SCIENCE
Manuka honey to cure
and fight super bacteria
Manuka honey has significant value in a clinical setting where it can be used to defeat super bacteria and promote healing.
Researchers in Germany, at the University of Dresden , were able to identify
the active antibacterial component of honey as methylglyoxal (MGO). This led
to MGO to replace NPA as the critical indicator of the strength of a honey
of Manuka. MGO is very accurate and can be directly measured by HPLC,
Unlike NPA and the old "agar" plate assay method what's wrong with it
over a hundred years and is prone to errors. Leptospermum flowers and the bioactive MGO fraction contained in Manuka flower nectar are the key driving force behind the antibacterial effect of Manuka honey.
Research in Japan identified the unique chemical identifiers present
in Leptospermum honey that are not found in regular honey, which makes
make it very easy to differentiate between a fake product and pure, natural Manuka honey. "AMHA" has tested Australian Manuka Honey for these unique markers
of Manuka and found them in abundance.
This means that the Manuka honey that you buy in Australia can be guaranteed as a pure, natural and authentic product.
The first investigations
Humans have used honey for its healing properties for thousands
years, and now, with ongoing research, scientists can explain
the reasons for its medicinal power.
Numerous scientific studies show that Manuka honey kills
to superbugs and stimulates wound healing. Early scientific research on Manuka honey stimulated significant interest and further research, enhancing our understanding of the health benefits
of Manuka honey. The original research on Manuka honey was carried out by Dr. Peter Molan at the Honey Research Institute at the University of Waikato
in New Zealand.
The late Dr. Molan's findings sparked significant interest
on the potential of Manuka honey to be used in wound dressings
and in the treatment of complex ailments, including leg ulcers in diabetics, and as a replacement for pressure bandages. Time was reduced
healing, increased patient comfort and minimized training
of scars. Various species of the Manuka plant produce different levels of DHA in their nectar. When the bees collect this nectar and turn it into honey,
DHA is naturally converted to MGO.
Research that revealed the therapeutic benefits of Manuka honey led to the use of Manuka honey for wound care dressings,
particularly by the US Army, and led to an increase in its popularity and demand. This increased demand resulted in more funding available for research, which is ongoing research.
nowadays.