MGH

Bibliography · 101 studies

Medical-Grade Honey: Definition, Standards & the Evidence Base

A plain-English summary of the 2025 refined Medical-Grade Honey (MGH) definition — and the full 101-paper PubMed cluster behind it, grouped by topic, with a PubMed link on every entry.

What does “medical-grade honey” actually mean?

“Medical-grade honey” is not a marketing badge. It refers to a honey that has been produced, processed and tested to a standard high enough to be used as — or inside — a wound-care medical device. The most recent attempt to define it formally is Peters et al. 2025, “Medical-grade honey: its definition and refined standards” (J Wound Care 34(6):412–423, PMID 40504399). That paper sets out the current best-practice criteria that distinguish a medical-grade product from food-grade Manuka or table honey.

The refined MGH criteria (Peters et al., 2025)

  • Defined botanical and geographical origin — known floral source, traceable apiary, no adulteration or syrup blending.
  • Controlled bioburden before sterilisation — raw honey is filtered and characterised so the sterilisation dose is validated against real, measured contamination, not assumed.
  • Validated sterilisation — typically gamma irradiation to a documented Sterility Assurance Level (10⁻⁶), without destroying activity.
  • Retained, quantified antibacterial activity post-sterilisation — methylglyoxal (MGO), hydrogen-peroxide activity and/or other characterised markers measured on the finished product, with stability over shelf life.
  • Absence of clinically relevant contaminants — pesticide residues, glyphosate, tutin, antibiotics, C4 sugars and heavy metals all screened and within limits.
  • Manufactured under a recognised quality system — ISO 13485 for the device, ISO 11137 for the radiation step, ISO 11737 for bioburden, full batch records and a Certificate of Analysis.

For the working specification we hold suppliers to, see our MGH definition, quality standard and the analytical test panel.

Why a single classical marker isn’t enough

Older specifications leaned on one number — typically MGO, or HMF as a heat-damage proxy. The 2025 refinement is explicit that no single value can stand in for a medical-grade product, because the medical processing chain (gamma irradiation, controlled bioburden, accelerated-ageing stability chambers) changes the matrix in ways those single markers were never designed to capture. The bibliography below maps the literature that established this position.

How this bibliography is organised

The 101 publications below are the full PubMed “Similar Articles” cluster for Peters et al. 2025, regrouped by topic so the literature is actually usable. Sections cover the definition itself, antimicrobial mechanisms, specific clinical indications (diabetic foot ulcers, burns, surgical and gynaecological wounds), paediatric and elderly use, veterinary work, and dressing/formulation development. Each entry has a deep link to PubMed and a stable anchor (e.g. #pmid-40504399) so it can be cited directly from elsewhere on the site.

Definition, Standards & Quality (9)

The anchor 2025 paper plus the wider literature on what a defensible Medical-Grade Honey specification looks like — antibacterial-activity floors, authenticity, regulatory framing.

  1. 1.Peters LJ, Majtan J, Mossialos D, Szweda P, Mateescu C, Ozturk F, Wagener FA, Cremers NA.Anchor paper

    Medical-grade honey: its definition and refined standards.

    J Wound Care. 2025 Jun 2;34(6):412-423. PMID: 40504399

  2. 36.Bucekova M, Bugarova V, Godocikova J, Majtan J.

    Demanding New Honey Qualitative Standard Based on Antibacterial Activity.

    Foods. 2020 Sep 9;9(9):1263. PMID: 32916880

  3. 43.Milojković Opsenica D, Lušić D, Tešić Ž.

    Modern analytical techniques in the assessment of the authenticity of Serbian honey.

    Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2015 Dec;66(4):233-41. PMID: 26751854

  4. 56.Aazza S, Lyoussi B, Antunes D, Miguel MG.

    Physicochemical characterization and antioxidant activity of 17 commercial Moroccan honeys.

    Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2014 Jun;65(4):449-57. PMID: 24438231

  5. 66.Shirani K, Mottaghi A, Shabani M.

