Table 1.
Characteristics of studies.
| Author (Year) | Country | Type of Honey | Sample Size (E/C) | Wound Etiology | Interventions, Frequency and Treatment Duration | Control | Follow-Up Period or Time | Outcome Measure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abet et al., 2023 [19] |
France | NA | 50/50 | Pilonidal cyst | Honey + alginate dressing; not mention the specific usage | Alginate dressing | 180 days | (a) |
| Al Saeed, 2019 [20] |
Saudi Arabia | Manuka honey | 36/35 | Diabetic foot ulcer | Manuka honey dressing covered with an occlusive secondary one; changed daily or more frequently if the dressing was markedly soaked, until the infection was eradicated and healthy granulations were formed | Controlled release silver hydrophilic dressing | Until healed | (a), (f), (g) |
| Gulati et al., 2014 [7] |
India | Azadericta indica honey | 22/20 | Various etiology a | Honey was applied to fill the wound cavity sufficiently (1–2 mL) and then covered with film dressing (Tegaderm). Patients with venous leg ulcers were reinforced by elastic compression garments, changed on alternate days for 6 weeks. | Povidone iodine dressing | 6 weeks | (b), (c), (d), (e) |
| Guo and Fu, 2013 [21] |
China | Wild native honey in Shennongjia | 48/48 | Various etiology b | Honey dressing covered the wound (apply directly to the wound up to 0.5 cm thick appropriately). Change the dressing when the outer layer dressing is permeated by seepage > 1/2, until healed or ready for surgical closure | Functional dressing | Until healed or ready for surgical closure | (a), (d) |
| Guo and Tang, 2013 [22] |
China | Dandelion honey | 33/66 | Diabetic chronic ulcers | Honey dressing covered 3–4 layers (apply directly to the wound up to 0.5 cm thick appropriately). Change the dressing when the outer layer dressing is permeated by seepage > 1/2, until healed or ready for surgical closure | C1: Functional dressing C2: Povidone iodine dressing |
Until healed or ready for surgical closure | (a), (f) |
| Guo et al., 2012 [23] |
China | Wild native honey in Shennongjia | 30/60 | Traumatic skin chronic ulcers | Honey dressing covers 3–4 layers (apply directly to the wound up to 0.5 cm thick appropriately); once daily application initially and then, frequency determined by clinical need, until healed or ready for surgical closure | C1: Functional dressing C2: Conventional dressing |
Until healed or ready for surgical closure | (a), (d) |
| Jull et al., 2008 [24] |
New Zealand | Manuka honey | 187/181 | Venous ulcers | Manuka honey impregnated into calcium alginate dressing + compression bandaging; frequency determined by clinical need | Usual care (received dressings that the district nurse deemed appropriate at the time of each visit) | 12 weeks | (a), (b), (c), (d) |
| Zeleníko vá and Vyhlídalo vá, 2019 [25] |
Czech Republic |
Manuka honey | 20/20 | Various etiology c | Honey dressing; not mention the specific usage | Povidone iodine, nanocrystalline silver, or hydrogel | 90 days | (b), (e) |
Abbreviation: NA: not available. a Chronic wound of duration ≥6 weeks; b Diabetic foot ulcer and pressure ulcer; c non-healing wounds, including pressure ulcers, lower leg ulcers, and diabetic ulcers. (a) Mean time to achieve wound healing; (b) rate of complete wound healing; and (c) incidence of adverse events. The secondary outcomes included the following: (d) percentage of wound healing (%); (e) assessment of pain intensity during treatment using Visual Analog Scale (VAS); (f) duration for bacterial clearance in the wound; and (g) length of hospital stay (LOS).