mechanisms of wound healing induced by natural bee honey: a systematic review

Wound healing is a complex biological process involving inflammation, tissue repair, and remodeling. natural bee honey has been traditionally used for wound care, but its exact mechanism of action remains unclear. this systematic review aims to elucidate the biochemical and physiological processes underlying the wound-healing properties of natural bee honey, with a focus on its antibacterial, antioxidant, and enzymatic activities.a systematic review was conducted using pubmed, web of science, and scopus databases. articles published between 2000 and 2023 were included if they addressed the wound-healing properties of natural bee honey. after initial screening, 53 articles were filtered down to 29 based on relevance and quality criteria. data extraction focused on study design, type of wounds studied, honey preparation method, biochemical assays, and wound healing parameters measured.the review reveals that natural bee honey exhibits multifaceted actions promoting wound healing. its antibacterial properties inhibit microbial growth, reducing the risk of infection. antioxidant activity helps protect tissues from oxidative stress during the healing process. enzymatic components of honey, particularly glucose oxidase, contribute to debridement and ph regulation. studies demonstrate that topical application of natural bee honey accelerates wound closure, improves tissue strength, and enhances collagen synthesis. the optimal concentration of honey for wound healing appears to range from 10% to 20%.this systematic review provides strong evidence supporting the use of natural bee honey as a complementary therapy in wound care. its unique combination of antibacterial, antioxidant, and enzymatic properties makes it an effective adjunct to conventional wound dressings. the findings suggest that natural bee honey could potentially reduce healing time, minimize scarring, and improve overall patient comfort. future research should focus on standardizing honey preparations, determining optimal application methods, and conducting large-scale clinical trials to establish its efficacy in various wound types.