    Honey as a Functional Food: Evaluating Its Antimicrobial Properties and Bacterial Safety Concerns.

    Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2026 Mar 10 (online ahead of print). PMID: 41159286

  6. 67.Vujić M, Pollak L.

    Composition, labelling, and safety of food supplements based on bee products in the legislative framework of the European Union — Croatian experiences.

    Arh Hig Rada Toksikol. 2015 Dec;66(4):243-9. PMID: 26751855

  7. 77.Cp K, Sharma S.

    Comparative study of regulatory frameworks for medicinal products in Eurasian Economic Union and European Union.

    Ann Pharm Fr. 2026 May;84(3):442-453. PMID: 41421546

  8. 79.Hamad GM, Hafez EE, Abdelmotilib NM, et al.

    Quality Assessment, Functional Potentials, and Safety Evaluation of Stored Egyptian Honey as an Environmental Pollution Bioindicator.

    Environ Toxicol Chem. 2020 Oct;39(10):1894-1907. PMID: 32619025

  9. 87.Hegazi NM, Elghani GEA, Farag MA.

    The super-food Manuka honey, a comprehensive review of its analysis and authenticity approaches.

    J Food Sci Technol. 2022 Jul;59(7):2527-2534. PMID: 35734106

Antimicrobial Mechanisms & In-Vitro Activity (13)

Methylglyoxal, hydrogen peroxide, bee defensin-1, polyphenols, pH effects, antibacterial spectrum and the molecular targets behind the activity.

  1. 5.Alshaybawee MR, Asgari S, Ghadersoltani P, Mehrabian A, Saniee P.

    Exploring the antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity of two Iranian medical-grade kinds of honey on multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

    BMC Complement Med Ther. 2025 Feb 4;25(1):39. PMID: 39905465

  2. 8.McArdle C, Coyle S, Santos D.

    The impact of wound pH on the antibacterial properties of Medical Grade Honey when applied to bacterial isolates present in common foot and ankle wounds. An in vitro study.

    J Foot Ankle Res. 2023 Oct 2;16(1):66. PMID: 37784205

  3. 12.Hariyudo H, Benokri HR, Wirohadidjojo YW, Herdini C, Budiyanto A, Nugroho DB.

    The Elimination Effect of Medical-Grade Honey on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

    J Clin Med Res. 2025 Aug 31;17(8):445-459. PMID: 40958987

  4. 19.Pleeging CCF, Coenye T, Mossialos D, et al.

    Synergistic Antimicrobial Activity of Supplemented Medical-Grade Honey against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Formation and Eradication.

    Antibiotics (Basel). 2020 Dec 4;9(12):866. PMID: 33291554

  5. 42.Ogwu MC, Izah SC.

    Honey as a Natural Antimicrobial.

    Antibiotics (Basel). 2025 Mar 1;14(3):255. PMID: 40149066

  6. 55.Machado A, Toubarro D, Baptista J, Tejera E, Álvarez-Suárez JM.

    Selected honey as a multifaceted antimicrobial agent: review of compounds, mechanisms, and research challenges.

    Future Microbiol. 2025 May-Jun;20(7-9):589-610. PMID: 40293032

  7. 59.Nolan VC, Harrison J, Cox JAG.

    Dissecting the Antimicrobial Composition of Honey.

    Antibiotics (Basel). 2019 Dec 5;8(4):251. PMID: 31817375

  8. 62.Zemanova M, Slobodnikova L, Cambal M, Labas P.

    Excellent antibacterial activity of Slovak honeys on bacteria mostly infecting chronic wounds.

    Bratisl Lek Listy. 2021;122(7):519-525. PMID: 34161121

  9. 78.Pleeging CCF, Wagener FADTG, de Rooster H, Cremers NAJ.

    Revolutionizing non-conventional wound healing using honey by simultaneously targeting multiple molecular mechanisms.

