Honey and angiogenesis

Rossiter, K., Reid, P.D., Lwaleed, B.A., Cooper, A.J., Voegeli, D., Cooper, R. and Getliffe, K. (2006) Honey and angiogenesis. 1st International Conference on the Medicinal Uses of Honey, Kota Bharu, Malaysia. 25 - 27 Aug 2006.

Abstract

Background: the healing properties of honey have been demonstrated in both animals and humans, although not all studies report positive findings. The lack of positive effects on healing could be due factors such as the type and/or the concentration of honey. The observed effects of honey include angiogenesis. Honey appears to influence the wound environment and modulate immune responses during the healing process. Angiogenesis occurs during the proliferative phase of wound healing and requires the development of an extracellular matrix (ECM) to support new capillaries. It is possible that either honey influences angiogenesis by the release of cytokines or that glucose in honey is converted to hyaluronic acid, a component of the ECM that has been shown to affect angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential angiogenic effects of honey.

Materials and methods: using an established aortic ring assay, the angiogenic properties of three types of honey and a control at various dilutions were investigated: artificial honey (fructose, glucose and water equal to a 70% sugar solution), Rowse (commercial honey), Mesitran™ and Activon™ ointment.

Preliminary results: total tubule lengths were as follows: artificial honey 0.008% - 11cm²; Rowse 0.04% - 12.5cm²; Mesitran™ 0.20% - 13.0cm²; and Activon™ 0.20% - 15.0cm². The most pro-angiogenic honey was Activon™ which showed the highest number of junctions and tubule formations. However, at a dilution of 0.04% all honeys were pro-angiogenic compared with the control. All honeys were anti-angiogenic at a concentration of 5% and above.

Conclusions: the concentration and/or type of honey may be a factor in wound healing in response to honey. There may be an unidentified factor in some honeys stimulating angiogenesis and/or the glucose in honey contributes to the hyaluronic acid content of the ECM, which stimulates angiogenesis. Anti-angiogenesis may be due to the cytotoxic effects of honey.

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Contributors

Author: B.A. Lwaleed

Author: D. Voegeli

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