Stingless Bee Honey-Based Hydrogel Incorporating Plant Extracts for Wound Healing Applications
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/mjfas.v22n4.5375Keywords:
hydrogel; plant extract; honey; wound healing; biocompatibility; natural polymer; phytochemical; extract loadingAbstract
Hydrogels are solid-like materials that are widely used in medicine, particularly as wound dressings, due to their ability to retain moisture, protect wounds from external contaminants, and remain permeable to oxygen. In this research, hydrogels were fabricated using chitosan, pectin, gelatin, stingless bee honey, and the incorporation of medicinal plant extracts to enhance their therapeutic properties. The aim of this study was to fabricate hydrogels incorporating three different medicinal plants and to evaluate their physical, chemical, mechanical, and biological characteristics, as well as to identify the most suitable medicinal plant for wound-dressing applications. FTIR analysis of hydrogel with and without plant extracts confirmed the presence of functional groups associated with the polymers, honey, and plant extracts. Swelling testing revealed a high water absorption capability and this demonstrated their ability to maintain a moist healing environment. XRD analysis exhibited amorphous structures for all samples, indicating that the addition of plant extracts did not alter their crystallinity. Mechanical testing showed that extract-loaded hydrogels exhibited Young’s modulus values of 0.10-0.19 MPa compared to 0.20 MPa for the control, suggesting reduced stiffness upon extract incorporation, with Ulam Raja formulations showing the greatest reduction from 0.18 MPa to 0.10 MPa as extract loading increased. Biocompatibility assessment using human osteoblast cells showed no cytotoxic effects in all hydrogel formulations, with cell densities increasing from 6.09 ´ 106 cells/mL at Day 0 to 1.10 ´ 107-4.70 ´ 107 cells/mL at Day 5, under the current experimental conditions.
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