    Drug Resist Updat. 2022 May;62:100834. PMID: 35427872

  10. 80.Blair SE, Cokcetin NN, Harry EJ, Carter DA.

    The unusual antibacterial activity of medical-grade Leptospermum honey: antibacterial spectrum, resistance and transcriptome analysis.

    Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2009 Oct;28(10):1199-208. PMID: 19513768

  11. 84.Olaitan PB, Adeleke OE, Ola IO.

    Honey: a reservoir for microorganisms and an inhibitory agent for microbes.

    Afr Health Sci. 2007 Sep;7(3):159-65. PMID: 18052870

  12. 92.Mandal MD, Mandal S.

    Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity.

    Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2011 Apr;1(2):154-60. PMID: 23569748

  13. 99.Halstead FD, Webber MA, Rauf M, Burt R, Dryden M, Oppenheim BA.

    In vitro activity of an engineered honey, medical-grade honeys, and antimicrobial wound dressings against biofilm-producing clinical bacterial isolates.

    J Wound Care. 2016 Feb;25(2):93-4, 96-102. PMID: 26878302

Diabetic Foot, Pressure & Venous Leg Ulcers (8)

Clinical use in chronic, high-risk lower-limb wounds — the indication with the most consistent comparative data.

  1. 14.Nair HKR, Tatavilis N, Pospíšilová I, Kučerová J, Cremers NAJ.

    Medical-Grade Honey Kills Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Prevents Amputation in Diabetics with Infected Ulcers: A Prospective Case Series.

    Antibiotics (Basel). 2020 Aug 19;9(9):529. PMID: 32825100

  2. 16.Papanikolaou GE, Gousios G, Cremers NAJ.

    Use of Medical-Grade Honey to Treat Clinically Infected Heel Pressure Ulcers in High-Risk Patients: A Prospective Case Series.

    Antibiotics (Basel). 2023 Mar 17;12(3):605. PMID: 36978472

  3. 26.Holubová A, Chlupáčová L, Krocová J, et al.

    The Use of Medical Grade Honey on Infected Chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers — A Prospective Case-Control Study.

    Antibiotics (Basel). 2023 Aug 24;12(9):1364. PMID: 37760661

  4. 41.Papanikolaou GE, Gousios G, Cremers NAJ, Peters LJF.

    Treating Infected Non-Healing Venous Leg Ulcers with Medical-Grade Honey: A Prospective Case Series.

    Antibiotics (Basel). 2024 Jul 2;13(7):614. PMID: 39061296

  5. 44.Moghazy AM, Shams ME, Adly OA, et al.

    The clinical and cost effectiveness of bee honey dressing in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.

    Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2010 Sep;89(3):276-81. PMID: 20646771

  6. 58.Kateel R, Adhikari P, Augustine AJ, Ullal S.

    Topical honey for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer: A systematic review.

    Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016 Aug;24:130-3. PMID: 27502813

  7. 61.Yapucu Güneş U, Eşer I.

    Effectiveness of a honey dressing for healing pressure ulcers.

    J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2007 Mar-Apr;34(2):184-90. PMID: 17413836

  8. 76.Mayer A, Slezak V, Takac P, Olejnik J, Majtan J.

    Treatment of non-healing leg ulcers with honeydew honey.

    J Tissue Viability. 2014 Aug;23(3):94-7. PMID: 25187187

Burns & Acute Skin Injuries (3)

Burn dressings, second-degree thermal injury, and acute skin loss — where medical-grade matters most because the wound bed is sterile.

  1. 10.Boekema BKHL, Chrysostomou D, Ciprandi G, et al.

    Comparing the antibacterial and healing properties of medical-grade honey and silver-based wound care products in burns.

    Burns. 2024 Apr;50(3):597-610. PMID: 37940425

  2. 82.Ait Abderrahim L, Taïbi K, Ait Abderrahim N, et al.

    Euphorbia honey and garlic: Biological activity and burn wound recovery.

    Burns. 2019 Nov;45(7):1695-1706. PMID: 31167717

  3. 93.Hosseini SM, Fekrazad R, Malekzadeh H, Farzadinia P, Hajiani M.

    Evaluation and comparison of the effect of honey, milk and combination of honey-milk on experimental induced second-degree burns of Rabbit.

    J Family Med Prim Care. 2020 Feb 28;9(2):915-920. PMID: 32318445

Specialised Indications (Surgical, Gynae, ENT, MRSA, Mucosal) (10)

Caesarean, neurosurgical and deep-neck wounds, perineal birth trauma, cervical lesions, vulvovaginal candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, cold sores, MRSA decolonisation.

  1. 7.Bocoum A, Riel SJJMV, Traoré SO, et al.

    Medical-Grade Honey Enhances the Healing of Caesarean Section Wounds and Is Similarly Effective to Antibiotics Combined with Povidone-Iodine in the Prevention of Infections — A Prospective Cohort Study.

    Antibiotics (Basel). 2023 Jan 5;12(1):92. PMID: 36671293

  2. 13.Lardenoije CMJG, van Riel SJJM, Peters LJF, Wassen MMLH, Cremers NAJ.

    Medical-Grade Honey as a Potential New Therapy for Bacterial Vaginosis.

    Antibiotics (Basel). 2024 Apr 17;13(4):368. PMID: 38667044

  3. 24.Schaap IS, Lardenoije CMJG, Riel SJJMV, Cremers NAJ.

    The Efficacy of Honey for the Treatment of Perineal Wounds Following Vaginal Birth: A Narrative Review.

    Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2025 Jan 29;18(2):182. PMID: 40005996

  4. 29.Prop J, De Vos van Steenwijk P, Lardenoije CMJG, Cremers NAJ, Morre SA, Mongula J.

    Effect of medical-grade honey (L-Mesitran) for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia II: protocol for a multicentre cohort pilot study (HONEY FOR CIN II study).

    BMJ Open. 2025 Jul 24;15(7):e104585. PMID: 40707147

  5. 30.Hermanns R, Cremers NAJ, Leeming JP, van der Werf ET.

    Sweet Relief: Determining the Antimicrobial Activity of Medical Grade Honey Against Vaginal Isolates of Candida albicans.

    J Fungi (Basel). 2019 Sep 9;5(3):85. PMID: 31505796

  6. 31.Naik PP, Mossialos D, Wijk BV, Novakova P, Wagener FADTG, Cremers NAJ.

    Medical-Grade Honey Outperforms Conventional Treatments for Healing Cold Sores — A Clinical Study.

    Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2021 Dec 4;14(12):1264. PMID: 34959664

  7. 39.van Riel SJJM, Lardenoije CMJG, Wassen MMLH, van Kuijk SMJ, Cremers NAJ.

    Efficacy of a medical grade honey formulation (L-Mesitran) in comparison with fluconazole in the treatment of women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis: protocol for a randomised controlled trial (HONEY STUDY).

    BMJ Open. 2023 Aug 28;13(8):e070466. PMID: 37640455

  8. 54.Poovelikunnel TT, Gethin G, Solanki D, et al.

    Randomized controlled trial of honey versus mupirocin to decolonize patients with nasal colonization of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

    J Hosp Infect. 2018 Feb;98(2):141-148. PMID: 29107078

  9. 85.Wulandari DP, Subronto YW, Surono A.

    Honey as a Wound Care Modality in Treating Deep Neck Space Abscesses: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

    JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Aug 14;14:e75475. PMID: 40810438

  10. 91.van Riel SJJM, Lardenoije CMJG, Oudhuis GJ, Cremers NAJ.

    Treating (Recurrent) Vulvovaginal Candidiasis with Medical-Grade Honey — Concepts and Practical Considerations.

    J Fungi (Basel). 2021 Aug 16;7(8):664. PMID: 34436203

General Clinical Wound Care — Case Series & Trials (7)

Mixed-indication case series, traumatic and non-healing wound studies, and post-operative dehiscence reports.

