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Honey is a natural source of food with countless health benefits. This study was to investigate the quality of honey from well-known honey extraction modes in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. 24 honey samples were taken from bee farms in two districts in the region and subjected to physicochemical and microbiology analysis. Moisture content of the honeys, their pH, water insoluble solids, and sugar were determined. ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 16140-1: 2016 methods of microbial assays were done to determine the presence of aerobes, coliforms, E.coli and fungi. Statistical analysis was carried out using the GraphPad Prism 5. The results indicated that moisture content of the honeys ranged from 14.46%-22.31%. The pH values were within the acidity range (4.1-4.3), whiles water insoluble solids ranged from 0.56% to 8.50%; sucrose level ranged from 2.64%-3.12%, but the pressed honey had the highest glucose+fructose (90%). There was significant differences (p<0.05) in the microbial quality of the honeys from the two districts, and under the different treatments. Cold extracted honeys recorded the highest bacterial count of 4.614 × 10 3 cfu/g, honey from pressed method had the least count of 3.30 × 10 2 cfu/g. Food pathogens were not detected. Aerobes were within safe limits; hence, these honeys were classified as safe for consumption. The results indicated that the best mode of honey extraction was by honey press. All the detected counts fell within the acceptable limits. The study concluded that generally, honey produced locally is safe for consumption.

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The death of many people in tropical countries can be attributed to microbial infection, probably, because synthetic antibiotics are failing in the treatment of most microbial infections, attributed to the ability of the microorganisms to mutate and adapt to harsh conditions. This study evaluated, in vitro, the antimicrobial activities, antioxidant potentials, and the total phenolic as well as phytochemical contents of aqueous and ethanol extracts of the root of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) and the crude sap of Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw) using selected standard bacteria strains (Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25,923), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (ATCC 15,305), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25,922), Salmonella typhi (ATCC 19,430), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27,853), and Proteus mirabilis (ATCC 49,565). The modified agar well diffusion method was used to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of the plant extracts. Chloramphenicol and tetracycline were used as positive controls. The extracts were screened for specific phytochemicals with total phenolic contents were determined using Folin Ciocalteu reagent test. The phytoconstituents observed were alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, and saponins in both Cryptolepis sanguinolenta and Pycnanthus angolensis. For the antimicrobial activities, all the test bacteria were susceptible to the crude sap of Pycnanthus angolensis except Proteus mirabilis. In the case of the Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, only S. aureus was susceptible to both aqueous and ethanol extracts. The total phenolic content, expressed in g/100 g GAE, recorded values of 55.427 ± 4.248 for the crude sap of Pycnanthus angolensis, and 11.642 ± 4.248 and 26.888 ± 4.248 for the aqueous and ethanol extracts of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, respectively. It is concluded that Cryptolepis sanguinolenta and Pycnanthus angolensis are excellent candidates for further development of antimicrobial agents in the fight against microbial infections given the pressing need for novel efficacious agents.

The death of many people in tropical countries can be attributed to microbial infection, probably, because synthetic antibiotics are failing in the treatment of these microbial infections, attributed to the ability of the microorganisms to mutate and adapt to harsh conditions. This study evaluated, in vitro, the antimicrobial activities, antioxidant potentials, and the total phenolic contents of aqueous and ethanol extracts of the root of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) and the crude sap of Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw) using selected standard bacteria strains (S. aureus (ATCC 25923), S. saprophyticus (ATCC 15305), E. coli (ATCC 25922), S. typhi (ATCC 19430), P. aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and P. mirabilis (ATCC 49565). The modified agar well diffusion method was used to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of the plant extracts. Chloramphenicol and tetracycline were used as positive controls. The extracts were also screened for specific phytochemicals and using the Folin Ciocalteu reagent test, their total phenolic contents were determined. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, and saponins in both Cryptolepis sanguinolenta and Pycnanthus angolensis. For the antimicrobial activities, all the test bacteria were susceptible to the crude sap of Pycnanthus angolensis except P. mirabilis. In the case of the Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, only S. aureus was susceptible to both aqueous and ethanol extracts. The total phenolic content, expressed in g/100g GAE, recorded values of 55.427 ± 4.248 for the crude sap of Pycnanthus angolensis, and 11.642 ± 4.248 and 26.888 ± 4.248 for the aqueous and ethanol extracts of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, respectively. It was concluded that Cryptolepis sanguinolenta and Pycnanthus angolensis are excellent candidates for further development of antimicrobial agents in the fight against microbial infections given the pressing need for novel efficacious agents.

Objectives Secondary metabolites of plants play important roles in maintaining good health and avoiding diseases. They are abundant in parts of plants such as flowers and exhibit antitumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihelminthic, anticoagulant, antidiabetic, and lipid-lowering properties. Luckily, bees make honey from plant nectar which are found in flowers we may not be able to take in directly. The process employed by bees in making honey is a natural process which keeps the integrity of these metabolites such as flavonoids and phenols and hence make them available in almost unaltered state to function to the fullest when eaten. This study was aimed at assessing and comparing the physical properties, the contents of two major secondary metabolites, flavonoids, and phenols, and the antimicrobial activities of honey samples produced in and outside of Ghana. Methods Crude extracts prepared with methanol were subjected to pH tests, DPPH assay, Folin Ciocalteau test, agar well diffusion and microdilution broth analysis to experimentally assess these properties of the samples. Results The samples showed pH values ranging from 3.98 to 5.54, varying percentage scavenging capacities range from 9.09% (for local samples) to 55.84% (for foreign ones) and Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICS) at 10 mg/ml (for local samples) and varying MICs (5 mg/ml to 40 mg/ml) for foreign samples. Samples produced in Ghana generally performed better in all the experiments as compared to their foreign counterparts used with appreciable high levels of flavonoids (−0.066115702 vrs 7.619834711 mgQUE/ml), phenols (11.57143 vrs 2.428571 mgGAE/ml), antimicrobial activity, and free radical scavenging activity (9.09% vrs 55.84%). Conclusions Based on the samples used in this investigation, local samples possess darker colors and are relatively rich in phenols and flavonoids which implies they are better at oxidizing free radicals as compared to the foreign samples used. These findings could prompt the revision of the methods for making honey in order to provide consumers with a high-quality product and with potential medical benefits. Funding Sources This project was funded by the authors.