title: Indigenous New Zealand honeys exhibit multiple anti-inflammatory activities.
abstract: Recent evidence suggests a potential role for honeys in mediating clinical inflammation and tissue damage. Here, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of a selection of previously untested indigenous New Zealand (NZ) honeys. We found that several, but not all, New Zealand rewarewa, manuka and kanuka honey samples exhibited potent, dose-dependent reduction of human neutrophil superoxide production in vitro. This inhibitory activity did not correlate with levels of known phenolic-based free radical scavengers. Furthermore, the active honeys did not scavenge superoxide generated in a cell-free xanthine/xanthine oxidase assay. In C57BL/6 J mice, topical application of manuka and rewarewa honey samples with the highest in vitro activity suppressed arachidonic acid-induced ear oedema, and rewarewa honey suppressed both oedema and leukocyte (monocyte and neutrophil) infiltration. Together, these findings demonstrate that some indigenous NZ honeys exhibit clinically relevant anti-inflammatory activity. Further investigation is warranted to identify the active component(s) and mechanisms responsible for these activities and to determine potential applications for anti-inflammatory honeys in the topical treatment of clinical inflammation.
authors: Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors: Aidan G
authors: AG
authors: Leong
authors: Patries M
authors: PM
authors: Herst
authors: Jacquie L
authors: JL
authors: Harper
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018375:Neutrophil Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D009520:New Zealand; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D013481:Superoxides; D016718:Arachidonic Acid