  1. 4.Naik PP, Chrysostomou D, Cinteza M, Pokorná A, Cremers NA.

    When time does not heal all wounds — the use of medical grade honey in wound healing: a case series.

    J Wound Care. 2022 Jul 2;31(7):548-558. PMID: 35797263

  2. 11.Holubová A, Chlupáčová L, Cetlová L, Cremers NAJ, Pokorná A.

    Medical-Grade Honey as an Alternative Treatment for Antibiotics in Non-Healing Wounds — A Prospective Case Series.

    Antibiotics (Basel). 2021 Jul 28;10(8):918. PMID: 34438968

  3. 33.Papanikolaou GE, Kegels P, Gousios G, Kegels F, Peters L, Cremers N.

    Use of Supplemented Medical-Grade Honey to Treat Traumatic Skin Injuries in Geriatric Patients in a Home-Care Setting.

    Cureus. 2025 Mar 7;17(3):e80189. PMID: 40196090

  4. 51.Stephen-Haynes J.

    Evaluation of a honey-impregnated tulle dressing in primary care.

    Br J Community Nurs. 2004 Jun;Suppl:S21-7. PMID: 15269653

  5. 64.Suryadinata KL, Song A, Yovita NV.

    Honey dressing for penile skin avulsion caused by traditional circumcision: a case report.

    J Wound Care. 2024 Jan 2;33(1):75-78. PMID: 38197284

  6. 69.Felbaum DR, Dowlati E, Jacobs M, Tom LK.

    Manuka Honey: Feasibility and Safety in Postoperative Neurosurgical Wound Care.

    Adv Skin Wound Care. 2021 May 1;34(5):249-253. PMID: 33852461

  7. 81.Dina Jarjis R, Thomas Crewe B, Henrik Matzen S.

    Post-bariatric abdominoplasty resulting in wound infection and dehiscence — Conservative treatment with medical grade honey: A case report and review of literature.

    Int J Surg Case Rep. 2016;20:1-3. PMID: 26773204

Paediatric, Neonatal & Elderly (8)

Vulnerable populations — extravasation injury, paediatric abdominal wounds, neonatal NPWT, geriatric home care.

  1. 3.Smaropoulos E, Cremers NAJ.

    The pro-healing effects of medical grade honey supported by a pediatric case series.

    Complement Ther Med. 2019 Aug;45:14-18. PMID: 31331551

  2. 6.Chrysostomou D, Pokorná A, Cremers NAJ, Peters LJF.

    Medical-Grade Honey Is a Versatile Wound Care Product for the Elderly.

    JAR Life. 2024 May 17;13:51-59. PMID: 38774269

  3. 18.Smaropoulos E, Cremers NAJ.

    Medical-Grade Honey for the Treatment of Extravasation-Induced Injuries in Preterm Neonates: A Case Series.

    Adv Neonatal Care. 2021 Apr 1;21(2):122-132. PMID: 32675576

  4. 28.Smaropoulos E, Cremers NAJ.

    Treating severe wounds in pediatrics with medical grade honey: A case series.

    Clin Case Rep. 2020 Jan 31;8(3):469-476. PMID: 32185038

  5. 47.Weissenstein A, Luchter E, Bittmann S.

    Medical honey and its role in paediatric patients.

    Br J Nurs. 2014 Mar 27-Apr 9;23(6):S30, S32-4. PMID: 24690749

  6. 57.Boyar V.

    Treatment of Dehisced, Thoracic Neonatal Wounds With Single-Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Device and Medical-Grade Honey: A Retrospective Case Series.

    J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2018 Mar/Apr;45(2):117-122. PMID: 29521921

  7. 65.Smaropoulos E, Cremers NA.

    Medical grade honey for the treatment of paediatric abdominal wounds: a case series.

