Assessment of in vitro skin permeation and accumulation of phenolic acids from honey and honey-based pharmaceutical formulations
Abstract Background Honey has been successfully used in wound care and cosmetics because of its effective biological properties, including antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. Polyphenols, particularly phenolic acids, are key honey components responsible for these beneficial...
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BMC
2025-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04786-1 |
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| author | Anna Nowak Anna Muzykiewicz-Szymańska Magdalena Perużyńska Edyta Kucharska Łukasz Kucharski Karolina Jakubczyk Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej Justyna Stefanowicz-Hajduk Marek Droździk Juraj Majtan |
| author_facet | Anna Nowak Anna Muzykiewicz-Szymańska Magdalena Perużyńska Edyta Kucharska Łukasz Kucharski Karolina Jakubczyk Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej Justyna Stefanowicz-Hajduk Marek Droździk Juraj Majtan |
| author_sort | Anna Nowak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Honey has been successfully used in wound care and cosmetics because of its effective biological properties, including antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. Polyphenols, particularly phenolic acids, are key honey components responsible for these beneficial effects. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for natural, ecologically friendly, and biodegradable products in the modern cosmetics and wound care market. This study aimed to identify and quantify phenolic acids in four Polish honey samples of different botanical origins (heather, buckwheat, linden and rapeseed) and to assess for the first time the permeation of the identified phenolic acids through the skin and their accumulation after the application of pure honey samples, as well as honey-based hydrogel and emulsion formulations. Methods The honey samples’ antioxidant activity and total phenolic content were determined using the DPPH and ABTS assays and the Folin–Ciocalteu method, respectively. Phenolic acids and volatile compounds were identified and quantified in honey samples using the HPLC-UV and GC-MS method, respectively. The biocompatibility of the honey samples was evaluated using a murine fibroblast cell line (L929). A Franz-type vertical diffusion cell with porcine skin was used to assess phenolic acid’s permeation and skin accumulation from different honey-based pharmaceutical formulations. The biodegradability of the prepared formulations was also characterised. Results Gallic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, coumaric acid, and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid were identified and quantified in the honey samples. Heather honey exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity and total polyphenol content than the other honey samples. Heather, linden and buckwheat honey samples significantly decreased cell viability at concentrations of 5% and 2.5%, while rapeseed honey sample markedly reduced fibroblast viability only at 5%. Among the tested formulations - pure honey, hydrogel, and emulsion - higher skin permeation and accumulation rates of phenolic acids were observed with the prepared honey-based hydrogels than with the pure honeys and emulsions. Additionally, the prepared formulations were classified as partially biodegradable. Conclusions The obtained results confirmed the effectiveness of two pharmaceutical formulations in the form of a hydrogel or emulsion containing honey after applied topically. The inclusion of honey in the vehicle, in particular hydrogel increased the penetration of phenolic acids through the skin. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-66e0512d9f6146acac95546c5a20fe73 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2662-7671 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies |
| spelling | doaj-art-66e0512d9f6146acac95546c5a20fe732025-02-09T12:12:00ZengBMCBMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies2662-76712025-02-0125112010.1186/s12906-025-04786-1Assessment of in vitro skin permeation and accumulation of phenolic acids from honey and honey-based pharmaceutical formulationsAnna Nowak0Anna Muzykiewicz-Szymańska1Magdalena Perużyńska2Edyta Kucharska3Łukasz Kucharski4Karolina Jakubczyk5Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej6Justyna Stefanowicz-Hajduk7Marek Droździk8Juraj Majtan9Department of Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in SzczecinDepartment of Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in SzczecinDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian Medical University in SzczecinDepartment of Chemical Organic Technology and Polymeric Materials, West Pomeranian University of Technology in SzczecinDepartment of Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pomeranian Medical University in SzczecinDepartment of Human Nutrition and Metabolomics, Pomeranian Medical University in SzczecinInstitute of Biology, University of SzczecinDepartment of Biology and Pharmaceutical Botany, Medical University of GdańskDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Pomeranian Medical University in SzczecinInstitute of Molecular Biology, Slovak Academy of SciencesAbstract Background Honey has been successfully used in wound care and cosmetics because of its effective biological properties, including antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. Polyphenols, particularly phenolic acids, are key honey components responsible for these beneficial effects. In recent years, there has been a growing demand for natural, ecologically friendly, and biodegradable products in the modern cosmetics and wound care market. This study aimed to identify and quantify phenolic acids in four Polish honey samples of different botanical origins (heather, buckwheat, linden and rapeseed) and to assess for the first time the permeation of the identified phenolic acids through the skin and their accumulation after the application of pure honey samples, as well as honey-based hydrogel and emulsion formulations. Methods The honey samples’ antioxidant activity and total phenolic content were determined using the DPPH and ABTS assays and the Folin–Ciocalteu method, respectively. Phenolic acids and volatile compounds were identified and quantified in honey samples using the HPLC-UV and GC-MS method, respectively. The biocompatibility of the honey samples was evaluated using a murine fibroblast cell line (L929). A Franz-type vertical diffusion cell with porcine skin was used to assess phenolic acid’s permeation and skin accumulation from different honey-based pharmaceutical formulations. The biodegradability of the prepared formulations was also characterised. Results Gallic acid, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, coumaric acid, and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid were identified and quantified in the honey samples. Heather honey exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity and total polyphenol content than the other honey samples. Heather, linden and buckwheat honey samples significantly decreased cell viability at concentrations of 5% and 2.5%, while rapeseed honey sample markedly reduced fibroblast viability only at 5%. Among the tested formulations - pure honey, hydrogel, and emulsion - higher skin permeation and accumulation rates of phenolic acids were observed with the prepared honey-based hydrogels than with the pure honeys and emulsions. Additionally, the prepared formulations were classified as partially biodegradable. Conclusions The obtained results confirmed the effectiveness of two pharmaceutical formulations in the form of a hydrogel or emulsion containing honey after applied topically. The inclusion of honey in the vehicle, in particular hydrogel increased the penetration of phenolic acids through the skin.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04786-1HoneyPolyphenolsAntioxidant activityWound healingBiodegradationPharmaceuticals |
| spellingShingle | Anna Nowak Anna Muzykiewicz-Szymańska Magdalena Perużyńska Edyta Kucharska Łukasz Kucharski Karolina Jakubczyk Paulina Niedźwiedzka-Rystwej Justyna Stefanowicz-Hajduk Marek Droździk Juraj Majtan Assessment of in vitro skin permeation and accumulation of phenolic acids from honey and honey-based pharmaceutical formulations BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Honey Polyphenols Antioxidant activity Wound healing Biodegradation Pharmaceuticals |
| title | Assessment of in vitro skin permeation and accumulation of phenolic acids from honey and honey-based pharmaceutical formulations |
| title_full | Assessment of in vitro skin permeation and accumulation of phenolic acids from honey and honey-based pharmaceutical formulations |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of in vitro skin permeation and accumulation of phenolic acids from honey and honey-based pharmaceutical formulations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of in vitro skin permeation and accumulation of phenolic acids from honey and honey-based pharmaceutical formulations |
| title_short | Assessment of in vitro skin permeation and accumulation of phenolic acids from honey and honey-based pharmaceutical formulations |
| title_sort | assessment of in vitro skin permeation and accumulation of phenolic acids from honey and honey based pharmaceutical formulations |
| topic | Honey Polyphenols Antioxidant activity Wound healing Biodegradation Pharmaceuticals |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04786-1 |
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