Antibacterial properties and healing effects of Melipona scutellaris honey in MRSA-infected wounds of rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the antimicrobial, immunological and healing effects of Melipona scutellaris honey on infected wounds of rat skin.


METHODS
Twenty four Wistar rats were distributed in four groups (6-each). The uninfected skin wounds of group I rats were treated daily with saline for 7 days. Uninfected wounds (group II) rats were treated with honey. In group III (treated with saline) and group IV (treated with honey) wounds were inoculated with MRSA ATTC43300. The first bacterial culture was performed 24 hours later. In the 7th day new culture was done, and wound biopsies were used for cytokines dosage and histopathology.


RESULTS
In group I and III rats the CFU/g count of S. aureus in wounds was zero. In group II rats the CFU/g counts in the wound tissue were significantly higher than in wounds of group IV rats. The density histopathological parameters and the expression of TNF-α, IL1-β, Il-6 were significantly higher on wounds of group IV then in the other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Honey of Melipona scutellaris was effective in the management of infected wounds, by significant bacterial growth inhibition, enhancement of cytokine expression, and positively influenced the wound repair.
Fellow PhD degree, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN, Brazil. Acquisition and interpretation of data, manuscript preparation., Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal RN , Brazil.
Vanessa de Fátima Lima Paiva
Vde F
Medeiros
Fellow PhD degree, Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal-RN, Brazil. Acquisition and interpretation of data, manuscript preparation., Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal RN , Brazil.
Ítalo Medeiros
ÍM
Azevedo
Associate Professor, Universidade Potiguar, Lauriate International Universities, Natal-RN, Brazil. Technical procedures, acquisition of data., Universidade Potiguar, Universidade Potiguar, Natal RN , Brazil.
Amália Cínthia Meneses
AC
Rêgo
Full Professor, Department of Fharmacy, UFRN, Natal-RN, Brazil. CNPq/PQ.1D fellowship. Analysis and interpretation of data, technical procedures, critical revision., Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, UFRN, Natal RN , Brazil.
Eryvaldo Sócrates Tabosa do
ES
Egito
PhD, Associate Professor, Nucleus of Experimental Surgery, Department of Surgery, UFRN, Natal-RN, Brazil. Analysis and interpretation of data, technical procedures, critical revision., Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Nucleus of Experimental Surgery, Department of Surgery, UFRN, Natal RN , Brazil.
Irami
I
Araújo-Filho
Full Professor, Chairman, Nucleus of Experimental Surgery, Department of Surgery, UFRN, Natal-RN, Brazil. CNPq/PQ.2 fellowship. Conception, design, intellectual and scientific content of the study; analysis and interpretation of data; technical procedures; critical revision., Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Nucleus of Experimental Surgery, Department of Surgery, UFRN, Natal RN , Brazil.
Aldo Cunha
AC
Medeiros
D000818:Animals; D056705:Apitherapy; D058491:Bacterial Load; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D005347:Fibroblasts; D006722:Honey; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis; D007962:Leukocytes; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D023421:Models, Animal; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D014945:Wound Healing; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy
D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003094:Collagen