GC-MS used to assess Tualang honey effect on keloids

The use of Tualang honey as a possible approach for the treatment of keloids, a type of scar which extends beyond the boundaries of the original wound, has been assessed through the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

A study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2011 aimed to determine the antiproliferative effect of methanolic extraction of Tualang honey on primary human keloid fibroblasts and also identify the volatile compounds in the methanol extraction of Tualang honey.

The extraction of Tualang honey using methanol was carried out and the extracted samples were analysed using (GC-MS, with the result was analysed using SPSS and tested with Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests.

Scientists found that methanolic extraction of honey has an positive anti proliferative effect on keloid fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner, while the presence of fatty acids may contribute to the anti-proliferative effect in keloid fibroblasts.

They noted that he antiproliferative effect of keloid fibroblasts towards Tualang honey may involve cell signalling pathway and said future studies should identify other volatile compounds from different organic solvents.