Antimicrobial activity of commercial organic honeys against clinical isolates of human pathogenic bacteria

Abstract

Extracts of five organic and one conventional honey sources, available in Finnish markets, were tested for antimicrobial activity and inhibitory concentrations against Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, obtained from human specimens. Five (honeys A, B, D, E, F) of the six studied honeys were organic. All the studied honeys had inhibitory activity (zone of inhibition (ZI) > 9.4 ± 0.5 mm) compared to control artificial honey (ZI < 8 mm) against all the studied pathogens. Four organic honeys (B, D, E, F) showed inhibitory activity with ZI > 13.3 mm against all the studied bacteria with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 12.5–50%. Against E. coli, the organic honeys E and F had activity index (AI) of 0.64 and 0.73, respectively, compared to the antibiotic AI of 1.0. Against S. Typhi, the organic honeys D and F had AI of 0.59 and 0.64, respectively. Against P. aeruginosa, the organic honeys D, E, and F had the highest AI of 0.71–0.80, and against S. epidermidis the honeys B, D, E, and F possessed relatively high AI of 0.60, 0.67, 0.73, and 0.78, respectively. Against K. pneumoniae and B. cereus, the detected AI of the organic honeys B, D, E, and F varied between AI of 0.48 and 0.58. The organic honey A and conventionally produced honey C possessed only minor activity with MIC values of 80%. Here, we show that commercially available culinary organic honeys possess remarkable antimicrobial activity against several important human bacterial pathogens.

The Antimicrobial Effects of Saudi Sumra Honey against Drug Resistant Pathogens: Phytochemical Analysis, Antibiofilm, Anti-Quorum Sensing, and Antioxidant Activities

“…This is because multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria carries the highest rate of morbidity, serious complications, and mortality since affective drugs are not available or very limited [ 1 ]. AMR has been on the rise worldwide for the past several years, including the last-resort drugs that are regularly prescribed [ 2 ]. Globally, the number of deaths associated with AMR is more than 700,000 annually, which is expected to reach 10 million by 2050, unless targeted actions are taken before then [ 1 ].…”

Natural Honey (Raw Honey): Insights on Quality, Composition, Economic and Health Effects: A Comprehensive Review

“…Honey's color can change depending on a number of factors, including the type of flowers from which it was made, the minerals it contains, how it was stored and processed, the weather conditions during the nectar flow, and the temperature at which it ripened in the hive, the ratio of fructose to glucose and the nitrogen content. Honey produced from the nectars of oak, pine, manuka and chestnut trees are termed dark-colored honey and are also the most frequently utilized for medicinal food purposes [4].…”

“…Current science has validated the special nutritional and therapeutic advantages of this sweet and viscous material [3] as it possesses therapeutic potential both for systemic and topical applications. Some honey varieties that show noteworthy levels of antioxidants and antimicrobial activity are known as medicinal or apitherapeutic honey [4]. Vitamins and polyphenols contained in honey are accountable for its apitherapeutic properties.…”

“…Vitamins and polyphenols contained in honey are accountable for its apitherapeutic properties. Pine, oak, chestnut and Manuka honey in addition to been dark-colored are also the most frequently utilized natural agents for medicinal food purposes [4]. Furthermore, Honey has an amazing capacity to destroy germs.…”

“…It is produced when bees feed on the nectar of R. ponticum and R. luteum (Rhododendron flowers) and causes poisoning upon consumption. Nonetheless, mad honey is still been produced traditionally and sold to serve for an alternative medicine against various health aliments, like high blood glucose, pain and also to act as a sexual stimulant [4]. Topically, honey has been shown to be effective in the treatment of numerous skin issues, such as burns, wounds, ulcers, bedsores, acne, and burns [6].…”