moulds was attained with 0.3 mg/ml p-hydroxy benzoic, protocatechuic, syringic, and p-coumaric acids and quercetin.
D-002 is a natural mixture of high molecular weight alcohols isolated and purified from beeswax, which contains triacontanol among its main components. This study was undertaken to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of D-002 administered by the oral route in two animal models commonly used in the pharmacological screening of anti-inflammatory drugs. D-002 administered orally to rats (100 and 200 mg/kg) produced a mild but significant reduction of exudate volume in carrageenan-induced pleuritic inflammation that was accompanied by a marked and significant decrease of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) levels in the exudate. D-002 (25, 50 and 200 mg/kg) also significantly diminished the granuloma weight in the cotton pellet granuloma in rats. In both cases, D-002 was less effective than indomethacin, which was used as an established anti-inflammatory reference drug. On the other hand, D-002 administered from 25-1000 mg/kg did not induce erosions or gastromucosal lesions in rats, which differs from results usually obtained with non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These results indicate that D-002 is a mild anti-inflammatory agent without any ulcerogenic effect associated. The results suggest that these effects are probably not mediated through an inhibition of cyclooxygenase, but a reduction in LTB4 levels induced by D-002 could explain these results.
The possible therapeutic effect of topical crude undiluted honey in the treatment of severe acute postoperative wound infections was studied. Fifty patients having postoperative wound infections following caesarean sections or total abdominal hysterectomies with gram positive or gram negative bacterial infections were allocated in two groups. Twenty-six patients (group A) were treated with 12 hourly application of crude honey and 24 patients (group B) were treated with local antiseptics: spirit (70% Ethanol) and povidone-iodine. Both groups received systemic antibiotics according to culture and sensitivity. Results showed that eradication of bacterial infections was obtained after 6 +/- 1.9 days (mean +/- SD) in group A and after 14.8 +/- 4.2 days in group B (p <0.05). Period for antibiotics use was 6.88 +/- 1.7 days in-group A and 15.45 +/- 4. 37 in-group B (p <0.05). Complete wound healing was evident after 10. 73 +/- 2.5 days in group A and after 22.04 +/- 7.33 in group B (p <0. 05). Size of postoperative scar was 3.62 +/- 1.4 mm after using topical honey and was 8.62 +/- 3.8 mm after local antiseptics (p <0. 05). The mean hospital stay was 9.36 +/- 1.8 days in group A and 19. 91 +/- 7.35 days in group B (p <0.05). After using honey, 22/26 patients (84.4%) showed complete wound healing without wound disruption or need for re-suturing and only 4 patients showed mild dehiscence. In group B, 12/24 patients (50%) showed complete wound healing and 12 patients showed wound dehiscence, six of them needed re-suturing under general anesthesia. We concluded that topical application of crude undiluted honey could (1) faster eradication of bacterial infections, (2) reduce period of antibiotic use and hospital stay, (3) accelerate wound healing, (4) prevent wound dehiscence and need for re-suturing and (5) result in minimal scar formation.
The minimum inhibitory doses (MIDs) of essential oils by vapour contact to inhibit the growth of Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum on agar medium were determined using airtight boxes. Among seven essential oils examined, cinnamon bark oil showed the least MID, followed by lemongrass, thyme and perilla oils. Lavender and tea tree oils showed moderate MID, and citron oil showed the highest MID, being 320 times higher than that of cinnamon bark oil. The MID values were less than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values determined by agar dilution assay. Furthermore, the minimum agar concentration (MAC) of essential oils absorbed from vapour was determined at the time of MID determination as the second antifungal measure. The MAC value by vapour contact was 1.4 to 4.7 times less than the MAC remaining in the agar at the time of MIC determination by agar dilution assay. Using selected essential oils, the anti-Trichophyton activity by vapour contact was examined in more detail. Lemongrass, thyme and perilla oils killed the conidia, inhibited germination and hyphal elongation at 1-4 micrograms ml-1 air, whereas lavender oil was effective at 40-160 micrograms ml-1 air. The in-vivo efficacy of thyme and perilla oils by vapour contact was shown against an experimental tinea pedis in guinea pigs infected with T. mentagrophytes. These results indicated potent anti-Trichophyton action of essential oils by vapour contact.
