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The Sensitivity of Dermatophytes to the Antimicrobial Activity of Manuka Honey and Other Honey
Abstract
Honey has been reported to have antifungal activity and so was tested against clinical isolates of the common dermatophyte species which cause tineas in man. A honey with an average level of hydrogen peroxide, and a manuka (Leptospermum scoparium J. R. and G. Forst, family Myrtaceae) honey with an average level of non-peroxide antibacterial activity were used. An agar well diffusion assay was used, the contents of the wells being replaced with freshly prepared honey solutions at 24-h intervals over the 3–4 days of incubation.The lowest concentrations (% v/v, in steps of 5%) of manuka honey with catalase added to remove hydrogen peroxide, and of the other honey (without catalase) showed that inhibition of growth around the wells were, respectively, Epidermophyton floccosum 25%, 10%; Microsporum canis 25%, 15%; Microsporum gypseum 55%, 20%; Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale 45%, 15%; Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes 25%, 15%; Trichophyton rubrum 20%, 5% and Trichophyton tonsurans 25%, 20%. No inhibitory activity was detected with the other honey at 50% (v/v) with catalase added.The results of this investigation show that the common dermatophytes are sensitive to the antimicrobial activity of honey, indicating that clinical evaluation of honey in the treatment of tineas is warranted. This would determine whether the hydrogen peroxide or the non-peroxide antifungal agent diffuses better into the skin.
... Besides the aforementioned antimicrobial activity (Brady et al. 1996;Kumar et al. 2010;Dunford et al. 2000;English et al. 2004;Molan 2001b;, honey also inhibits the fungal (including Aspergillus, Penicillium, as well as all the common dermatophytes) and yeast infections (Brady et al. 1996;Kumar et al. 2010). The pure honey was reported to be fungicidal, while its dilution abolished production of toxin (Al-Waili and Haq 2004a;. ...
... Besides the aforementioned antimicrobial activity (Brady et al. 1996;Kumar et al. 2010;Dunford et al. 2000;English et al. 2004;Molan 2001b;, honey also inhibits the fungal (including Aspergillus, Penicillium, as well as all the common dermatophytes) and yeast infections (Brady et al. 1996;Kumar et al. 2010). The pure honey was reported to be fungicidal, while its dilution abolished production of toxin (Al-Waili and Haq 2004a;. ...
... Even though numerous honeys derived from various resources have demonstrated potent antibacterial activities, this however does not necessarily mean that they do possess antifungal activity as well. Manuka honey although possessing a potent antibacterial activity has a weak activity against fungus like C. albicans and dermatophytes (Brady et al. 1996;Anand et al. 2019a Recently, various honey varieties including Agastache, tea tree honey, and manuka honey were demonstrated to be effective in countering dermatophytes (T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum) and C. albicans. ...
Honey has been broadly recognized as a source of nourishment and medication by both old and new generations. It has been utilized by people to treat numerous illnesses through topical application for at least 2700 years, but recent researches have revealed the antiseptic and antimicrobial activities of honey. It has been seen as a powerful agent that can be used in various human pathologies. Different clinical examinations have affirmed that the use of honey to cutaneous injuries which are severely infected removes contamination from the injury and enhances tissue healing. Honey has been perceived as a successful antioxidant and antimicrobial agent for centuries. Utilized mainly for treating burns and surface wounds, it has thus been developed into clinical medicine, as medical grade honey. In spite of this, the underlying interest in the utilization of honey for antimicrobial treatment was significantly reduced, as antibiotics were discovered and used. Nonetheless, due to the alarming increment in the occurrence of organisms with antimicrobial resistance, specifically the expansion in multidrug resistance (MDR), the quantity of efficient antibiotics is decreasing at a larger rate than new medications are created. This serious situation has made numerous scientists to think back to the pre-antibiotic period for creating solutions, directing their consideration towards the mechanisms of action of antimicrobial activity of honey.
... The H 2 O 2 -producing natural honeys tested in this study exhibited high antifungal activity against the six dermatophyte species (Tables 1 and 2). Fungi are generally more susceptible to the action of H 2 O 2 -type honeys than to Leptospermum (manuka) honey, where activity is dependent on MGO [8,19], and filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Microsporum [26], and Trichophyton [27] have been found to have greater sensitivity to honey than Candida and Saccharomyces yeasts [26,27]. In the limited studies that have included them, dermatophytes appear to be particularly susceptible to honey activity [20,26]; and compared to our previous work on Candida species that also tested jarrah honey the MICs for the dermatophytes tested here are~10-fold lower [8]. ...
... The dermatophytes appeared substantially more susceptible to jarrah honey than has been reported for other H 2 O 2 -producing honeys, where MICs have ranged from 5-39% (v/v) [19,20]. Our results are in contrast to a recent study of a commercial jarrah honey, however, which had no activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. rubrum [28]. ...
Superficial dermatophyte infections, commonly known as tineas, are the most prevalent fungal ailment and are increasing in incidence, leading to an interest in alternative treatments. Many floral honeys possess antimicrobial activity due to high sugar, low pH, and the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) from the activity of the bee-derived enzyme glucose oxidase. Australian jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) honey produces particularly high levels of H2O2 and has been found to be potently antifungal. This study characterized the activity of jarrah honey on fungal dermatophyte species. Jarrah honey inhibited dermatophytes with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 1.5–3.5% (w/v), which increased to ≥25% (w/v) when catalase was added. Microscopic analysis found jarrah honey inhibited the germination of Trichophyton rubrum conidia and scanning electron microscopy of mature T. rubrum hyphae after honey treatment revealed bulging and collapsed regions. When treated hyphae were stained using REDOX fluorophores these did not detect any internal oxidative stress, suggesting jarrah honey acts largely on the hyphal surface. Although H2O2 appears critical for the antifungal activity of jarrah honey and its action on fungal cells, these effects persisted when H2O2 was eliminated and could not be replicated using synthetic honey spiked with H2O2, indicating jarrah honey contains agents that augment antifungal activity.
... Wahdan (1998) demonstrated that an undiluted sugar solution, mimicking the same sugar and water percentage of honey, exhibited bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity, indicating that these parameters play an important role in the antimicrobial activity of honey [38]. Conversely, Brady, Molan and Harfoot (1996) created an artificial honey, representative of sugar content and acidity, and tested it against a range of dermatophytes, a pathogenic fungus that is the cause of cutaneous mycoses [39]. They observed no inhibitory activity against any organism tested. ...
... Wahdan (1998) demonstrated that an undiluted sugar solution, mimicking the same sugar and water percentage of honey, exhibited bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity, indicating that these parameters play an important role in the antimicrobial activity of honey [38]. Conversely, Brady, Molan and Harfoot (1996) created an artificial honey, representative of sugar content and acidity, and tested it against a range of dermatophytes, a pathogenic fungus that is the cause of cutaneous mycoses [39]. They observed no inhibitory activity against any organism tested. ...
Honey is a complex sweet food stuff with well-established antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. It has been used for millennia in a variety of applications, but the most noteworthy include the treatment of surface wounds, burns and inflammation. A variety of substances in honey have been suggested as the key component to its antimicrobial potential; polyphenolic compounds, hydrogen peroxide, methylglyoxal and bee-defensin 1. These components vary greatly across honey samples due to botanical origin, geographical location and secretions from the bee. The use of medical grade honey in the treatment of surface wounds and burns has been seen to improve the healing process, reduce healing time, reduce scarring and prevent microbial contamination. Therefore, if medical grade honeys were to be included in clinical treatment, it would reduce the demand for antibiotic usage. In this review, we outline the constituents of honey and how they affect antibiotic potential in a clinical setting. By identifying the key components, we facilitate the development of an optimally antimicrobial honey by either synthetic or semisynthetic production methods.
... The few reports in the literature on antifungal activity of honey against dermatophytes and yeasts partially agree with the findings of the present study. Suhana et al. 34 reported that Manuka honey (UMF 10+) has antifungal activity against C. albicans (25% v/v) and dermatophytes (50% v/v), while Brady et al. 24 also reported activity of Manuka honey against T. mentagrophytes, although the zone of inhibition (18.4 mm) was wider than found in the current study (12 mm). Koc et al. 35 found that fluconazole-resistant C. albicans required 40-80% (MIC values) concentration of Turkish honey (Rhododendron, Orange and Eucalyptus) for inhibition. ...
