A new study published in Chemical Papers presents an innovative approach to wound healing by merging natural antibacterial agents — Piper longum extract and honey — into a chitosan-based film. This bioactive composite, fabricated using the solvent casting method, demonstrated exceptional antibacterial activity and biocompatibility in both laboratory and animal trials.
The research team, led by Sohail Shahzad and colleagues, synthesized biodegradable films integrating Piper longum aqueous extract (PLAE) and honey (HY) into a chitosan (CHI), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and gum arabic (GA) matrix. The resulting materials were thoroughly characterized through SEM, FTIR, XRD, and dynamic mechanical analysis to assess their structure, permeability, and strength.
In antimicrobial tests, the hybrid films—particularly those coded SNJ-3 and SNJ-4—showed potent inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, outperforming control samples. The films were also proven non-toxic to red blood cells, highly absorbent, and efficiently degradable, confirming their safety for biological use.
In vivo tests on rabbits revealed that the honey and Piper longum-infused films significantly accelerated wound closure and improved tissue regeneration compared to untreated wounds. Histopathological analysis showed faster reepithelialization, collagen formation, and reduced inflammation in treated wounds.
The researchers conclude that these bioactive, eco-friendly films hold strong promise for commercialization as advanced wound dressings, potentially reducing reliance on synthetic antibiotics and promoting natural healing pathways.
Reference
Shahzad, S., Ahmed, S., Yaqoob, A., Saleem, S., Shaheen, S., Mammadova, K., Qureshi, A. K., Arshad, M., Saeed, A., Alkhalifah, D. H. M., Ahmed, F., Hozzein, W. N., Javid, S., & Mohany, M. (2025). Amalgamation of Piper longum and honey into chitosan as wound dressing material. Chemical Papers. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11696-025-04405-w
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