    J Wound Care. 2020 Feb 2;29(2):94-99. PMID: 32058849

  8. 96.Bittmann S, Luchter E, Thiel M, Kameda G, Hanano R, Längler A.

    Does honey have a role in paediatric wound management?

    Br J Nurs. 2010 Aug 12-Sep 8;19(15):S19-20, S22, S24. PMID: 20852479

Dressings, Hydrogels & Formulations (9)

How honey is delivered — impregnated tulles, hydrogels, nanoparticles, polymer composites and combination products.

  1. 32.Yupanqui Mieles J, Vyas C, Aslan E, Humphreys G, Diver C, Bartolo P.

    Honey: An Advanced Antimicrobial and Wound Healing Biomaterial for Tissue Engineering Applications.

    Pharmaceutics. 2022 Aug 10;14(8):1663. PMID: 36015289

  2. 45.Esa NEF, Ansari MNM, Razak SIA, et al.

    A Review on Recent Progress of Stingless Bee Honey and Its Hydrogel-Based Compound for Wound Care Management.

    Molecules. 2022 May 11;27(10):3080. PMID: 35630557

  3. 52.Bahari N, Hashim N, Md Akim A, Maringgal B.

    Recent Advances in Honey-Based Nanoparticles for Wound Dressing: A Review.

    Nanomaterials (Basel). 2022 Jul 26;12(15):2560. PMID: 35893528

  4. 60.Spoială A, Ilie CI, Ficai D, Ficai A, Andronescu E.

    Synergic Effect of Honey with Other Natural Agents in Developing Efficient Wound Dressings.

    Antioxidants (Basel). 2022 Dec 24;12(1):34. PMID: 36670896

  5. 63.Stout EI, McKessor A.

    Glycerin-Based Hydrogel for Infection Control.

    Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2012 Feb;1(1):48-51. PMID: 24527279

  6. 86.McLoone P, Tabys D, Fyfe L.

    Honey Combination Therapies for Skin and Wound Infections: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

    Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020 Nov 24;13:875-888. PMID: 33262630

  7. 90.Zainuddin ANZ, Mustakim NN, Rosemanzailani FA, et al.

    A Comprehensive Review of Honey-Containing Hydrogel for Wound Healing Applications.

    Gels. 2025 Mar 12;11(3):194. PMID: 40136899

  8. 95.Prasathkumar M, Sadhasivam S.

    Chitosan/Hyaluronic acid/Alginate and an assorted polymers loaded with honey, plant, and marine compounds for progressive wound healing — Know-how.

    Int J Biol Macromol. 2021 Sep 1;186:656-685. PMID: 34271047

  9. 97.Jha B, Majie A, Roy K, Lim WM, Gorain B.

    Glycyrrhizic Acid-Loaded Poloxamer and HPMC-Based In Situ Forming Gel of Acacia Honey for Improved Wound Dressing.

    ACS Appl Bio Mater. 2025 Jan 20;8(1):310-328. PMID: 39657741

Veterinary Wound Care (11)

Equine, canine, feline and exotic-animal work — much of the early translational evidence sits here.

  1. 9.Neo R, Gaonkar P, Huber L, Hlusko KC.

    Medical-grade honey has superior antibacterial properties against common bacterial isolates in wound cultures of dogs and cats in comparison to non-medical-grade honey types.

    Am J Vet Res. 2024 Oct 16;85(12):ajvr.24.07.0188. PMID: 39413813

  2. 15.Mandel HH, Sutton GA, Abu E, Kelmer G.

    Intralesional application of medical grade honey improves healing of surgically treated lacerations in horses.

    Equine Vet J. 2020 Jan;52(1):41-45. PMID: 30895637

  3. 20.Marais HJ, Glyphis ZG, Cremers NAJ.

    Medical grade honey: Hope for wounded white rhinos.

    Vet Anim Sci. 2021 Aug 18;13:100196. PMID: 34471724

  4. 21.Terschuur JA, Coomer RPC, McKane SA.