Honey has antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidants activities and has high nutrient value. In this study we investigated the potential use of topical application of crude honey in the management of seborrheic dermatitis and dandruff. Thirty patients with chronic seborrheic dermatitis of scalp, face and front of chest were entered for study. Twenty patients were males and 10 were females, their ages ranged between 15 and 60 years. The patients had scaling, itching and hair loss. The lesions were scaling macules, papules and dry white plaques with crust and fissures. The patients were asked to apply diluted crude honey (90% honey diluted in warm water) every other day on the lesions with gentle rubbing for 2-3 mins. Honey was left for 3 hr before gentle rinsing with warm water. The patients were followed daily for itching, scaling, hair loss and the lesions were examined. Treatment was continued for 4 weeks. The improved patients were included in a prophylactic phase, lasting six months. Half patients were treated with the topical honey once weekly and the other half served as control. All the patients responded markedly with application of honey. Itching was relieved and scaling was disappeared within one week. Skin lesions were healed and disappeared completely within 2 weeks. In addition, patients showed subjective improvement in hair loss. None of the patients ( 15 patients) treated with honey application once weekly for six months showed relapse while the 12/15 patients who had no prophylactic treatment with honey experienced a relapse of the lesions 2-4 months after stopping treatment. It might be concluded that crude honey could markedly improve seborrheic dermatitis and associated hair loss and prevent relapse when applied weekly.
It is suggested that skin fungi may be involved in the development of atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis vulgaris (PV).
We studied skin fungus-induced Th1- or Th2-related cytokine, chemokine and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with AD and PV and normal subjects.
PBMC were cultured with the extracts of Malassezia furfur (MF), Candida albicans (CA) and Trichophyton rubrum (TR). The cytokine, chemokine and PGE2 amounts in the supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
MF induced IL-4 and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) secretion in AD patients, while induced IFN-gamma and interferon-inducible protein of 10 kDa (IP-10) secretion in PV patients, however, did not induce either secretion in normal subjects. CA induced IL-4, MDC, IFN-gamma and IP-10 secretion in AD and PV patients and normal subjects. In AD patients, the magnitude of IL-4 and MDC responses to CA was higher than that to MF. Compared with PV patients and normal subjects, the magnitude of IL-4 and MDC responses to CA was higher while that of IFN-gamma and IP-10 responses to CA was lower in AD patients. TR induced moderate IL-4 and MDC secretion only in AD patients. The three fungi induced higher levels of PGE2 secretion in AD patients than in PV patients and normal subjects. Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor NS-398 suppressed PGE2 responses to MF, CA and TR, and partially suppressed IL-4 and MDC responses to MF, CA and TR, while enhanced IFN-gamma and IP-10 responses to CA in AD patients, and these effects of NS-398 were reversed by cyclic AMP analogue.
AD patients manifest Th2-skewed responses to MF, CA and TR, which may be partially attributable to the enhanced PGE2 responses to these fungi. PV patients manifest Th1-skewed responses to MF.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been an important therapy in the treatment of a large number of cutaneous pathologies for more than three decades.
In this retrospective review, we document the use of NSAIDs in more than 15 common and uncommon dermatoses, including acne, psoriasis, sunburn, erythema nodosum, cryoglobulinemia, Sweet's syndrome, systemic mastocytosis, as well as urticarial, livedoid, and nodular vasculitis. NSAIDs act mainly by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis by the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway.
Recent studies link prostaglandin to cutaneous carcinogenesis, thus expanding the dermatologic use of NSAIDs. They may be effective in the treatment and prevention of non-melanoma skin cancer, and specific COX-2 inhibitors promise safer, broader, long-term use of these pharmacologically innovative drugs.
Honey has antibacterial activity, promotes healing, and enhances immunity. Its acidity, osmotic effects of its high content of sugar, and hydrogen peroxide are assumed to be responsible for its effects. In this study, various honeys were investigated for the presence of nitrite/nitrate, the stable nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, and the effects of intravenous infusion of honey on urinary and plasma NO end products were studied in healthy sheep. Seven kinds of honey, different in their origin (three from Yemen, two from the United Arab Emirates, one from Germany, and one from India), color, and duration of storage, were investigated for the presence of NO metabolites. The assessment of NO metabolites was performed before and after exposure of the honey samples to heating (80 degrees C for 1 hour) or ultraviolet light (for 24 hours). Seven healthy male sheep were used for the study. Fresh unprocessed yellow honey (2 g/kg of body weight) was infused over a period of 45 minutes to each fasting sheep. Plasma and urinary NO metabolites were measured before and after the infusion. All the honey samples examined had various concentrations of NO metabolites; the highest concentration was in the fresh dark honey collected from Yemen, and the lowest in 1-year-stored dark honey collected from India. Darker or fresh honeys contained more NO metabolites than light or stored honey. After heating, NO metabolites decreased in all the kinds of honey. After ultraviolet exposure, NO metabolites were decreased in four kinds of honey, increased in one kind, and unchanged in two kinds. The darker stored honey had more resistance to heating and ultraviolet exposure. Intravenous infusion of honey elevated urinary NO metabolites from 8.4 +/- 7.4 micromol/L to 14.9 +/- 10 micromol/L during the first 60-90 min after infusion and to 35.2 +/- 34 micromol/L during the next 150-180 min. Plasma NO metabolites were increased during 1, 2, and 3 hours after infusion by 3%, 3.6%, and 17%, respectively. No side effects were reported with the use of intravenous honey. It might be concluded that honey contains various concentrations of NO metabolites. Its intravenous infusion increased plasma and urinary NO metabolites. It is assumed that NO might be responsible, in part, for the biological and therapeutic effects of honey.
