Honey in the Management of Childhood Illnesses

 

Dr. R. Bright¹, G. L. Abisha Bel²

¹Department of Microbiology, Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur, Tamilnadu, India.

²Department of Paediatrics, P.S. College of Nursing, Thalakkulam, Tamilnadu, India.

 

ABSTRACT:

Honey is a supersaturated solution of sugar made by bees from the nectar, a sweet secretion come out of flowers. It was the first sweetener of uncivilized human and becomes one of the prime therapeutic agents of civilized man. No one will object to relish its sweetness even children too. Apart from its nutritional content, honey valued for its medicinal properties.  There are many varieties of honey and all honeys capable of kill pathogens and help in maintaining balanced health. The medicinal property of any honey is because of its acidity, high sugar content and other antibacterial compounds present in it. This article analyses various aspects of honey in maintenance and restoration of health in children.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

The word 'honey' denotes the natural sweet substance made by bees from the sugary secretion called nectar, secreted by 'nectaries' of plants. It can be in different colours and even in different consistencies, depends on the source of nectar, mode of process and the variety of bee involved. There are even many flavors available according to the source of nectar, which includes clover and orange blossom, Manuka, eucalyptus and Scottish heather.

 

Addition of Honey in various food stuffs makes them tastier and much nutrient packed, this is because of presence of enzymes, vitamins and minerals. Dextrose and fructose are the two sugars that are contained in honey in higher proportion get absorbed into the blood stream directly.

 

 

Apart from its nutritional properties it also has enormous health benefits in terms of treating various ailments in all age group.

 

The evidences obtained from cave paintings reveals that, usage of honey by mankind is a practice of about 8,000 years old. Honey was a main component in the treatment of many diseases for centuries¹

 

In Ayurvedic medicine its application has a tradition of over 4,000 years and it was thought to be effective in the treatment of indigestion and other ailments. Honey was used for variety of disease conditions including eye diseases, asthma, throat infections, tuberculosis, thirst, hiccups, fatigue, dizziness, hepatitis, constipation, worm infestation, piles, eczema, healing of ulcers, and wounds in traditional medicine².

 

This article is an effort to describe how honey could be used in various childhood illnesses in the light of scientific research.

 

General Properties of Honey:

The sweet honey has sugars especially of glucose and fructose as prime components^3,4. Honey also contains numerous other types of sugars, as well as acids, vitamins, proteins and minerals^5,6. The pure honey contains alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids and reducing Compounds⁷. Some specific enzymes are also found, the main enzymes of honey are invertase, amylase, and glucose oxidase, but other enzymes such as catalase and phosphatase⁸.

 

Honey is also composed of organic acids that contribute to its characteristic flavor and are responsible for the excellent stability of honey against micro-organisms, for example, formic, acetic, butyric, oxalic, lactic, succinic, folic, malic, citric, and glycolic⁹. Gluconic acid is considered one of the most important organic acids in honey; it is the product of catalytic oxidation of glucose oxidase, in this oxidation, hydrogen peroxide is also formed, which has a strong antibacterial effect^10,11.

 

Several of the essential vitamins are present in honey, such as vitamin K, B1, B2, B6, and C, but generally at insignificant levels¹². It is always suggested to prefer honey as such over refined and processed sugar since it has a long-term health benefits.

 

Medicinal Properties:

Ophthalmic ailments:

Eye diseases are more common among children than adults. Though medications are available for eye diseases, many of them failed to prove their selective toxicity. Hence alternate for those drugs is the need for the hour.

 

Clinical trial conducted on children with tear deficiency associated with meibomian gland disease showed that there was a significant reduction in bacterial count after topical application of honey over eyelids and conjunctiva¹³.

 

In another study, usage of Manuka honey could reduce the Staphylococcus epidermidis population at its 16% concentration among the victims of evaporative dry eye due to meibomian gland dysfunction¹⁴. Dry eye symptoms associated with contact lens was treated by application of honey eye drops, and a great relieve achieved with no issues by using this product¹⁵.

 

Gastric ailments:

As Appetite Increaser consumption of honey could delay the postprandial ghrelin response, enhance the total PYY response and blunted the glucose response than a sucrose-containing meal¹⁶. Evidences suggest that inclusion of honey in diet could clear away gastric ulcers effectively¹⁷. It also gives protection against gastric damage induced by oral intake of ethanol.

