Study Antibacterial Activity of Honey Against Some Common Species of Pathogenic Bacteria

Abstract

Honey is one of the most products has been used as an antimicrobial agent since the ancient times. The potential antimicrobial activity of honey is arise from its physiochemical proprieties such as high osmotic pressure, low pH, in addition to other factors and enzymes that work as antimicrobial agents. All these components and characteristics of honey led to consider it as one of the most efficient, useful and natural antimicrobial agents. From this point of view, recent study aim to evaluate the antibacterial activity of bee honey on some common species of pathogenic bacteria. The study included some of both gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus spp.) and gram-negative bacteria
(Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneunoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). The antibacterial action of honey in three different concentrations (100%, 70% and 50%) was assessed. The results found that honey has the similar antibacterial effect as antibiotics effect. Additionally, the concentration of 100% was the most effective
concentration in the inhibition of bacterial growth, and this concentration gave the best result of antibacterial effect. Furthermore, the results showed that as the concentration of honey decreased the effect of inhibition decrease as well. Finally, the study established that there is no significant different between the gram-positive
and the gram-negative bacteria in the term of inhibition activity.