Evidence map›Paper›PMID 22822475›Full record

ArticleTranslational biomedicine2012

In vitro antiviral activity of honey against varicella zoster virus (VZV): A translational medicine study for potential remedy for shingles.

Aamir Shahzad, Randall J Cohrs

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Translational biomedicine, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 33 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
33citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
3.5field-weighted citation impact, top 7% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

33 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 71 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Honey for acute cough in children.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2018
    Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Review
  4. Bee products as alternatives in the treatment of viral infections.Journal of the science of food and agriculture · 2026
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Review
  8. Natural products as a source of Coronavirus entry inhibitors.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2024
    Review
  9. Article
  10. Review
  11. Article
  12. Review
  13. Article
  14. Frontiers in microbiology · 2022
    Article
  15. Article
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Review
  20. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Aamir ShahzadDepartment of Neurology, University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
Randall J Cohrs
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus · US

Funding

VARICELLA ZOSTER VIRUS VASCULOPATHY: CHANGING CLINICAL PRACTICEP01AG032958 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · PI COHRS, RANDALL J. · 2009 to 2023
$30.3M
NIA NIH HHS P01 AG032958
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the in vitro anti-viral effect of honey on varicella zoster virus.

methodsManuka and clover honeys were used at concentrations ranging from 0-6% wt/vol. A clinical VZV isolate was obtained from a zoster vesicle and used at low passage. Various concentrations of manuka and clover honey were added to the tissue culture medium of VZV-infected human malignant melanoma (MeWo) cells.

resultsBoth types of honey showed antiviral activity against varicella zoster virus with an approximate EC50 = 4.5 % (wt/vol).

conclusionsOur results showed that honey has significant in vitro anti-VZV activity. As, honey is convenient for skin application, is readily available and inexpensive, honey may be an excellent remedy to treat zoster rash in developing countries where antiviral drugs are expensive or not easily available.

Identifiers

PMID22822475
PMCPMC3401066
OpenAlexW2160104685

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.