Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Honeys (Including Manuka And Sedr Honeys) Against Bacteria Causing Opportunist Infections

Sulaiman Ali Alharbi

Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455 Riyadh, 11451 Saudi Arabia.

Corresponding Author E-mail:sharbi@ksu.edu.sa

ABSTRACT: The antibacterial properties of the following honeys were studied against a range of bacteria capable of causing opportunistic infections: “standard” commercially available honeys, Manuka honey (Unique Manuka factor [UMF], 10, 15, 20) and Sedr honeys from Saudi Arabia. All honeys studies showed antibacterial activity which varied depending on the honey and the bacterium under test. Manuka 15 and 20 honeys were generally more antibacterial than the standard honeys, although the latter were generally equally active as Manuka 10 honey. Of the honeys tested, the Sedr varieties generally exhibited the most marked antibacterial activities. The activity of all honeys was reduced by heating and by treatment with catalase, the latter demonstrating that much of their antibacterial activity is due to hydrogen peroxide; residual activity in the presence of catalase demonstrated the likely presence of complex antibacterial phytochemicals. There appear to have been no previous reports on the antibacterial activity of Sedr honeys; the relatively marked antibacterial activity of these honeys, which was only partially reduced by catalase and heat treatment suggests that they should be fully evaluated in a clinical setting for use in would treatment.

KEYWORDS: Saudi honey; UK honey; opportunist infections; antibacterial activity; Manuka; Sedr honeys.

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