title: Otologic safety of manuka honey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible ototoxic effects of a 50% concentration of manuka honey in a chinchilla animal model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, controlled animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Research Institute of the Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight animals had myringotomy incisions in both ears. One ear was randomly assigned to receive the 50% manuka honey solution. The contralateral ear received saline and served as the control ear.
  
  
  METHODS
  Auditory brainstem evoked responses (ABRs) were measured bilaterally for a wide range of frequencies (between 8 and 25 kHz) before and 2 weeks after transtympanic manuka honey and saline application. The animals were sacrificed, and all cochleae were dissected out and processed for light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The measured ABR thresholds after the application of 50% concentration of manuka honey revealed severe ototoxicity in all honey-exposed ears. This was accompanied by gross physical changes and histologic evidence of hair cell toxicity on SEM and light microscopy. The control ears remained unchanged during the period of the experiment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although 50% concentration of manuka honey is the proven concentration to have bactericidal properties against biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, this concentration appeared to have caused severe or intense inflammatory changes that produced facial paralysis, vestibulotoxicity, and hearing loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Residency Program, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC.
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aron
authors.forename: Olubunmi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Victoria Akinpelu
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dorion
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daniel
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D002682:Chinchilla; D003051:Cochlea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006722:Honey / Q000633:toxicity*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology