{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T20:46:36Z","timestamp":1777927596915,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,6]],"date-time":"2026-01-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1767657600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Int J STD AIDS"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,4]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Topical antiviral agents, particularly acyclovir, are standard over-the-counter treatments for minor herpes simplex infections. However, natural products such as propolis and honey have drawn attention for their potential antiviral and wound healing-promoting properties. This meta-analysis aimed to systematically evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety profiles of propolis and\/or honey with 5% topical acyclovir in the management of labial and genital herpes.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Europe PMC, and the Cochrane Library was performed to identify studies comparing topical propolis and\/or honey with 5% acyclovir for herpes simplex lesions. Clinical outcomes were synthesized using random-effects models, with outcomes reported as mean difference (MD) and odds ratio (OR).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Seven studies were included in the analysis. Treatment with propolis and\/or honey was associated with quicker lesion resolution (MD: \u22121.87 days; 95% CI: \u22122.73 to \u22121.01;\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &lt; 0.0001) and higher healing rates by day 7 (OR: 4.71; 95% CI: 2.70\u20138.25;\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &lt; 0.00001). No significant difference was observed in the number of aborted attacks (\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">p<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 0.66). Propolis and\/or honey also reported reduced pain duration (MD: \u22120.96 days;\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">p<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 0.03) and pain intensity (MD: \u22126.53;\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">p<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 0.0002), with more patients reporting being symptom-free by day 3. No significant difference was observed in adverse events (AEs) rates between the natural therapy and acyclovir groups.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Propolis and\/or honey demonstrated superior lesion healing and pain relief compared to 5% acyclovir, with comparable safety, supporting their potential as safe and effective alternatives to conventional antiviral therapy.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1177\/09564624251413431","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,7]],"date-time":"2026-01-07T07:15:32Z","timestamp":1767770132000},"page":"511-521","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Superiority of propolis and honey over topical acyclovir for herpes simplex: A meta-analysis"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"37","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6475-5918","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nurdjannah Jane","family":"Niode","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Sam Ratulangi University\/ Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou General Hospital"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7889-3871","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paulus Mario","family":"Christopher","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sam Ratulangi University\/ Prof. Dr. R. D. Kandou General Hospital"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7963-7527","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Trina Ekawati","family":"Tallei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Sam Ratulangi University"},{"name":"Sam Ratulangi University"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,6]]},"reference":[{"issue":"3","key":"e_1_3_6_2_2","first-page":"337","article-title":"Herpes simplex virus: epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment","volume":"55","author":"Cole S","year":"2020","unstructured":"Cole S. Herpes simplex virus: epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Nurs Clin 2020; 55(3): 337\u2013345.","journal-title":"Nurs Clin"},{"key":"e_1_3_6_3_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/odi.14635"},{"key":"e_1_3_6_4_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/v15061314"},{"key":"e_1_3_6_5_2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1155\/2011\/976196"},{"issue":"2","key":"e_1_3_6_6_2","first-page":"47","article-title":"Antiviral activities of honey, Royal Jelly, and acyclovir against HSV-1","volume":"26","author":"Hashemipour MA","year":"2014","unstructured":"Hashemipour MA, Tavakolineghad Z, Arabzadeh SA, et al. Antiviral activities of honey, Royal Jelly, and acyclovir against HSV-1. 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