    Administration safety of medical-grade honey (MGH) in septic synovial structures in horses: 3 cases.

    Can J Vet Res. 2023 Apr;87(2):153-156. PMID: 37020573

  5. 22.Pleeging CC, de Rooster H, Van Wijk B, Wagener FA, Cremers NA.

    Intra-socket application of medical-grade honey after tooth extraction attenuates inflammation and promotes healing in cats.

    J Feline Med Surg. 2022 Dec;24(12):e618-e627. PMID: 36315457

  6. 25.Maruhashi E, Braz BS, Nunes T, et al.

    Efficacy of medical grade honey in the management of canine otitis externa — a pilot study.

    Vet Dermatol. 2016 Apr;27(2):93-8e27. PMID: 26929137

  7. 27.Peteoacă A, Cremers NAJ, Peters LJF.

    Two Rare Cases of Feline Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: A Novel Therapeutic Approach With Medical-Grade Honey.

    Case Rep Vet Med. 2024 Oct 4;2024:2415811. PMID: 39399872

  8. 35.Chatzimisios K, Tsioli V, Brellou GD, et al.

    Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Medical-Grade Honey and Hypericum Perforatum Ointment on Second-Intention Healing of Full-Thickness Skin Wounds in Cats.

    Animals (Basel). 2023 Dec 21;14(1):36. PMID: 38200767

  9. 38.Madsen K, Martens A, Haspeslagh M, Meulyzer M, Gustafsson K.

    The effect of medical grade honey on tensile strength, strain, and Young's modulus of synthetic absorbable suture material used in equine surgery.

    Equine Vet J. 2024 Jan;56(1):193-201. PMID: 37326536

  10. 71.Carnwath R, Graham EM, Reynolds K, Pollock PJ.

    The antimicrobial activity of honey against common equine wound bacterial isolates.

    Vet J. 2014 Jan;199(1):110-4. PMID: 23962613

  11. 83.Simpson M, Hendrickson DA, Hyatt DR, Rao S.

    Comparison of In Vitro Bacterial Susceptibility to Common and Novel Equine Wound Care Dressings.

    Animals (Basel). 2024 Mar 1;14(5):776. PMID: 38473161

General Reviews & Overviews (21)

Narrative reviews and clinical-practice guides — useful as on-ramps but lower in the evidence hierarchy than the trial and mechanism sections above.

  1. 2.Barazesh P, Hajihassani H, Motalebi F, Neiresi SMH, Hajihassani R, Mehrabian AR.

    Unlocking the Healing Potential: A Comprehensive Review of Ecology and Biology of Medical-Grade Honey in Wound Management and Tissue Regeneration.

    Health Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 16;8(1):e70240. PMID: 39831079

  2. 17.Lee DS, Sinno S, Khachemoune A.

    Honey and wound healing: an overview.

    Am J Clin Dermatol. 2011 Jun 1;12(3):181-90. PMID: 21469763

  3. 23.Stewart JA, McGrane OL, Wedmore IS.

    Wound care in the wilderness: is there evidence for honey?

    Wilderness Environ Med. 2014 Mar;25(1):103-10. PMID: 24393701

  4. 37.Dunwoody G, Acton C.

    The use of medical grade honey in clinical practice.

    Br J Nurs. 2008 Nov 13-26;17(20):S38-44. PMID: 19043326

  5. 40.Belcher J.

    A review of medical-grade honey in wound care.

    Br J Nurs. 2012 Aug 9-Sep 12;21(15):S4, S6, S8-9. PMID: 22874825

  6. 46.Nizet O, Camby S, Nizet JL.

    Use of honey dressings in wound healing (French).

    Rev Med Liege. 2020 Dec;75(12):797-801. PMID: 33331704

  7. 48.Winter GF.

    Medical-Grade Honey Dressing Use in Developing Countries.

    Adv Skin Wound Care. 2017 Nov;30(11):1-3. PMID: 29049265

  8. 49.Majtán J.