 

 

Honey also helps in the management of diarrhoeal diseases as well. It is valued for its bactericidal activity against many enteropathogens, including Salmonella, Shigella species, and enteropathogenic E. coli¹⁸. In another study conducted, 20% solution of honey could inhibit Helicobacter pylori isolates causative agent of gastritis that exhibited a resistance to other antimicrobial treatments¹⁹.

 

Wound infection:

In recent times many people working on healing effect of honey against different sort of wounds and the results are amazing. Findings of many research suggests that honey possess a remarkable antibacterial activity. Topical application of honey to treat wounds has a long heritage of over 5,000 years in the history of Egypt²⁰.

 

Among children, application of honey could be a safe and cost-effective approach in the treatment of severe wounds²¹. Infiltration of pathogens is prevented by covering wounds with honey. Moreover, honey preserves moisture around wound and exhibits a strong pro-healing effect, like autolytic debridement of non-vital tissue and restoration of vascular structures. Supplementation of vitamins C and E may inhibit scar formation²².

 

In a trial conducted with 115 neonatal and paediatric patients, requiring wound debridement, 86.0% (104 wounds), and 77.7% (94 wounds) were successfully closed using nonsurgical intervention respectively and wounds were successfully debrided with no adverse effects²³.

 

In another study conducted among nine infants with infected surgical wounds, best results were obtained after treating wounds with aqueous 0.05% chlorhexidine solution and fusidic acid ointment along with honey²⁴. Honey also helps in reduction of healing time in superficial and partial thickness burns than conventional dressings²⁵.

 

Researchers also found the use of medical-grade -Leptospermum honey in the treatment of slow healing wounds among Preterm, critically ill neonates²⁶.

 

Dental health:

In recent times significance of honey in the treatment of teeth also well documented. Experiment conducted by Abdelmegid, et al.²⁷ among children of 7 to 10 years age group suggested that irrigation of the oral cavity with honey and green tea, for 2 minutes can reduce the S. mutans count. Honey also could prevent the aggregation of dental plaque, gingivitis and other gum diseases It has also been reported that honey would have an excellent soothing effect on gingivitis and periodontal           diseases^{28, 29}.

Soni, et al.³⁰ observed a decrease in C-reactive protein levels and subsequent wound healing in victims of alveolar osteitis after treatment with honey. It also reduces severity of pain, erythema and swelling in a remarkable way. This finding suggests that honey-based medicines can be used in the treatment of alveolar osteitis, a complication arise after permanent tooth extractions.

 

It was also reported that, Manuka honey showed a significant healing effect on^31,32 patients from 4 to 9 years of age who were undergoing extraction of deciduous molars.

 

Diabetes mellitus:

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder in children developed by absolute or relative insulin deficiency. Different types of Diabetes mellitus have been reported among children including neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM), type 1 diabetes (T1DM), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY), autoimmune monogenic, mitochondrial and syndromic.

 

A study conducted on type 2 diabetic patients showed a decline in body weight blood lipids and glucose³³ after consuming natural honey. Honey consumption could increase insulin secretion and a reduction in waist circumference³⁴.

 

A group of Twenty patients of both sexes aged 4-18 years with type 1 DM and HbA1C<10% were used in a study. It was carried out for a period of 12 weeks. A significant reduction in subscapular skin fold thickness, fasting serum glucose, total cholesterol, serum triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein and significant increase in fasting C-peptideand 2-h postprandial C-peptide observed³⁵. Lipid parmeteres were increased after consumption of Manuka honey along with cinnamon, chromium and magnesium supplementation³⁶.

 

Cancer:

Anticancer efficacy of honey also been reported in recent times with supportive evidences. It has been proved that honey has different mechanisms to play against carcinoma by interfering with multiple cell-signaling pathways including, induction of apoptosis, antimutagenic, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory pathways.

 

Fourteen different honey varieties were quantitatively analysed for their total phenols, flavonoids, and total antioxidant content followed by cytotoxic studies against gastric cancer cells (AGS). Two honey varieties, Ida Mountains Quercus pyrenaica honeydew honey (QPHH-IM) and Canakkale multifloral honey (MFH-C) were selected for the experiment on the basis of their total phenols, flavonoids, and total antioxidant content. Were Ida Mountains Quercus pyrenaica honeydew honey (QPHH-IM) was found to have highest phenolic and antioxidant content and Canakkale multifloral honey (MFH-C) with the lowest phenolic and antioxidant content respectively. After incubation of AGS cells with different concentrations of QPHH-IM and MFH-C for 24 hours, the cell viability, DNA damage, apoptosis, and generation of ROS were determined. Maximum cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic effects were found with QPHH-IM than that of MFH-C³⁷.