Twelve normal, healthy adult individuals, 9 men and 3 women, 25-48 years of age (mean, 38 years), were recruited in the study. After 12 hours of fasting, blood specimens were collected at 8:00 AM for prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), PGF(2alpha), and thromboxane B(2) assays. Each individual then drank 250 ml of water containing 1.2 g/kg body weight of natural unprocessed honey, after which collection of blood was repeated at 1, 2, and 3 hours for estimation of prostaglandins. Each individual was asked to drink the same amount of honey diluted in water once a day for a maximum of 15 days. After 12 hours of fasting, morning blood specimens were collected on day 16, and plasma prostaglandin concentrations were measured. The quantitative analysis of prostaglandins was performed with use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) test. Results showed that the mean plasma concentration of thromboxane B(2) was reduced by 7%, 34%, and 35%, and that of PGE(2) by 14%, 10%, and 19%, at 1, 2, and 3 hours, respectively, after honey ingestion. The level of PGF(2alpha) was decreased by 31% at 2 hours and 14% at 3 hours after honey ingestion. At day 15, plasma concentrations of thromboxane B(2), PGE(2), and PGF(2a) were decreased by 48%, 63%, and 50%, respectively. It may be concluded that honey can lower the concentrations of prostaglandins in plasma of normal individuals.
To investigate the effects of honey, olive oil and beeswax mixture on patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) or psoriasis vulgaris (PV).
Twenty-one patients with dermatitis and 18 patients with psoriasis were entered for patient-blinded, partially controlled study; 11 patients with dermatitis used topical betamethasone esters and 10 patients with psoriasis used clobetasol propionate. Honey mixture contained honey, beeswax and olive oil (1:1:1). Mixtures A, B, and C contained honey mixture with the corticosteroids ointment in a ratio of 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 respectively. Patients with dermatitis were subjected to controlled bilateral half-body comparison to evaluate the efficacy of honey mixture against Vaseline, or mixture A against Vaseline-betamethasone esters mixture (1:1) in patients using topical corticosteroid treatment. In patients with psoriasis, the effect of honey mixture was compared with paraffin in an individual right/left-sites comparison, or mixture A against paraffin-clobetasol propionate mixture (1:1) in patients using corticosteroid topical therapy. In dermatitis, body lesions on right or left half-body were assessed for erythema, scaling, lichenification, excoriation, indurations, oozing and itching on a 0-4 points scale. In psoriasis, lesions of selected site were assessed for redness, scaling, thickening and itching, on a 0-4 points scale.
In honey mixture group, 8/10 patients with dermatitis showed significant improvement after 2 weeks, and 5/11 patients pretreated with betamethasone esters showed no deterioration upon 75% reduction of corticosteroid doses with use of mixture C. In psoriasis, 5/8 patients showed a significant response to honey mixture. In patients using clobetasol propionate, 5/10 patients showed no deterioration upon 75% reduction of corticosteroid doses with use of mixture C.
Honey mixture appears useful in the management of dermatitis and psoriasis vulgaris.
The skin fungus-induced Th1 and Th2-related cytokine, chemokine and prostaglandin E2 production
- Kanada
Kanada N, Tani K, Enomoto U. The skin fungus-induced Th1 and Th2-related cytokine, chemokine and prostaglandin E2 production. Clin Exp Allergy 2002;32:1243—50.
Evaluation the inhibitory action of honey on fungal growth
- Wellford
Wellford E, Eadie T, Liewellyn C. Evaluation the inhibitory action of honey on fungal growth. Z Lebensm Uters Forsch 1994;166:280—3.
Effects of honey ingestion on nitric oxide in saliva
- Al-Waili
Al-Waili N, Boni N. Effects of honey ingestion on nitric oxide in saliva. FASEB J 2003;17:A1250.
Topical crude honey application for herpes simplex lesions
- Al-Waili
Two cases of psoriasis and high doses of indomethacin
- Al-Waili