... In another study, Carter et al. 11 found that Manuka honey was less effective for treatment of fungal skin infections caused by C. albicans and dermatophytes than for bacterial skin infections. This finding was attributed the observation that Manuka honey lacks hydrogen peroxide, which is responsible for the antifungal activities of some honeys 11,24 . However, our results do not support this view since Agastache honey, which showed the most antifungal activity according to the assays we used, produced lower amounts of H 2 O 2 (5.13 µm) than Jarrah and Super Manuka honeys (115 µm and 41 µm respectively), which displayed weak antifungal activity. ...
There is an urgent need for new effective antifungal agents suitable for the treatment of superficial skin infections, since acquired resistance of fungi to currently available agents is increasing. The antifungal activity of mono-floral Agastache honey and commercially available honeys were tested against dermatophytes (T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum) and C. albicans (ATCC 10231 and a clinical isolate) by agar well diffusion and micro-dilution (AWD and MD). In AWD and MD assays, Agastache honey was effective at 40% concentration against dermatophytes (zone diameter, 19.5–20 mm) and C. albicans with the same MIC and MFC values indicating fungicidal activity. Tea tree honey was effective at 80% concentration (zone diameter, 14 mm) against dermatophytes and at 40% concentration against T. mentagrophytes and C. albicans. Manuka was effective at 80% concentration only against T. mentagrophytes (zone diameter, 12 mm) and at 40% against T. rubrum and C. albicans with fungistatic activity. Similar to the AWD results, Jelly bush, Super Manuka, and Jarrah showed no activity against dermatophytes but showed some activity against C. albicans. Headspace volatiles of six honeys were isolated by SPME and identified by GC-MS. The characteristic chemical markers for each honey were as follows: Agastache- Phenol, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) and Estragole; Manuka and Tea-tree- Acetanisole and Methyl 3,5-dimethoxybenzoate; Jelly bush- Linalool and Nonanal; Super Manuka- Methyl 3,5-dimethoxybenzoate and Nonanal; Jarrah- Isophorone and Nonanoic acid. Overall, analysis of the bioactive compound content and antifungal activity of Agastache honey indicated possible use as an antifungal agent for management of superficial fungal infections.
... For a considerable length of time silver has been known to have bactericidal properties. As right on time as 1000 B.C., the antimicrobial properties of silver in rendering water consumable were acknowledged [4,5] . Silver mixes have been abused for their restorative properties for quite a long time too [6] . ...
... Several Products have incorporate silver for use as a topical antibacterial specialist, for example, silver nitrate, silver sulphadiazine (SSD) (FlammazineTM, Smith and Nephew Healthcare Limited, Hull, Canada) [11] , silver sulphadiazine/chlorhexidine (Silverex1, Motiff Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. Kare Health fortes, Verna, Goa), SSD with cerium nitrate (Flammacerium1, Solvay, Brussels, Belgium), and silver sulphadiazine impregnated lipidocolloid wound dressing Urgotul SSD1 (Laboratories Urgo, Chenove, France) [5,[11][12][13] . As opposed to these silver operators, recently created items, for example, ActicoatTM (Westaim Biomedical Inc., Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada) and Silverlon1 (Argentum Medical, L.L.C., Lakemont, Georgia) have a more controlled and delayed arrival of nanocrystalline silver to the injury region. ...
... Antifungal action has also been observed against the yeast Candida albicans and the most species of Aspergillus baumannii and Penicillium chrysogenum, 2 as well as all the common dermatophytes. 3 Malaysian honeys are well recognized because of their quality, although there are few scientifi c publications about their antibacterial activity. This study aimed to (i) determine the antimicrobial effect of one brand of Malaysian honey against different species of human pathogens, (ii) optimize the preparation of honey broth media used in vitro studies, and (iii) determine the dose response relationship for antibacterial activity of honey broth media. ...
... 8,9 Most published studies used diluted honey in distilled water to obtain various volume/volume (v/v) concentrations. 2,3,16 By referring to the method of Al-Waili and his colleagues, 5 the present work used broth for dilution, which was a suitable medium for microbial growth. Furthermore, the percentage of honey concentration was made as weight of honey in volume of tryptic soy broth; this is more acceptable ...
Introduction: Honey has potent bactericidal activity against many pathogenic organisms, including various
Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial effect of
Malaysian honey against different species of human pathogens using optimized honey broth media. Materials
and Methods: The antimicrobial activity of honey against standard strains of Gram-negative and Grampositive
bacteria and yeast was tested in vitro by the broth dilution method using 10%-100% w/v concentrations
prepared in tryptic soy broth. Results: Streptococcus pyogenes was the most sensitive pathogen, it was
completely inhibited by 30% honey broth medium. The most resistant were E. faecalis, S. aureus and MRSA,
but they were all completely inhibited by 80% honey broth medium. Conclusion: Honey is shown to possess
antimicrobial activity against human Gram-positive and negative medically important bacteria.
... Honey has been reported to have an inhibitory effect to around 60 species of bacteria including aerobes and anaerobes, gram-positives and gram-negatives 13,36,[38][39][40] . The antifungal action has also been observed for some yeasts and species of Aspergillus and Penicillium, as well as all the common dermatophytes 41 . Honey has been found to possess antibacterial activities where antibiotics were ineffective 42 . ...
... Honey has been found to possess antibacterial activities where antibiotics were ineffective 42 . Pure honey has been shown to be bactericidal to many pathogenic microorganisms including Salmonella Species, Shigella Species, Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae and other Gram negative and Gram positive organisms 41,43 . ...
Health benefits of honey have been reported in a variety of conditions including microbial infections, wound healing, inflammation, glucose tolerance and analgesia. Honey is a supersaturated sugar solution mainly comprised of D-fructose, D-glucose, sucrose, maltose and higher sugars (~80% of solid mass). While other natural products i.e. alkaloids, flavonoids/isoflavones, glycosides, phenolics, peptides/proteins are present in minor quantities. A number of enzymes such as invertase, amylase and glucose oxidase have been found in honey. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of honey are well documented and characterized. These antimicrobial properties have been related to oligosaccharides, glycopeptides and peptides present in honey. Honey glucose oxidase provides a continuous and slow release of hydrogen peroxide at a level which is antibacterial but not tissue-damaging. Hydrogen peroxide produced by glucose oxidase plays important roles in inflammation, wound healing etc. The antimicrobial properties of honey have great potential for application in medicine as well as in food industry.
... Honey has been reported to have an inhibitory effect to approximately 60 species of bacteria including aerobes and anaerobes, gram-positives and gramnegatives (Molan, 1992). An antifungal action has also been observed for some yeast and species of Aspergillus and Penicillium (Molan, 1992) as well as all the common dermatophytes (Brady et al, 1997). It has often been assumed that this is due entirely to the osmotic effect of its high sugar content (Bose, 1982;Condon, 1993;Green, 1988). ...
The antibacterial activities of Garcinia kola and honey were evaluated against pure cultures of Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the agar diffusion method. The combined antibacterial effects of various combination ratios of Garcinia kola extract and honey were further evaluated using a modified checkerboard method. Results show that Garcinia kola had minimum inhibitory concentration values of 0.25 mg/ml, 0.06 mg/ml and 0.25 mg/ml against S. aureus, B. subtilis and P. aeruginosa respectively while honey had MIC values of 1.8 mg/ml, 1.8 mg/ml and 0.45 mg/ml respectively. The results also showed higher sensitivity of the test isolates to a combination of Garcinia kola and honey than the individual agents. These results, therefore, indicate that combination of the Garcinia kola extract and honey could have some superior therapeutic benefits over the materials used singly.
... Honey shows inhibitory effect to around 60 species of bacteria which includes aerobes and anaerobes, gram-positives and gram-negatives bacteria. For some yeast and species of Aspergillus, Penicillium as well as all the common dermatophytes [18,19]; Candidiasis caused by Candida albicans an antifungal action has also been observed. The demand of natural products in human diet, both due to the possible adverse effects of synthetic and artificial food additives on human health and to the increased consumer perception of this problem in recent years. ...
Honey has been used since ages in medical and domestic need. It is said to possess wide range of medicinal properties including antimicrobial potential with lesser safety concerns. In this communication, we have evaluated antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of aqueous extract of Indian Honey. The extract was evaluated against eight bacterial pathogens including Klebsiella pneumonia (ATCC 700603), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 902), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 736), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 2453), Aeromonas species (A10 MDR), Klebsiella oxytoca (A13 MDR) and two strains of Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922 and MTCC 443). The antioxidant activity was evaluated using FRAP and DPPH assay. Also, anti-inflammatory property was analyzed by proteinase inhibitory and albumin denaturation assay. Results showed that honey completely inhibited K. oxytoca (100%) but could not inhibit B. subtilis. Honey showed DPPH radical scavenging activity in a concentration-dependent manner with maximum scavenging of 61% at 500 μl extract. The FRAP assay demonstrated highest value of 0.157 mM at 200μl of aqueous extract. The extract also showed anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the heat induced albumin denaturation with IC50 values 540μg/ml whereas standard drug (Aspirin) showed inhibition of 71% at 100μg/ml. Also, proteinase inhibitory assay showed minimum inhibition of 7.3% at 100μg/ml and maximum inhibition of 64% at 1000μg/ml as compared to standard which showed the maximum inhibition of 87% at 1000μg/ml. The present results predict the benefits of honey in the treatment of microbial, inflammatory and free radical mediated diseases.
... De minimum concentratie honing die nodig is om de groei van een bepaalde kiem volledig te verhinderen (MIC waarde) varieert sterk naargelang de geteste honingsoort (Allen et al., 1991;Molan, 1992;Willix et al., 1992). Ook werd een antimycotische activiteit aangetoond tegenover Candida (Osman et al., 2003), bepaalde soorten Aspergillus en Penicillium (Molan, 1992) en dermatofyten (Brady et al., 1997). Door fracties te extraheren uit honing met behulp van ethylacetaat kon een remmende werking worden vastgesteld tegenover alle geteste micro-organismen, terwijl de onbehandelde honing geen invloed had op gisten en schimmels (Zaghloul et al., 2001). ...
... [43] An antifungal property had also been detected for some yeast and classes of Aspergillus and Penicillium, also for common dermatophytes. [44][45] Honey was also inhibiting the growth of Candidiasis, caused by Candida albicans. [46] In some literature, it had been described that topical use of it has significant outcomes. ...
... In our study, due to the bitter taste associated with both cocoa, honey was added as a sweetener to increase patient compliance and acceptability. We assume that honey has been an additional factor for the efficacy of the antimicrobial activity of the cocoa mouthwash as honey has potent antibacterial activity 9,45,46 effective against a very broad spectrum of species, and to have antifungal 47,48 properties as well. ...
... It also contains folate, niacin, pantothenic acid, riboflavin, vitamin C, pyridoxine, proteins, minerals, pinocembrin, hesperetin, quercetin, chrysin, apigenin, galangin, kaempferol, ellagic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, and caffeic acid (Allsop and Miller 1996, Eteraf-Oskouei and Najafi 2013, Zumla and Lulat 1989. Scientific studies have revealed that honey includes anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound healing, antidiabetic, antibacterial, and antifungal activities (Aljadi and Kamaruddin 2004, Al-Mamary et al. 2002, Al-Waili 2005, 2004, Al-Waili and Boni 2003, Asadi-Pooya et al. 2003, Bansal et al. 2005, Beretta et al. 2005, Bilsel et al. 2002, Blasa et al. 2006, Brady et al. 1996, Chepulis 2007, Chua et al. 2013, Efem 1988, Frankel et al. 1998, Gheldof and Engeseth 2002, Jeffrey and Echazarreta 1996, Meda et al. 2004, Molan 1999, Obaseiki-Ebor and Afonya 1984, Olaitan et al. 2007, Schramm et al. 2003, Shimazawa et al. 2005, Yaghoobi et al. 2008. ...
Honey is used as food and for the treatment of indigenous medicines worldwide, also in Sri Lanka for a long time. Siddha Medicine is one of the four indigenous medicines currently practiced in Sri Lanka and is generally practiced in the Eastern and Northern Provinces of Sri Lanka. This study aims to explore and highlight the use of honey in pediatric treatments in Sri Lankan Siddha Medicine. Preparations used to treat pediatric disorders were obtained from standard Sri Lankan textbooks used in Siddha Medicine degree programs at universities in Sri Lanka [Pararasaseharam (Part Two) and Seharasasehara Treatment]. A total of 30 preparations were identified using honey as an ingredient or adjuvant. Honey is generally used to treat indigestion and disorders associated with the digestive system. This is the first study on the role of honey in pediatric treatments in Sri Lankan Siddha Medicine. This work identified, analyzed, and documented the use of honey in pediatric treatments in Sri Lankan Siddha Medicine.
... Also, there are studies confirming the antifungal actions of honey. Honey was reported to have exhibited an antifungal action by inhibiting the growth of Aspergillus, Penicillium and Candida albicans (Bansal et al., 2005;Brady et al., 1997;Obaseiki-Ebor & Afonya, 1984;Sampath-Kumar et al., 2010). Gangwar (2016), mentioned how the belief of honey as a nutrient source, as a drug and ointment has been carried into our present day. ...
Honey remains a valued natural product and has been used by humans as an important food source and for disease treatment since ancient times. Honey is often considered a healthy substitute for sugar. However, recent reports on the adulteration of honey, and honey polluted with contaminants like pesticides, antibiotics, heavy metals as well as microorganisms have gained public attention.
This news has instigated public fear of the consumption of honey since it is perceived to be sterile and of medicinal use. There have been few works in Ghana on the physicochemical properties and microbial contamination of honey. However, there are no known studies on Listeria, Campylobacter, and Clostridium contamination of honey. Neither is there any report of detection of antibiotic residues in honey. Thus, this study assessed the quality and safety of imported and locally produced honey collected from locations within the Tamale metropolis of Ghana by specifically examining the microbial quality and antibiotic residues. The procedures outlined by the Association of Official Analytical Chemist (AOAC) was employed in determining the physicochemical quality
whilst that described by the Codex Alimentarius Commission was used to determine the microbial quality of the imported (n = 7) and the locally produced (n = 23) honey samples. Whereas the presence of antibiotics residue was determined using the Premi® test kit, antibiotics sensitivity testing was done according to the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results on the physicochemical quality analysis showed that sampled honey (both imported and locally produced) were within acceptable set standards. However, results on the physicochemical quality of the honey samples did not reflect on its microbial quality as a high incidence of bacterial contamination and resistance was recorded in the study. Furthermore, 27(90%) of the honey samples tested positive for the presence of antibiotics residue of which 6(85.7%) were sampled from imported sources whilst the remaining 21(91.3%) were locally produced honey samples. The high incidence of bacterial contamination and antibiotic resistance recorded in this study gives an indication that all is not well in the honey industry and therefore the need for serious concern to avert possible health issues associated with the consumption of honey found within the metropolis
... It destroys and/or inhibits the growth of some pathogenic vegetative microorganisms [26]. An antifungal action has also beenobserved for some yeasts and species of Aspergillus and Penicillium [27], as well as the common dermatophytes [28].Two millennia before bacteria were identified as the cause of disease, physicians at that time were aware that certain types of honey are the best therapy for particular ailment and infections [29]. Honey was used to treat infected wounds as long ago as 2000 years before bacteria were discovered to be the cause of infection [30]. ...
ABSTRACT: The biochemical components and antibacterial efficacy of pure honey produced by honeybee(Apis mellifera) was investigated. Biochemical analysis revealed the presence of reducing sugar, saponins, glycosides, alkaloids and flavonoids and absence of phenols and tannins. Antibacterial activity of pure honey on some medically important bacteria including Staphylococcusaureus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined using the agar well diffusion method. The result shows that pure honey exhibit strong antibacterial activity producing zones of inhibition against the tested bacteria.Also, honey sample used in this study showed antibacterial activity than the commercially available antibiotics. Our findings shows that honey,apart from their roles as food and supplements, could be suitable for the treatment of various infection caused by bacteria hence should be used as a preventive and curative measure to common diseases related to the test organisms. KEYWORDS: Antibacterial efficacy, antibiotics, bacteria, biochemical analysis, pure honey. I. INTRODUCTION Microorganisms have developed resistance to many antibiotics and this has created serious clinical problems in the treatment of infectious diseases.Plethora of studies has emerged towards using natural products as an alternative therapy. One natural food product that has gained great momentum is honey. Researchers round the globe have worked both in vitro and in vivo to spark the unknown benefits of the inestimable values of honey as well as its application [1].The use of traditional medicine to treat infections has been practiced since the origin of mankind, and honey produced by Apis mellifera is one of the oldest traditional medicine considered to be important in the treatment of several human ailments. The belief that honey is a nutrient, a drug and an ointment has been carried into our days, and thus, an alternative medicine branch, called apitherapy, has been developed in recent years, offering treatments based on honey and other bee products against many diseases including bacteria infections [2]. Honey is a thick, sweet liquid made by bees from the nectar of flowers. It contains water, glucose, fructose proteins, vitamins and minerals [3]. It is also defined as the natural sweet substance produced by honeybees from the nectar of blossoms or from the secretions of living parts of plants or excretions of plants sucking insects on the living parts of plants, which honeybees collect, transform and combine with specific substances of their own, store and leave in the honeycomb to ripe and mature [4]. There are basically two types of honey, apiary and forest honeys. Honey produced by the honeybees, Apis ceranaindica and Apis mellifera, in apiaries and collected by modern extraction method are called apiary honey. They are transparent and free from foreign materials. In contrast, those produced by rock bee, Apis dorsata, or by wild nest of Apis ceranaindica in forests and collected by the crude method of squeezing the comb are known as forest honeys. They are turbid owing to the abundance of pollen, wax, brood (bee larvae), parts of bees and plat materials. It is therefore necessary to filter the honey to separate the suspended particles [5].Honey primarily contains sugar and water. Sugar accounts for 95-99% of honey dry matter, majority of these are simple sugars, fructose (38.2%) and glucose (31.3%), which represents 85-95% of total sugars. These are “simple” sugars, 6-carbon sugars that are readily absorbed by the body [6]. Other sugars include disaccharide such as maltose, sucrose and isomaltose, few oligosaccharides are also present. Water is the second most important component of honey. Its content is critical, since its affects the storage of honey. The final water content depends on numerous environmental factors during production such as weather and humidity inside the hives, but also on nectar conditions and treatment of honey during extraction and storage [6].
(19) (PDF) Biochemical screening of pure honey and its antibacterial activity on some bacterial isolates compared with a common antibiotics. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339028104_Biochemical_screening_of_pure_honey_and_its_antibacterial_activity_on_some_bacterial_isolates_compared_with_a_common_antibiotics [accessed Mar 17 2020].
... mentagrophytes) with high inhibition. This is in line with previous studies regarding the antifungal action of other honey types (Manuka, Medihoney, Nigerian, etc.) for some yeasts and fungi, such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Candida, and common dermatophytes (Anyanwu, 2012;Brady, Molan, & Harfoot, 1996;Carter, Blair, Irish, & Shokohi, 2006). Conversely, fungi (Aspergillus nidulans) were less sensitive to honey samples, including ...
Abstract Honeys originating from Sidr (Ziziphus spina‐christi L.) and Talh (Acacia gerrardii Benth.) trees in Saudi Arabia exhibited substantial antimicrobial activity against pathogenic gram‐positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus), gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis), and a dermatophytic fungus (Trichophyton mentagrophytes). The diameter of zones of inhibition represents the level of antimicrobial potency of the honey samples. Precisely, Talh honey showed significantly higher antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria than Sidr honey. The antifungal activity of Talh and Sidr honey types was significantly at par against a dermatophytic fungus. The water‐diluted honey types (33% w/v) significantly induced a rise in the antimicrobial activity from that of the natural nondiluted honeys. Microbial strains displayed differential sensitivity; gram‐positive bacteria were more sensitive and presented larger inhibition zones than gram‐negative bacteria and the fungus. The sensitivity was highest in B. cereus and S. aureus, followed by T. mentagrophytes, E. coli, and S. enteritidis. The antimicrobial activity of water‐diluted honeys (Sidr and Talh) was high than that of broad‐spectrum antibacterial antibiotics (tetracycline and chloramphenicol) against bacterial strains, but these honeys were relativity less potent than antifungal antibiotics (flucoral and mycosat) against a fungal strain. Our findings indicate the antimicrobial potential of Saudi honeys to be considered in honey standards, and their therapeutic use as medical‐grade honeys needs further investigations.
... More recently, honey has been reported to have an inhibitory effect to around 60 species of bacteria including aerobes and anaerobes, gram-positive and gram-negatives (Molan, 1992), it destroys and/or inhibits the growth of some pathogeniysc vegetative micro-organisms (Chick and Shin, 2001). An antifungal action of honey has also been observed for some yeasts and species of Aspergillus and Pencillium (Quinn et al., 1994), as well as all the common dermatophytes (Brady et al., 1997). ...
... Although honey contains proteins, starches, vitamins and minerals, substances needed for the viability of cells, fungi cultured in honey did not survive; a prove that honey doesn't contain substances with antibacterial action alone, but contains substances with antifungal action [9]. The antimicrobial effects of honey are cited in a comprehensive review by Brady et al. [10]. ...
Superficial fungal infections represented 17% of skin diseases in patients attending the outpatient clinic of Khartoum Hospital of Skin and Venereal Diseases. The treatment of these infections usually involves the use of systemic drugs and/or topical well-tried preparations. All of the drugs carry a potential of adverse reactions, besides their relatively high cost. Honey, which is a natural product of the honeybee, is believed to be active against fungi. In this study, honey was used as topical treatment for six different clinical syndromes of superficial fungal infections. The study, which was carried out at the outpatient clinic of Khartoum Hospital of Skin and Venereal Diseases, included 360 patients (210 males and 150 females) with skin, hair and nail infections. Patients, diagnosed by clinical examination and direct microscopy (KOH), were given honey to be applied on their lesions twice daily. Follow-up was made weekly by both clinical and laboratory evaluations. A complementary follow-up visit after 4 weeks of completion of treatment was needed in order to trace any clinical or mycological changes. Clinical and mycological cure showed some difference. Two hundred and sixty patients (72.4%) showed clinical cure associated with hyphal clearance on direct microscopy. Spores were not affected by honey, a direct cause of high relapse rate (42.3%). It is concluded that honey had a therapeutic effect on skin and scalp fungal infections but nail infection were not affected.
... More recently, honey has been reported to have an inhibitory effect to around 60 species of bacteria including aerobes and anaerobes, gram-positives and gram-negatives [11]. An antifungal action has also been observed for some yeasts and species of Aspergillus and Penicillium [12]. ...
... In contrast, the Danish honeys had very low MGO levels, which is why this substance has little or no significance to the antibacterial effects of these particular honey types. On the other hand, studies have indicated that honeys with H 2 O 2 -dependent activity may be more broad spectrum and therapeutically useful as antifungal agents than Manuka honey, because they were found to be more effective than Manuka honey at inhibiting dermatophyte fungi [20] and species of the yeast Candida [21]. Besides the production and content of H 2 O 2 or MGO, other properties of honey may contribute to the overall effects on bacteria. ...
The mechanism behind the biologic actions of honey as a wound remedy has been intensively studied; however, there is no published data regarding any antibacterial effect of honey derived from Danish flora. We surveyed 11 honeys of various Danish floral sources for their antibacterial activity and compared them to a culinary processed commercial honey (Jakobsens) and a raw and a medical grade Manuka ( Leptospermum scoparium ) honey using the agar-well diffusion method. We tested the effect on three gram-positive bacteria (two strains of Staphylococcus aureus and one strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis ) and two gram-negative bacteria ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli ). All samples, except the commercial honey, exhibited antibacterial activity, and samples derived from Water Mint ( Mentha aquatica), Organic 2 (mixed organic flora), and Linden ( Tilia cordata ) honey had consistent effects on all bacteria tested and showed greater effect than medical grade and raw Manuka ( L. scoparium ) honey. The content of methylglyoxal was low in the Danish honey (< 2 μ g/mL) and significantly (p<0.05) higher in both the raw and the medical grade Manuka ( L. scoparium ) honey, where the concentrations were, respectively, 6.29 μ g/mL and 54.33 μ g/mL. The antibacterial effect of Danish honeys was mostly due to hydrogen peroxide. We conclude that honeys derived from Danish flora possess antibacterial effect, probably by a hurdle effect of viscosity, osmolality, acidity, bioactive peptides, and most importantly the content of hydrogen peroxide. These findings indicate that honeys of various Danish floral sources may have clinical potential, although further studies are necessary to elucidate this in order to determine whether the results of our in vitro experiments also apply to a clinical setting.
... More recently, honey has been reported to have an inhibitory effect to around 60 species of bacteria including aerobes and anaerobes, gram-positives and gram-negatives (Molan, 1992). An antifungal action has also been observed for some yeasts and species of Aspergillus and Penicillium (Brady et al., 1997). ...
... More recently, honey has been reported to have an inhibitory effect to around 60 species of bacteria including aerobes and anaerobes, gram-positives and gram-negatives (Molan, 1992). An antifungal action has also been observed for some yeasts and species of Aspergillus and Penicillium (Brady et al., 1997). ...
... This antibacterial activity originates not from the hydrogen peroxide but due to the presence of dicarbonyl compound methylglyoxal, a highly cytotoxic metabolite. Furthermore, Monuka honey was useful in the clinical cases of dental plaque, dermatophytes, and gingivitis (Brady et al. 1997). ...
Honey is a bee-derived supersaturated solution composed of complex contents mainly glucose, fructose, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Composition of honey may vary due to the difference in nectar, season, geography, and storage condition. Honey has been used since times immemorial in folk medicine and has recently been rediscovered as an excellent therapeutic agent. In the past, honey was used for a variety of ailments without knowing the scientific background and active ingredients of honey. Today, honey has been scientifically proven for its antioxidant, regulation of glycemic response, antitumor, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular potentiating agent. It can be used as a wound dressing and healing substance. Honey is different in color, flavor, sensory perception, and medical response. Apart from highlighting the nutritional facts of honey, we collected the finding of the published literature to know the mechanism of action of honey in different diseases. This review covers the composition, physiochemical characteristics, and some medical uses.
... Mold fungi, such as those in the Aureobasidium and Phoma genera, also showed a sharp decrease in 5 dayhoney. The antifungal action of honey has also been observed for some yeasts and species of Aspergillus and Penicillium (Brady et al., 1996). This may be related to the decrease of water content in honey during the ripening process. ...
The bacterial and fungal communities of vitex honey were surveyed by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA. Vitex honey samples were analyzed at different stage of ripening; the vitex flower was also analyzed, and the effect of the chemical composition in the experimental setup was assessed. The results confirmed the presence of dominant Bacillus spp. as the dominant bacterial in honey, and yeast related genera was the main fungal in the honey, respectively. Lactococcus and Enterococcus were detected for the first time in honey. The proportion of most of the fungal community decreased during the honey ripening process. Multivariate analyses also showed that the fungal community of 5, 10, and 15 days honey samples tended to cluster together and were completely separated from the 1 day honey sample. The change in the fungal community showed a correlation with the variation in the chemical components, such as moisture and phenolic compounds. Together, these results suggest that ripening of honey could change its microbial composition, and decrease the potential risk of microbiology.
... Natural honey limits fungal development and obstruction in toxin production was observed due to diluted honey (57). Along with all the common dermatophytes, for certain species of Aspergillus, Penicillium and yeast, an antifungal action has also been detected (97). Candidiasis, triggered by Candida albicans, may respond to honey (98). ...
Honey is a natural domestic sweet food material and chemically diverse superfluous product of nectar acquired from flowers. Owing to the presence of higher amounts of antioxidant compounds covering phenolic, enzymes, organic acids and bioactive peptides, holds a strong ability to prevent various maladies. In addition, honey has also been exploited in certain cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neoplastic and inflammatory states along with its role in treatment of copious infections and surgical wounds. Flavonoids and polyphenols are important bioactive components present in honey and have antioxidant properties. Some bioactive compounds, for example luteolin, galangin, isorhamnetin, quercetin and kaempferol are present in honey. Phenolic acids and flavonoids have important pharmacological activities such as anti-allergic, anti-biotic, anti-carcinogenic and hypoglycemic. Moreover, curative potential of bioactive components and their utilization in value added food products are also the limelight of article.
... pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Vibrio cholerae [36,[66][67][68]. An antifungal action has been reported for honey against Aspergillus, Penicillium, as well as all the common dermatophytes [69,70] and Candida albicans [36,71]. Honey has shown antiviral effect also. ...
... Honey shows inhibitory effect to around 60 species of bacteria which includes aerobes and anaerobes, gram-positives and gram-negatives bacteria. For some yeast and species of Aspergillus, Penicillium as well as all the common dermatophytes [18,19]; Candidiasis caused by Candida albicans an antifungal action has also been observed. The demand of natural products in human diet, both due to the possible adverse effects of synthetic and artificial food additives on human health and to the increased consumer perception of this problem in recent years. ...
Honey has been used since ages in medical and domestic need. It is said to possess wide range of medicinal properties including antimicrobial potential with lesser safety concerns. In this communication, we have evaluated antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of aqueous extract of Indian Honey. The extract was evaluated against eight bacterial pathogens including Klebsiella pneumonia (ATCC 700603), Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 902), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 736), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MTCC 2453), Aeromonas species (A10 MDR), Klebsiella oxytoca (A13 MDR) and two strains of Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922 and MTCC 443). The antioxidant activity was evaluated using FRAP and DPPH assay. Also, anti-inflammatory property was analyzed by proteinase inhibitory and albumin denaturation assay. Results showed that honey completely inhibited K. oxytoca (100%) but could not inhibit B. subtilis. Honey showed DPPH radical scavenging activity in a concentration–dependent manner with maximum scavenging of 61% at 500 μl extract. The FRAP assay demonstrated highest value of 0.157 mM at 200μl of aqueous extract. The extract also showed anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the heat induced albumin denaturation with IC50 values 540μg/ml whereas standard drug (Aspirin) showed inhibition of 71% at 100μg/ml. Also, proteinase inhibitory assay showed minimum inhibition of 7.3% at 100μg/ml and maximum inhibition of 64% at 1000μg/ml as compared to standard which showed the maximum inhibition of 87% at 1000μg/ml. The present results predict the benefits of honey in the treatment of microbial, inflammatory and free radical mediated diseases.
... Honey has been shown to have anti-bacterial properties through the presence of inhibines which consist of hydrogen peroxide, flavonoids, phenolic acids and other as yet unidentified substances [117,118]. Other nonperoxide anti-microbial factors have been identified in honey depending on the floral sources, origin and processing [119][120][121][122][123]. However, studies have implicated that it is not simply its anti-microbial properties that confer its effectiveness in treating wounds [124]. ...
Though survival rate following severe thermal injuries has improved, the incidence and treatment of scarring have not improved at the same speed. This review discusses the formation of scars and in particular the formation of hypertrophic scars. Further, though there is as yet no gold standard treatment for the prevention or treatment of scarring, a brief overview is included. A number of natural therapeutics have shown beneficial effects both in vivo and in vitro with the potential of becoming clinical therapeutics in the future. These natural therapeutics include both plant-based products such as resveratrol, quercetin and epigallocatechin gallate as examples and includes the non-plant-based therapeutic honey. The review also includes potential mechanism of action for the therapeutics, any recorded adverse events and current administration of the therapeutics used. This review discusses a number of potential ‘treatments’ that may reduce or even prevent scarring particularly hypertrophic scarring, which is associated with thermal injuries without compromising wound repair.
... Recent studies examining the antiviral effect of manuka honey have suggested it has potential for treatment of varicella-zoster virus (the cause of chicken pox and shingles) (Shahzad and Cohrs, 2012) and influenza (Watanabe et al., 2014). Fungal pathogens of the skin, including Candida albicans and dermatophyte species are substantially less susceptible than bacteria to manuka honey, but are inhibited by honey with high levels of hydrogen peroxide production (Brady et al., 1996;Irish et al., 2006). Manuka and non-manuka honey have been found to reduce the viability of spores of the microsporidian Nosema apis, an important pathogen of bees, but honey could not cure bee infection once this was underway (Malone et al., 2001). ...
Medicinal honey research is undergoing a substantial renaissance. From a folklore remedy largely dismissed by mainstream medicine as “alternative”, we now see increased interest by scientists, clinical practitioners and the general public in the therapeutic uses of honey. There are a number of drivers of this interest: first, the rise in antibiotic resistance by many bacterial pathogens has prompted interest in developing and using novel antibacterials; second, an increasing number of reliable studies and case reports have demonstrated that certain honeys are very effective wound treatments; third, therapeutic honey commands a premium price, and the honey industry is actively promoting studies that will allow it to capitalize on this; and finally, the very complex and rather unpredictable nature of honey provides an attractive challenge for laboratory scientists. In this paper we review manuka honey research, from observational studies on its antimicrobial effects through to current experimental and mechanistic work that aims to take honey into mainstream medicine. We outline current gaps and remaining controversies in our knowledge of how honey acts, and suggest new studies that could make honey a no longer “alternative” alternative.
... Although the therapeutic effect of honey in treating of infected wounds is known since the ancient times, more recently has been reported its inhibitory effect on a great number of bacteria including both aerobes and anaerobes, as well as Gram-positive and Gram-negative (Cooper et al., 2002) and also fungi and yeasts (Brady et al., 1996). ...
Antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic bacteria is a growing public health problem. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) represents a significant burden on healthcare services because it is involved in severe difficult to treat infections in humans. Several non-antibiotic approaches regarding the treatment of infections caused by MRSA as well as of other resistant bacteria have been studied. Since ancient times royal jelly and honey have been considered both as foods and medicines, and recently have been identified as potential alternative medicines to treat bacterial infections, especially of the skin and soft tissue. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antibacterial effect of honey, royal jelly and their mixtures against MRSA in vitro. At least 3 decimal reductions of MRSA count were observed in Tryptone Soy broth with concentrations of 40% rape honey (RP), 20% and 30% royal jelly (RJ), 30% RJ:RH (1:100). In general, honey and royal jelly, individually or in combination, appeared to have a potential as alternative therapeutic agents against MRSA infections, but clinical studies are needed for confirmation.
... and Penicillium [8], in addition to the common dermatophytes [10]. ...
Objective: To evaluate the antibacterial activity of Egyptian honey against bacteria causing respiratory tract infections.
Methods: Sputum and throat swab specimens were used, from which five bacterial species were isolated, namely, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumonia were isolated, identified and grown on suitable media for further identification or confirmation. Different concentrations (100%, 75% and 25%) of honey and simulated honey solution were used for activity assay and estimation of minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration.
Results: All the tested bacterial isolates were completely susceptible to the 75% concentrations of honey and to the 100% concentration of the simulated honey solution. This may be due to the high osmotic pressure exerted by the high sugar content in both honey samples. Moderate susceptibility of the isolated bacteria to honey at 100% v/v concentration, and resistance to honey at 25% concentration and the 75% and 25% concentrations of simulated honey solution, indicated the presence of other antimicrobial components responsible for the activity other than the osmotic pressure. Therefore, it was suggested that honey showed distinguished antibacterial activities against the most common bacteria causing respiratory infections with varied sensitivity.
Conclusions: Honey, a non-toxic, nutritious, safe for human consumption and cheap natural antibacterial agent, should be globalized.
... Besides an inhibitory action has also been observed for some fungi and species of Aspergillus and Penicillium and against most of the common dermatophytes. 9 As far as the mechanism of action is concerned, various studies ascribed the antibacterial action of honey to its high osmolarity due to the high sugar content. [10][11][12] Besides honey has been shown to contain a factor called inhibine which leads to release of hydrogen peroxide which in turn inhibit bacterial growth . ...
Introduction: A wide range of dressing materials is available for management of wounds. But in economically deprived areas, where people can hardly afford the modern medicines, honey which is cheaply available and easy to use, can still play an important role. Materials and methods: The study was done prospectively in a tertiary care health facility over a period of two years and six months from Nov. 2006 to Apr. 2009 in 56 patients in whom wounds of various etiologies were managed with topical application of honey. Results: Inability of the patients to purchase the newer and costly dressing material was the commonest indication for use of honey. In none of these patients, was a failure of therapy experienced and in 16 (29%), honey was found to be superior to other commonly used medications. Conclusion: Honey can be cheaply, safely and effectively used for management of wounds.
The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of a solution including honey, ethyl alcohol, liquid paraffin, distilled water and citric acid (HEFS) as a preservative for rabbit cadavers, serving as a potential substitute for formaldehyde. The cadav-ers underwent preservation using three distinct solutions: 10% formalin, 35% alcohol and HEFS. The cadavers were subjected to a total of four sampling events, occurring at 4-month intervals, in order to collect specimens for microanatomical, histologi-cal, microbiological, mycological, colourimetric, texture and odour analysis. In terms of hardness, suitability for dissection and joint mobility metrics, the cadavers fixed with HEFS had superior qualities to those fixed with formalin. The fixation quality of HEFS for histological analyses was deemed acceptable, except kidney and intestinal tissues. In texture analysis, differences only in the elasticity parameter (p < 0.05) in the same sampling period. A total of 10 (13.9) bacteria isolates were identified among which, Metasolibacillus meyeri 3 (30%) was predominantly followed by Staphylococcus aureus 2 (20%), Bacillus siamensis, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudarthrobacter oxydans, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis with a proportion of 1 (10%), respectively, by both microbiological and molecular analysis. However, no anaerobic bacteria and fungi were isolated. A considerable percentage of the students had the perception that HEFS was appropriate for utilization in laboratory settings due to its absence of unpleasant odours and detrimental impact on ocular and respiratory functions. In conclusion, we consider that HEFS may serve as a viable substitute for formalin solution in the preservation of rabbit cadavers. K E Y W O R D S cadaver, formalin, honey, rabbit
The benefits of honey have been recognized since ancient times for treating numerous diseases. However, in today's modern era, the use of traditional remedies has been rapidly diminishing due to the complexities of modern lifestyles. While antibiotics are commonly used and effective in treating pathogenic infections, their inappropriate use can lead to the development of resistance among microorganisms, resulting in their widespread prevalence. Therefore, new approaches are constantly required to combat drug-resistant microorganisms, and one practical and useful approach is the use of drug combination treatments.
Manuka honey, derived from the manuka tree (Leptospermum scoparium) found exclusively in New Zealand, has garnered significant attention for its biological potential, particularly due to its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Moreover, when combined with antibiotics, it has demonstrated the ability to enhance their effectiveness. In this review, we delve into the chemical markers of manuka honey that are currently known, as well as detail the impact of manuka honey on the management of infectious diseases up to the present.
Honey is a sweet natural product synthesized from nectars of flowers by different types of honey bees. It has been used as medicine in different cultures. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activities of honey samples from different sources against selected clinical and standard microorganisms. Antimicrobial activities of the honey samples against selected standard and clinical microorganisms were done using agar disc and agar well diffusion methods. The highest diameter of inhibition zone against clinical and standard strains was recorded for Meliponula beccarii honey (MBH) (16 ± 3 mm) followed by Apis mellifera fresh honey (AMFH) (15 ± 2 mm) and Apis mellifera market honey (AMMH) (11 ± 3 mm) by well diffusion method. The mean inhibition zone recorded by the disc diffusion method were generally lower than that of the well diffusion method. However, none of the honey samples inhibited Candida albicans. The mean Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (%) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (%) against all the tested bacteria were 9.9 and 53.6 by MBH, 11.0 and 56.2 by AMFH, and 15.4 and 64.3 by AMMH, respectively. The fresh honey samples directly collected from the hives and honey samples from stingless bees showed higher antimicrobial effects against the tested pathogenic bacteria. This implies that honey could be used as an alternative therapy against diseases caused by the bacterial pathogens.
Honey is a well-known and historically important sweet food which possesses immense antimicrobial properties. Numerous varieties of honey are present in nature, and all of these honey varieties contain certain key ingredients, which confer upon them various antimicrobial properties. These antimicrobial key ingredients include polyphenolic compounds, hydrogen peroxide, methylglyoxal, and bee-defensin among several others. Honey is nowadays used extensively in modern medicine as potent antibiotic for the treatment of surface wounds and burns. It is also used in combination with other antibiotics to treat antibiotic resistance. As an antifungal agent, honey is used to treat the athlete’s foot (tinea pedis), jock itch (tinea cruris), and ringworm of face, scalp, nail, and hand (tinea corporus). In this chapter, we aim to provide a brief overview of various types of honey and their composition and describe extensively its various antimicrobial properties and how these properties are exploited in modern medicine as an alternative to popular therapeutics or in conjunction with it.
Honey is one of the most nutritional natural products that not only provides us healthy nutrition but also has a potential to be an alternative treatment option for different pathologies from microbial infection to metabolic disease. Honey is a byproduct of flower syrup produced by honeybees and possesses an intricate chemical composition that varies with botanical sources and geographical locations. This chapter is aimed to provide readers an understanding of complex composition, biological activities, adverse effect, and therapeutic benefits of honey. Honey possesses many biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-cancer, and anti-metastatic effects, suggesting potential therapeutic roles in many human pathologies. Flavonoids and polyphenols in honey are the two active ingredients, which are of therapeutic importance in many diseases. In conclusion, honey may be developed as a natural therapeutic agent for many pathologies, and extensive studies are therefore recommended.
Natural honey (NH) is a highly nutritious substance and is considered as one of nature’s wonders which has been used by all cultures, traditions and civilizations as a food and medicine. Natural honey (NH) is a by-product made by honeybees by using nectar of flowers and sugary non-floral deposits obtained from plants that is then converted into honey by a process of regurgitation and evaporation. Later the honeybees store honey as a primary source of food in wax honeycombs inside the beehive. Honey is classified on the basis of processing, physical, chemical, and nutritional properties. Honey also plays a part in symbolism and religion. The appearance, quality, sensory perception, and composition of NH vary greatly depending on the nectar source, environmental and climatic conditions. Honey’s main constituents include carbohydrates, primarily fructose and glucose although it also contains various oligosaccharide sugars. Besides these NH, also contains minute quantities of amino acids, proteins, enzymes, trace elements, minerals, vitamins, aroma substances, and polyphenols. NH shows a vast range of health and nutritional properties. NH imparts antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune boosting property, antiviral, antiparasitory, antimutagenic, and antitumor effects. Honey has also been well known for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders like peptic ulcers, gastroenteritis, and gastritis. Thus NH has proved a valuable nutritional food and medicinal entity.
Honey is one of the most valued natural products introduced to mankind since antiquity. Traditionally, honey is not only used as a food product but also as an alternative remedy for clinical conditions ranging from wound healing to cancer treatment. Honey contains about 200 beneficial bioactive constituents primarily comprising glucose and fructose and it also encompasses some vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and enzymes from fructo-oligosaccharides. Honey is an essential source of phenolic compounds and it is of great interest to see the amount and type of phenolic acids and flavonoids as they are responsible for nutraceutical properties as well as promising pharmacological functions such as antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and wound healing properties. Additionally, several recent reports have also verified that the phenolic compound profile in honey is closely linked to the botanical and, often, the geographic origin of this food product. In this book chapter, therapeutic effects associated with the bioactive compounds in natural honey have been thoroughly discussed.
Honey and curcumin were widely used both in modern and ancient medicines. The present research work focuses on developing an antibacterial, antioxidant, biocompatible, biodegradable, non-immunogenic, and completely natural, electrospun nanofibrous wound healing membrane using curcumin and Indian honey collected from different regions of Tamilnadu, belonging to the same species. A nanofibrous membrane was fabricated using the combination of Honey, Curcumin, and Gelatin. The fabricated membrane was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) which showed the surface morphology and the average diameter of 159.08±53.88nm of the nanofiber. The antioxidant property of the membrane was studied through scavenging the free radicals of 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and Phosphomolybdenum assays. The developed membrane showed 500 % swelling and the contact angle studies showed the surface wettability of the nanofiber. The membrane was also found to be cytocompatible, enhancing adhesion and proliferation using cell proliferation studies. The in-vitro wound scratch studies showed that the wound closure happened by 18 hours when treated with L929 mouse fibroblast cells, justified using the excision wound model. In-vitro kinetic studies showed a maximum release of both honey and curcumin achieved in 32 hours for the membrane. The In-vivo wound healing studies demonstrated that the Honey and Curcumin loaded nanofibrous membrane indeed showed a better wound contraction of 89.05±0.47% in comparison with other samples tested.
Honey is a sweet substance made from the nectar of flowers and other chemical secretions from the bees’ bodies who collect nectar from the flowers and bring it to their hives to transform it to the thick, golden and sweet liquid that we call honey. The benefits of honey are not just limited to its basic use as a natural sweetener, but also its medicinal properties. The purpose of this study was to identify the bacteria that are present in honey commonly found in Bangladesh, which can tolerate the antimicrobial conditions of honey and survive in it. Fortunately, such bacteria could be detected, isolated and characterized by morphological and biochemical tests. The predominant type of bacteria commonly found in both raw and commercial honeys of Bangladesh are gram positive cocci such as streptococci, staphylococci, micrococci, bacilli and lactobacilli. Few gram negative bacteria were also isolated like Escherichia coli (8%) and Klebsiella pneumonia (8%) and some gram negative/gram variable Micrococcus luteus (75%) . Hopefully, such knowledge would benefit people in the future as they will know more about the microorganisms present in honey and about the safety and quality of the honey they are about to buy or consume.
Honey is known to exert beneficial effect on many pathological conditions. The full gamut of its biological activity has yet to be elucidated. In this study five type of honey (regular commercial honey, Chinese honey and three other honeys, namely, Laryngomel, Bronchomel, and Dermomel) were studied for their antioxidant effect. Unlike regular honey, three last honey species were a product of bees which have been fed on a mixture of several medico-herbal water extracts with regular honey. All the assessed honeys demonstrated prevention of β-carotene degradation in linoleic acid emulsion and obviation of Superoxide radical generation by xanthine/xanthine oxidase system. Laryngomel and Bronchomel were particularly effective in reactive oxygen species scavenging at a concentration range 7–50 μg/ml. The relationship between the antioxidant properties of honey and its physiological activity is discussed.
Honey is the natural sweet substance produced by honeybees. In India more than 300 varieties of honey are available but very little data regarding their antifungal properties and activity is known. Hence, in vitro antifungal activity of Agmark standard Indian Jambhul honey was tested to check its sensitivity against clinical isolates of Aspergillus species by using Agar well diffusion method and Agar dilution method. It was further compared with in vitro sensitivity of conventional antifungal agents. In vitro antifungal susceptibility test revealed MIC for various Aspergillus species in the range of >32-2.17μg/ml, >32-13.07μg/ml and 0.5μg/ml for AmphotericinB, Itraconazole and Voriconazole respectively. In vitro activity of Jambhul honey towards all Aspergillus species was in the range of 30-40% (v/v). Jambhul honey was found to be effective even against Amphotericin B & Itraconazole resistant Aspergillus species. Study suggests, honey is one of the inexpensive, easily available natural products with no side effects. It is effective even against resistant Aspergillus species.
