"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.