"Biological Safety of Stingless Bee Melipona Beecheii Honey on the Ocular Surface in Albino Rabbit
Animal Model"
Dr. Ramirez-Miranda and Dr. Navas are consultants for Carl Zeiss Meditec. Dr. Ramirez-Miranda is a speaker of Thea Laboratoires.The remaining authors have no financial or proprietary interest in the materials presented herein.
Jesus Cabral MDArturo Ramirez-Miranda MD
Alejandro Navas MD MSc
Yonathan Garfias PhD
Enrique O. Graue-Hernandez MD MSc
Research UnitDepartment of Cornea and Refractive Surgery
Instituto de Oftalmologia “Fundacion Conde de Valenciana”
Mexico City, Mexico
INTRODUCTION
• Melipones bees are distributed throughout tropical regions which main characteristic is the lack of a functional sting.
• The Mayan culture used Melipona beecheii to treat several ocular diseases.
• Many researchers have described the role of honey in the treatment of burns, chronic and infected wounds, skin ulcers and even cancer.
PURPOSE
• At present, it is known that most honeys have antibacterial activity.
• The purpose of this study was to establish the biological safety of Melipona bees honey used on ocular surface evaluating adverse effects, in an animal model.
METHODS
• Adult male and female albino rabbits Oryctolagus Cuniculus (weighing 2800-3200 grs n=6) were submitted in traps
• 0.5 ml of undiluted Melipona bees honey, was applied directly on the cornea of the case eye test (OD) using a sterile syringe.
• 0.5 ml of distilled water was applied to contralateral eye (OS; used as controls).
Animals were handled according to the ARVO Statement on the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research
METHODSSlit lamp examinations and photodocumentation were
performed pre-instillation, 1, 2, 3, 24, 48 and 72 hrs
after honey instillation.
METHODS• Outcome measures – Conjuntival irritation and sensitization
(redness, edema and secretion)– Corneal opacity and/or vascularization– Iris (opacity) with the aid of a magnifying
glass.
METHODS
• The scores were added for each rabbit and 6 rabbits values were averaged per day.
• The average was divided by 110 (total sum of the maximum possible scores) and the product obtained was classified as:
• No irritating• Mildly irritating• Irritating • Severely irritating.
RESULTS
• Six eyes of six adult male and female albino rabbits Oryctolagus Cuniculus (weighing 2800-3200 grs) were available for evaluation (100%) of Melipona bees honey ocular effects.
• No ocular adverse effects (SCORE <0.3) were induced over a 2 week-period.
• We classified this substance as no irritating in all cases.
CONCLUSIONS
• Melipona honey may be safely used on ocular surface.
• Due to its physico-chemical features, it is likely to have applications as an antibacterial, hyperosmotic and moisturizing agent.
CONCLUSIONS
• Further studies may precede clinical trials to determine its applications on human ocular diseases, as well as comparative studies with available compounds.