Anti-Microbial and Physico-Chemical Properties of Processed and Raw Honeys of Mauritius

Among the panoply of food products used in treatment of various ailments, honey has been used since prehistoric times as an effective antimicrobial therapy. Being first of its kind, honeys with specific botanical origin from Mauritius were examined. In this study, three commercially processed-enhanced v/s three unprocessed honeys were evaluated for possible antimicrobial activities against clinical bacterial (Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeroguinosa (ATCC 27853)) and fungal (Aspergillus niger (ATCC 16404) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231)) isolates in vitro. Research findings showed that the respective physicochemical parameters of the samples ranged from;pH: 3.28 - 4.67, H2O: 17.63% - 24.87%, reducing sugar 42.95 - 60.31 g/100g, density 1.11 - 1.55 g/ml and viscosity: 1.85 - 26.24 Pa·s at 20°C. Physicochemical parameters of different honeys were observed to vary significantly with respect to their floral origin (P P < 0.05). The honey samples used in this study can be considered as valuable food products from their antimicrobial properties’ point of view and can have clinical potential.

Antibacterial activity of honey against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli,Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi

Objective:To ascertain the potential antibacterial activity of honey against clinical isolates of Escherichia coli(E.coli),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(P.aeruginosa) and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi(S.enterica serovar Typhi) by in vitro methods.Methods:The partial inhibitory concentration(PIC),minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration(MBC) values of the autoclaved honey(extracted from Apis indica hive by indigenous method) were determined for S.enterica serovar Typhi(n=8:from blood cultute), E.coli(n=5:from urine culture) and P.aeruginosa(n=5:from pus culture) isolates by in vitro methods.Results:The PICs of the honey tested for the isolates ranged 0.50%-1.25%(v/v) for S. enterica serovar Typhi,0.75%-1.50%(v/v) for E.coli and 1.00%-1.25%(v/v) for P.aeruginosa, while the MICs ranged 1.75%-3.00%(v/v),3.00%-3.50%(v/v) and 3.50%(v/v),respectively.The P.aeruginosa and E.coli isolates had MBC value of 4.00%(v/v):the S.enterica serovar Typhi showed MBCs in between 3.00%and 3.50%(v/v).The bactericidal activity of honey was achieved at concentration 3.00%(v/v) for S.enterica serovar Typhi and E.coli,and at 3.50%(v/v) for P. aeruginosa.Conclusions:The excellent antibacterial activity of honey against clinical bacterial isolates indicates the usefulness of honey in clinical practice against bacterial infection.

Combined antibacterial activity of stingless bee(Apis mellipodae)honey and garlic(Allium sativum)extracts against standard and clinical pathogenic bacteria

Objective:To investigate the synergic antibacterial activity of garlic and tazma honey against standard and clinical pathogenic bacteria.Methods:Antimicrobial activity of tazma honey,garlic and mixture of them against pathogenic bacteria were determined.Chloramphenicol and water were used as positive and negative controls,respectively.Minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC)and minimum bactericidal concentration of antimicrobial samples were determined using standard methods.Results:Inhibition zone of mixture of garlic and tazma honey against all tested pathogens was significantly(P≤0.05)greater than garlic and tazma honey alone.The diameter zone of inhibition ranged from(18±1)to(35±1)mm for mixture of garlic and tazma honey,(12±1)to(20±1)nun for tazma honey and(14±1)to(22±1)mm for garlic as compared with(10±1)to(30±1)mm for chloramphenicol.The combination of garlic and tazma honey(30-35 mm)was more significantly(P≤0.05)effective against Salmonella(NCTC 8385),Staphylococcus aureus(ATCC 25923),Lyesria moncytogenes(ATCC 19116)and Streptococcus pneumonia(ATCC 63).Results also showed considerable antimicrobial activity of garlic and tazma honey.MIC of mixture of garlic and tazma honey at 6.25%against total test bacteria was 88.9%.MIC of mixture of garlic and tazma honey at6.25%against Gram positive and negative were 100%and 83.33%,respectively.The bactericidal activities of garlic,tazma honey,and mixture of garlic and tazma honey against all pathogenic bacteria at 6.25%concentration were 66.6%,55.6%and 55.6%,respectively.Conclusions:This finding strongly supports the claim of the local community to use the combination of tazma honey and garlic for the treatment of different pathogenic bacterial infections.Therefore,garlic in combination with tazma honey can serve as an alternative natural antimicrobial drug for the treatment of pathogenic bacterial infections.Further in vivo study is recommended to come up with a comprehensive conclusion.

First detection of viruses in Africanized honey bees from Peru

Dear Editor,The ability of the Western honey bee,Apis mellifera,to adapt to most climates of the world and the ongoing standardization of colony management has made this species of honey bees the most important species for crop pollination.In recent years,Peru emerged as a main exporter of industrial crops.This industry is mainly concentrated in the Peruvian coastal region,because the local climate permits off-season

Antibacterial Activity of Honey from Wild Species of Stingless Bees;<i>Plebenia hylderbrandii</i>and <i>Meliponula bocandei</i>

One of the serious problems the world is facing today is the antimicrobial resistance on available antibiotics by most bacterial pathogens and the rising cost of finding effective antimicrobial agents. In recent years, efforts to find new drugs especially from natural sources have been boosted by the demand for an effective cure for infectious diseases. Only the antibacterial activity of apis mellifera honey and not stingless bee honey from western Kenya has been reported. This study was therefore carried out to determine the effect of Plebenia hylderbrandii and Meliponula bocandei honey samples on the growth of control;sensitive cases of Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923). Different honey concentrations (1.18% - 17.65% v/v) of the two samples were tested against the two micro-organisms. The samples were screened for their antibacterial potential against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus by agar well dilution method. The Partial inhibitory concentration (PIC), minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were determined by in vitro method. The inhibitory effect of Plebenia hylderbrandii honey on E. coli and S. aureus growth was apparent at concentrations 3.53% and 1.76% (v/v) respectively. On the other hand, the inhibitory effect of Meliponula bocandei honey on S. aureus growth was at concentration 16.47% (v/v). Plebenia hylderbrandii honey had bactericidal effect on both E. coli and S. aureus at concentrations 4.71% and 2.35% (v/v) respectively. However, Meliponula bocandei honey exerted bactericidal effect on S. aureus only at 16.47% (v/v) concentration. Plebenia hylderbrandii honey had higher antibacterial potency and can be a potential source of antibacterial substances. Moreover, the honeys tested in this study showed great antibacterial potential for S. aureus.

Antifungal activity of selected Malaysian honeys:a comparison with Manuka honey

Objective:To evaluate four selected Malaysian honey samples from different floral sources(Gelam,Tualang,Nenas and Acacia)for their ability to inhibit the growth of fungi and yeast strains(Candida albicans,Aspergillus niger,Epidermophyton floccosum,Microsporum gypseum,Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes).Methods:The broth microdilution method was used to assess the antifungal activity of honey against yeasts at different concentrations ranging from 0.01%to 70%(v/v).Minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC)of the honeys were determined by visual inspection and spectrophotometric assay.Minimum fungicidal concentration test was performed by further sub-culturing from the plates which showed no visible growth in the MIC assay onto Sabroud dextrose agar.Results:All tested Malaysian honeys except Gelam showed antifungal activity against all species analysed,with the MIC ranging from 25%(v/v)to 50%(v/v)while MIC of Manuka honey ranged between 21%to 53%(v/v).Candida albicans was more susceptible to honey than other species tested.Conclusions:Locally produced honeys exhibited antifungal activity which is less than or equal to that of Manuka honey.Our data showed evidence in support of the therapeutic uses of Malaysian honeys.