Determination of IC50 valves of gelam honey on foreskin fibroblast cells (CRL 2522)

Gelam honey is a monofloral Malaysian honey derived from the nectar of Gelam tree (Melaleuca spp). Gelam honey is notable for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and wound healing activities. This honey has been proven to activate fibroblast cells and promote the re-epithelialisation process in animal models. However; no study has been conducted to determine the ICso of Gelam honey on fibroblasts cells in vitro. This study may provide further evidence supporting its use as a wound healing agent. This study aims to determine the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Gelam honey on the proliferation of fibroblast cells and to compare the IC50 values of Gelam honey with hydrogen peroxide in order to establish the degree of healing property of Gelam honey, relative to that of hydrogen peroxide. The efficacy of Gelam honey as wound healing agent was evaluated on cultured fibroblast cells (BJ cell line, CRL-2522). Both Gelam honey and hydrogen peroxide were prepared in different concentrations and the two materials were respectively diluted in high glucose Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM). The prepared concentrations were used to treat the cultured fibroblast cells and the viability as well as the proliferation of the cells were identified by using MTT assay. The MIT assay showed 50% inhibition of fibroblast cell proliferation at 5.72% concentration of Gelam honey and 4.28% concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H202). Gelam honey at concentrations l % and 3% were found to have the potential to promote proliferation of the fibroblast cells treated for 24 hours. The result of this study showed that the ICso of Gelam honey was higher than the IC50 of hydrogen peroxide. This indicates that Gelam honey is Jess toxic than hydrogen peroxide. Hence, it is a better wound healing agent. We also inferred that the effective dose of Gelam honey to enhance the proliferation rate of fibroblast cells is below 5%. However, further laboratory analysis such as scratch assay is needed in order to support the finding.