PAN AFRICAN JOURNAL OF LIFE SCIENCES
e-ISSN: 2672-5924
Volume 9, No. 1, April 2025
Pages 385-390
DOI: 10.36108/pajols/5202/90.0111
Intellectual Capacity and Emerging Trends of Research on Honey as an Antimicrobial Agent: A Bibli-ometric Analysis
Chikwado A. Okpala1, Chidimma R. Chukwunwejim2*, Adaeze H. Oli3, Linda O. Anagu2, Angus N. Oli2.
1Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Madonna University, Elele Rivers State, Nigeria
2Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
3Department of Medical Laboratory Services, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State
Abstract
Background: Honey has been consumed by humans for a long time and is used in many foods and medical traditions to treat illnesses. Important factors in honey’s antimicrobial potential, such as high osmolality, low pH, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, and non-peroxide components, have all been proposed. This study provides a summary of a significant amount of Bibliometric data on the current state of intellectual capacity and emerging trends of honey as an antimicrobial agent.
Methods: To determine the pattern of publications in the field of honey’s antimicrobial activity, a Bibliometric analysis on honey was carried out with studies. The study located 220 articles published between 2012 and 2022 for further analysis based on the keywords used, which are related to honey as an antimicrobial.
Results: After eliminating duplicate entries, the Bibliometric analysis was objectively carried out with VOS viewer to pro-duce maps based on the scientific data between the top authors, indicating significant research links between authors in each cluster. The pattern indicates that in 2012 (n=29), the number of publications peaked at its highest level. With 10 papers, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces had the most papers overall. The top author keyword in terms of co-occurrence was honey (n=20).
Conclusion: The review demonstrates that honey has been used in clinical studies and from various pharmacological per-spectives, with more attention paid to its antimicrobial activity. Further research may be conducted to highlight the mecha-nism of action of all the antimicrobial components of honey and honey products and their potential therapeutic applications.
Keywords: Honey, antimicrobial, alternative medicine, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal