Industry Insights

Mānuka Honey Research

Decades of research from scientists around the world have begun to uncover the signature compounds, benefits and mechanisms that make genuine New Zealand mānuka honey truly unique. Discover insights from decades of world-leading research into what makes mānuka honey special.

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Decades of research have culminated to identify the unique signature compounds found in genuine New Zealand Mānuka Honey.

Featured Research

Therapeutic Manuka Honey: No Longer So alternative.

Honey in dermatology and skin care: a review.

The super-food Manuka honey, a comprehensive review of its analysis and authenticity approaches

Key Researchers

Researchers across the world have committed their careers to understanding more about mānuka honey, some of the leaders in the sector include those below.

Dr Terry Braggins, Analytica Ruakura, New Zealand
Dr Peter Brooks, Sunshine Coast University, Australia
Professor Yoji Kato, Hyogo University, Japan
Professor Rose Cooper, Cardiff Metropolitan University
Dr Russell Frew, Otago University, New Zealand
Professor Liz Harry, University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Dr Kerry Loomes, Auckland University, New Zealand
Daniel Melonchelli, Sunshine Coast University, Australia
Professor Peter Molan, Waikato University, New Zealand
Professor Karl Speer, Dresden University, Germany
Dr Jonathan Stephens, Auckland University, New Zealand
Emeritus Professor Alistair Wilkins, Waikato University, New Zealand

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Susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori to the antibacterial activity of manuka honey

Honey is a traditional remedy for dyspepsia, and is still used for this by some medical practitioners although there is no rational basis for its use. The finding that Helicobacter pylori is probably the causative agent in many cases of dyspepsia has raised the possibility that the therapeutic action of honey may be due to its antibacterial properties. Consequently, the sensitivity of Helicobacter pylori to honey was tested, using isolates from biopsies of gastric ulcers. It was found that all five isolates tested were sensitive to a 20% (v/v) solution of manuka honey in an agar well diffusion assay, but none showed sensitivity to a 40% solution of a honey in which the antibacterial activity was due primarily to its content of hydrogen peroxide. Assessment of the minimum inhibitory concentration by inclusion of manuka honey in the agar showed that all seven isolates tested had visible growth over the incubation period of 72 h prevented completely by the presence of 5% (v/v) honey.

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Honey: a potential therapeutic agent for managing diabetic wounds

Diabetic wounds are unlike typical wounds in that they are slower to heal, making treatment with conventional topical medications an uphill process. Among several different alternative therapies, honey is an effective choice because it provides comparatively rapid wound healing. Although honey has been used as an alternative medicine for wound healing since ancient times, the application of honey to diabetic wounds has only recently been revived. Because honey has some unique natural features as a wound healer, it works even more effectively on diabetic wounds than on normal wounds. In addition, honey is known as an “all in one” remedy for diabetic wound healing because it can combat many microorganisms that are involved in the wound process and because it possesses antioxidant activity and controls inflammation. In this review, the potential role of honey’s antibacterial activity on diabetic wound-related microorganisms and honey’s clinical effectiveness in treating diabetic wounds based on the most recent studies is described. Additionally, ways in which honey can be used as a safer, faster, and effective healing agent for diabetic wounds in comparison with other synthetic medications in terms of microbial resistance and treatment costs are also described to support its traditional claims.

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Mānuka Honey Rates Highest in Daily Mail Antiseptic Cream Review.

A recent review of natural antiseptic product by the Daily Mail newspaper in the UK gave Mānuka Honey Gel top marks. The score 8/10 was given in association with Dr. Justine Hextall, a consultant dermatologist at Tarrant Street Clinic in Arundel, West Sussex.

The overall track record of mānuka honey in wound treatment both at home and in hospitals and clinics ensured mānuka honey stood out from other products including tea tree cream, essential oils, marigold spray, and thyme and sage wipes.

The Review

Claim: A gel made from ‘sterilised medical grade’ manuka honey ‘to help promote wound healing and reduce the risk of infection for broken skin’.

Expert verdict: ‘Manuka honey is graded in terms of its UMF [unique manuka factor], reflecting the quantity of the naturally antibacterial methylglyoxal — produced when bees turn nectar from the manuka bush into honey,’ says Dr Hextall.

‘A score of ten (out of 25) — as contained in this product — is required for a product to be classed as ‘medical grade’.

‘Medical-grade manuka honey is used in some NHS hospitals to help heal leg ulcers and prevent infection in Caesarean scars. A 2012 review by Cardiff Metropolitan University concluded that dressings made from the medical-grade honey could be useful in fighting the superbug MRSA.

‘Those allergic to bees should avoid it, but overall it could be safe and effective.’

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