The Many Health Benefits of Manuka Honey

Manuka honey is a premium product made from bee’s collecting nectar from Leptospermum plants, which grow throughout Australia and New Zealand. While all honeys offer some level of antimicrobial protection thanks to factors like their low moisture content and hydrogen peroxide activity, manuka honey goes a step further. It contains methylglyoxal (MGO)- a natural compound found exclusively in manuka honey and widely recognised as the primary driver of its extraordinary antibacterial strength.

Manuka honey can break down bacterial biofilms. These biofilms are protective layers that make infections hard to treat and can lead to long-lasting wounds. By breaking apart these layers, MGO can reach harmful bacteria and help destroy them, which promotes faster and more effective healing. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of manuka honey against a broad range of bacterial strains, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Citrobacter freundii, and Enterobacter aerogenes (Abdel-Latif C Abouzied, 2016; Blair et al., 2009; Girma et al., 2019; Lu et al., 2019; Nolan et al., 2020; Somal et al., 1994; Yu et al., 2020).

Bacterial resistance to manuka honey has not been observed so far. This rare resistance may be due to the unique qualities of manuka honey and the way its various bioactive compounds work together. Several studies show the effectiveness of manuka honey in treating hard-to-heal wounds. In one clinical trial, patients treated with high-grade manuka honey (NPA 20+) saw complete wound closure and new tissue growth within just four weeks (Choudhary C Jangir, 2017) . Another study comparing manuka honey to silver nanocrystal treatments found similar antibacterial results, but fewer side effects were observed with manuka honey (Tsang et al., 2017). These findings highlight manuka honey as a powerful, natural solution in wound care.

Manuka honey offers many benefits beyond its antibacterial properties. It is rich in phenolic compounds, which are small plant-based molecules that have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. Phenolic compounds naturally help support heart, liver, and brain health. They fight free radicals and reactive oxygen species, which contribute to inflammation and many chronic diseases. Consuming foods rich in phenolic compounds can lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, cataracts and neurodegenerative disorders. Several phenolic compounds identified in manuka honey have been associated with notable health benefits (Table 1.0).

Table 1.0 Health-Promoting Phenolic Compounds Found in Manuka Honey

Examples of bioactive compounds in Manuka	Key Health Benefits
Leptosperin → Methyl Syringate	Leptosperin is metabolised into methyl syringate; protects against oxidative stressAntioxidant and anti-inflammatorySupports glucose metabolismAppetite and weight regulation
Lepteridine	Wound healing supportGastrointestinal healthAnti-inflammatory
Genistin	Antioxidant and anti-inflammatoryBone health (reduced risk of osteoporosis)Cardioprotective C neuroprotectiveMenopause relief
Abscisic Acid	Regulates blood glucoseAnti-inflammatoryMay aid in obesity, atherosclerosis, and irritable bowel disease
3-Phenyllactic Acid	Supports blood sugar balanceGut health C microbiome balancePromotes production of good short chain fatty acidsAnti-inflammatory

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