Mycotoxins are a group of secondary mould metabolites which can have a wide range of negative biochemical effects on humans and domestic animals. The genera Aspergillus, Fusarium, Alternaria, Claviceps, Stachybotrys and Penicillium are the major mycotoxin-producing moulds. The contamination of human foodstuffs and animal feed is a rapidly growing problem world-wide due to invasion by field and storage fungi of such species. The target crops for this infection are ubiquitous and include many staples of the human diet such as wheat and other cereals (and, therefore, grain alcohols), potatoes, plantain, bananas (particularly with crown rot), beans, dried fruits, nuts, and beverages like chocolate, coffee, juices, wine, and even drinking water. Common sugar crops such as sugar cane and beets are also not immune. In addition, there is potential for indirect human exposure transmitted via animal fodder through meat, eggs, and dairy products. Mycotoxins can be carcinogenic (aflatoxin B 1, ochratoxin A, fumonisin B), estrogenic (zearalenone and I and J zearalenols), neurotoxic (fumonisin B1), nephrotoxic (ochratoxins, citrinin, oosporeine), dermonecrotic (trichothecenes) or immunosuppressive (aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, and T-2 toxin). Some of the diseases associated with them include liver cancer, reproductive pathologies, renal failure, chronic gastrointestinal irritation and esophageal cancer. Chronic fungal, viral, and bacterial infection of healthy human cells can result in an elevated rate of apoptosis (programmed cell death) which is increasingly viewed as a major mechanism of carcinogenesis. Certain mycotoxins, like aflatoxins, can also cause necrosis in specific target organs associated with tumours. Honey is commonly collected from a large variety of sources including trees, flowering shrubs, and crops some of which are resistant to these moulds and their metabolites such as acacia, eucalyptus, and manuka. Moreover, honey can play a bifidogenic role in detoxifying mycotoxins and decrease their detrimental effects including tissue necrosis. Bee propolis, which contains caffeic acid phenyl esters with anti-proliferative activity towards cancer cells, may also serve a role in mycotoxin detoxification and, therefore, in protecting against mycotoxin-induced carcinogenesis. Thus, further research would be useful in determining the relationship between honey bee products, mycotoxin detoxification, and their possible preventive role.
A pollen analytical study of New Zealand honey provides a basis for identifying the origins of a honey in terms of locality and floral source: The information may be used to develop analytical standards for pollen, contributing to quahty control of a product offered for export or for the home market. General principles outlined by the International Commission for Bee Botany have been used as a guide, although in practice these are considerably modified. Samples were processed by acetolysis, and absolute pollen counts were obtained by spiking with a known number of Lycopodium spores. Most New Zealand honey falls within the “normal” category (20 000-100 000 pollen grains in a standard 10 g sample). Clover honey is in this category. Thyme honey with a pollen content less than 20 000 grams per 10 g sample, and manuka honey where the pollen content exceeds 100 000 grams, are examples of “under-represented” and “over represented” categories respectively. The analyses confirm the importance of white clover to apiarists, they provide details of characteristic pollen spectra for New Zealand honey, and draw attention to difficulties associated with assessing honey type by organoleptic criteria. Standards developed for New Zealand honey by pollen analysis should be flexible enough to accommodate changes as more data become available.
Honey is gaining acceptance by the medical profession for use as an antibacterial agent for the treatment of ulcers and bed sores, and other surface infections resulting from burns and wounds. In many cases it is being used with success on infections not responding to standard antibiotic and antiseptic therapy. Its effectiveness in rapidly clearing up infection and promoting healing is not surprising in light of the large number of research findings on its antibacterial activity, covered in Part 1 of this review. This article is published in the journal: Bee World. Used with permission.
Honey has been used as a medicine since ancient times in many cultures and is still used in ‘folk medicine’. The use of honey as a therapeutic substance has been rediscovered by the medical profession in more recent times, and it is gaining acceptance as an antibacterial agent for the treatment of ulcers and bed sores, and other infections resulting from burns and wounds. In many of the cases in the cited reports, honey was used on infections not responding to standard effective in rapidly clearing up infection and promoting healing. Honey has also been found to be effective in treating bacterial gastoentertis in infants. This is the published version of an article published in the journal: Bee World. Used with permission.
Both honey and sugar are used with good effect as dressings for wounds and ulcers. The good control of infection is attributed to the high osmolarity, but honey can have additional antibacterial activity because of its content of hydrogen peroxide and unidentified substances from certain floral sources. Manuka honey is known to have a high level of the latter.
Seven major wound‐infecting species of bacteria were studied to compare their sensitivity to the non‐peroxide antibacterial activity of manuka honey and to a honey in which the antibacterial activity was primarily due to hydrogen peroxide. Honeys with activity in the middle of the normal range were used. A comparison of the median response of the various species of bacteria showed no significant difference between the two types of activity overall, but marked differences between the two types of activity in the rank order of sensitivity of the seven bacterial species. The non‐peroxide antibacterial activity of manuka honey at a honey concentration of 1.8% (v/v) completely inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus during incubation for 8 h. The growth of all seven species was completely inhibited by both types of honey at concentrations below 11% (v/v).
To assess the variation in antibacterial activity of honey a survey was carried out on 345 samples of unpasteurized honey obtained from commercial apiarists throughout New Zealand. Most of the honeys were considered to be monofloral, from 26 different floral sources. The honeys were tested against Staphylococcus aureus in an agar well diffusion assay, with reference to phenol as a standard. Antibacterial activity was found to range from the equivalent of less than 2% (w/v) phenol to 58% (w/v) phenol, with a median of 13.6 and a standard deviation of 12.5. Neither the age of the honey samples nor whether they had been processed by the apiarist was associated with lower activity. However, the difference between floral sources in the antibacterial activity was very highly significant. Kanuka (Kunzea ericoides (A. Rich.) J. Thompson. Family: Myrtaceae), manuka (Leptospermum scoparium J. R. et G. Forst. Family: Myrtaceae), ling heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. Family: Ericaceae) and kamahi (Weinmannia racemosa Linn. f. Family: Cunoniaceae) were shown to be sources likely to give honey with high antibacterial activity. When antibacterial activity was assayed with catalase added to remove hydrogen peroxide, most of the honeys showed no detectable antibacterial activity. Only manuka and vipers bugloss (Echium vulgare L. Family: Boraginaceae) honeys showed this type of activity in a significant proportion of the samples. The high antibacterial activity of manuka honey was in many cases due entirely to this non-peroxide component.
The determination of the in vitro activity of antimycotics against dermatophytes has for long been considered as irrelevant from a practical point of view. Recently, however, this approach has been questioned. Various different tests such as agar diffusion test, agar dilution test and broth dilution test can be used for the determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations with dermatophytes. A close correlation between in vitro data and clinical outcome could especially be demonstrated for the micro dilution test. In future, the antimycogram of a dermatophyte isolated from an individual patient should gain more and more importance for the selection of the drug to be used and its dosage.
Zusammenfassung. Nachdem lange Zeit die Be‐stimmung der In vitro ‐Empfindlichkeit von Der‐matophyten gegenüber Antimykotika als unter praktischen Gesichtspunkten überflüssig angesehen worden war, haben sich in letzter Zeit wesentliche Zweifel an dieser Auffassung ergeben. Zur Bestim‐mung der minimalen Hemmkonzentration unter‐schiedlicher Chemotherapeutika kann auch bei Dermatophyten prinzipiell auf den Agardiffusions‐test, Agardilutionstest sowie den Bouillondilutions‐test zurückgegrifFen werden. Ein enger Zusammen‐hang zwischen In vitro ‐Daten und klinischem Er‐folg einer durchgeführten Behandlung lielß sich bis‐Iang insbesondere beim Mikrodilutionstest aufzei‐gen. In Zukunft dürfte das Antimykogramm des beim einzelnen Patienten gewonnenen Dermato‐phyten‐Isolates Bedeutung sowohl für die Auswahl des geeigneten Chemotherapeutikums als auch für dessen Dosierung erlangen.
Honey in medicine. Congresso Internationale di Egittologia (Atti)
- Nielsen E. R.