Selected Research.
Genuine Mānuka honey has drawn scientific attention for decades. Below is a small, careful selection of what has been published — offered for context, not as a claim about our jars.
The following summarizes independent, publicly available research into Mānuka honey and methylglyoxal (MGO) generally. It is provided for education and context only, is not a medical claim about any specific 9Health product, and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Selected Research
- Antibacterial Activity & Potency Grading
Potency testing is more nuanced than the UMF number alone
A 2019 study tested over-the-counter Mānuka honey across different UMF grades against a range of clinically relevant bacteria, and found strong antibacterial activity throughout — in some samples, lower UMF grades performed comparably to or better than UMF 15+.
- Antibacterial Activity & Potency Grading
How MGO works alongside the honey’s other natural compounds
A 2026 evidence-based review describes how methylglyoxal (MGO), the compound behind Mānuka honey’s grading, works alongside other natural compounds — including a bee-derived peptide called Defensin-1 — to disrupt bacterial cell walls and support tissue repair.
- Wound Care Research
Quantifying how much MGO meaningfully reduces bacterial load
Laboratory research on Mānuka-honey-coated wound dressings has quantified how much MGO is needed to meaningfully reduce bacterial load on a wound dressing — supporting honey’s long clinical history as a wound-care aid, still primarily studied in laboratory and dressing-based settings rather than as a food product.
- Cough & Upper Respiratory Comfort
Honey outperformed usual care for cough frequency and severity
A 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis by researchers at the University of Oxford analyzed 14 randomized controlled trials and found that honey outperformed usual care for easing upper respiratory symptoms, particularly cough frequency and severity. UK health authorities (NICE) have referenced this kind of evidence in recommending honey as a home remedy for cough in adults and children over one year old.
The studies above concern Mānuka honey and MGO as researched substances, not a specific medical claim about 9Health’s products. Individual results vary, and honey — however potent — is a food, not a medicine. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using any natural product to address a health concern.