Comparative physicochemical, microbiological, pharmacological, and toxicological evaluations of different varieties of honey targeting wound repairment

According to traditional medicine, honey has been used as a natural wound-healing compound. However, honey exists in different forms based on its geographical existence and environmental factors, leading to its variation in properties. Thus, the present study aims to compare four different varieties of honey of Indian origin (acacia honey (AH), eucalyptus honey (EH), neem honey (NH), tulsi honey (TH)) with medical-grade manuka honey (MH) for their characteristics and wound healing potential. Overall, their secondary metabolite content was greater than 404.36 ± 16.02 mg GAE/g of total phenolic content and >43.04 ± 0.82 mg QCE/g of total flavonoid content. Thereafter, the different honey samples were loaded into thermo-responsive hydrogels containing HPMC and Poloxamer 407 before these honey products were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and in ovo angiogenic properties. In vitro cytotoxicity assay and wound closure evaluation depicted safety and efficacy in immortalized human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cell lines. Additionally, all the honey-loaded formulations exhibited no dermal irritation and corrosion in the in vivo model. Further, the honey-containing in-situ hydrogels were evaluated for their in vivo wound repair ability, biochemical investigations for ex vivo antioxidant effects, and ability to modulate extracellular matrix formation. Overall, it could be concluded that the Indian honey-loaded formulated hydrogels are safe for topical applications and efficacious in healing wounds.