 

Remarkable cytotoxic effect on breast cancer cell lines were found with Chestnut, cedar, and pine honey³⁸. The chestnut and cedar honeys stand out to be the most cytotoxic on all cell lines, while pine honey was found to be the least toxic on control cells with appropriate toxicity on the cancer cells.

 

In addition, honey could be able to inhibit several forms of tumor in animal modeling including breast cancer, carcinoma, melanoma, colon carcinoma, hepatic cancer, and bladder cancer. However, more studies are needed to improve our understanding of the positive effect of honey and cancer.

 

Asthma:

In indigenous system of medicines, honey is used in the treatment of inflammation, cough, and fever. Better results were obtained among experimentally tested animals against chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma after treated with oral consumption of honey.

 

Kamaruzaman et al. reported that treatment with honey effectively inhibited ovalbumin-induced airway inflammation by reducing asthma-related changes in the airway and also inhibited the induction of asthma³⁹. Aerosolised honey could alter structures of the epithelium, mucosa, and submucosal regions of the airway that caused by the induction with OVA. Treatment with aerosolised honey has reduced the number of airway inflammatory cells present in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and inhibited the goblet cell hyperplasia.

 

Honey in Combination with Nigella sativa (NS) showed a significant improvement in all pulmonary functions, including forced expiratory volume, forced vital capacity and peak expiratory flow rate, in both moderate and severe, uncontrolled persistent asthma compared with baseline. Asthma control test scores also improved significantly in patients using combinations of honey and NS compared with baseline⁴⁰.

 

Inhalation of honey was also discovered to effectively remove mucus-secreting goblet cell hyperplasia. However, future studies are needed to investigate these effects of honey to better understand the mechanisms by which honey reduces asthma symptoms.

 

Cardiovascular diseases:

Antioxidants in foods such as vitamins C and E, and beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, may reduce the risk of heart diseases and stroke⁴¹. In another study, Carlstrom et al⁴² showed that diets high in quercetin may decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

 

Epidemiological studies show that regular flavonoid intake is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases⁴³. The protective effects of flavonoids against coronary heart diseases include mainly antithrombotic, antiischemic, anti-oxidant, and vasorelaxant⁴⁴. García et al⁴⁵ suggested that flavonoids could reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by three major actions viz improving coronary vasodilatation, decreasing the ability of platelets in the blood to clot and preventing LDLs from oxidizing.

 

Neurological diseases:

Honey is an important neutraceutical play an important role in control over neurological diseases. It exerts anxiolytic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, and antinociceptive effects over the central nervous system. Finding of studies shows that, polyphenols found in honey have nootropic and neuroprotective properties.

 

In vitro study conducted in neural cell model demonstrates that quercetin can inhibit oxidative insults as well as oxidative stress-dependent and independent apoptosis^46,47.

 

Myricetin’s neuroprotective effect was reported to be associated with a reduction in lipid peroxidation, retinoid-induced hydrogen peroxide generation, and superoxide radical generation (O2−), as well as an elevation of the glutathione redox status⁴⁸. In another study, myricetin was also reported to significantly prevent D-galactose-induced cognitive impairment.⁴⁹

 

CONCLUSION:

Honey is one of the unique food materials valued for its nutritive as well as medicinal properties. Evidence from various researches explains its nutraceutical effects in the management of disease conditions among children. The medicinal effect of honey may be due to its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, apoptotic, and antioxidant properties which itself arise due to phytochemicals loaded in them. This review would help the reader to recognize honey as a natural remedy for many diseases especially in the treatment of health issues associated with children. Although some studies exist having tested the efficacy of honey in relation to medical purposes, more studies are needed to cover all medicinal aspects of honey. More clinical and experimental trials are needed to validate the authenticity of honey in the treatment of childhood health issues either individually or in combination with other medications.

 

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Received on 01.11.2020         Modified on 30.11.2020

Accepted on 19.12.2020       ©A&V Publications All right reserved