    Apitherapy — the role of honey in the chronic wound healing process (Czech/Slovak).

    Epidemiol Mikrobiol Imunol. 2009 Aug;58(3):137-40. PMID: 19750825

  9. 50.Evans J, Flavin S.

    Honey: a guide for healthcare professionals.

    Br J Nurs. 2008 Aug 14-Sep 10;17(15):S24, S26, S28-30. PMID: 18983026

  10. 53.Al-Waili N, Salom K, Al-Ghamdi AA.

    Honey for wound healing, ulcers, and burns; data supporting its use in clinical practice.

    ScientificWorldJournal. 2011 Apr 5;11:766-87. PMID: 21479349

  11. 68.Lay-flurrie K.

    Honey in wound care: effects, clinical application and patient benefit.

    Br J Nurs. 2008 Jun 12-25;17(11):S30, S32-6. PMID: 18773594

  12. 70.Scepankova H, Combarros-Fuertes P, Fresno JM, et al.

    Role of Honey in Advanced Wound Care.

    Molecules. 2021 Aug 7;26(16):4784. PMID: 34443372

  13. 72.Ahmed AK, Hoekstra MJ, Hage JJ, Karim RB.

    Honey-medicated dressing: transformation of an ancient remedy into modern therapy.

    Ann Plast Surg. 2003 Feb;50(2):143-7. PMID: 12567050

  14. 73.Simon A, Traynor K, Santos K, Blaser G, Bode U, Molan P.

    Medical honey for wound care — still the 'latest resort'?

    Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2009 Jun;6(2):165-73. PMID: 18955301

  15. 74.White R.

    Manuka honey in wound management: greater than the sum of its parts?

    J Wound Care. 2016 Sep;25(9):539-43. PMID: 27608515

  16. 75.Henry N, Jeffery S, Radotra I.

    Properties and use of a honey dressing and gel in wound management.

    Br J Nurs. 2019 Mar 28;28(6):S30-S35. PMID: 30925246

  17. 89.Pieper B.

    Honey-based dressings and wound care: an option for care in the United States.

    J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2009 Jan-Feb;36(1):60-6. PMID: 19155824

  18. 94.Bansal V, Medhi B, Pandhi P.

    Honey — a remedy rediscovered and its therapeutic utility.

    Kathmandu Univ Med J. 2005 Jul-Sep;3(3):305-9. PMID: 18650599

  19. 98.Vandamme L, Heyneman A, Hoeksema H, Verbelen J, Monstrey S.

    Honey in modern wound care: a systematic review.

    Burns. 2013 Dec;39(8):1514-25. PMID: 23896128

  20. 100.Nolan VC, Harrison J, Wright JEE, Cox JAG.

    Clinical Significance of Manuka and Medical-Grade Honey for Antibiotic-Resistant Infections: A Systematic Review.

    Antibiotics (Basel). 2020 Oct 31;9(11):766. PMID: 33142845

  21. 101.Yilmaz AC, Aygin D.

    Honey Dressing in Wound Treatment: A Systematic Review.

    Complement Ther Med. 2020 Jun;51:102388. PMID: 32507418

Off-topic PubMed Matches (2)

Articles surfaced by PubMed's Similar-Articles algorithm that are not actually about medical-grade honey. Included for transparency — this is the raw cluster.

  1. 34.Leslie SW, Aeddula NR.

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    StatPearls [Internet]. 2024 Apr 30. PMID: 33085409

  2. 88.Chinese Thoracic Society Pulmonary Function Group.

    Standard technical specifications for methacholine chloride (Methacholine) bronchial challenge test (2023) (Chinese).

    Zhonghua Jie He He Hu Xi Za Zhi. 2024 Feb 12;47(2):101-119. PMID: 38309959

Bibliography snapshot taken from the PubMed Similar-Articles cluster for PMID 40504399. Links open at PubMed (NCBI) in a new tab. We refresh this page when new directly-relevant PMIDs appear.

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