Antibacterial Activity of Different Blossom Honeys: New Findings.

Marcela Bucekova,Viktor Majtan,Lucia Jardekova,Veronika Bugarova,Juraj Majtan,Jaroslav Klaudiny,Antonella Canini,Jana Godocikova,Gabriele Di Marco,Donatella Leonardi,Maros Laho,Jarmila Farkasovska,Valeria Juricova,Angelo Gismondi

doi:10.3390/molecules24081573

Abstract

Antibacterial activity is the most investigated biological property of honey. The goal of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of 57 Slovak blossom honeys against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and investigate the role of several bioactive substances in antibacterial action of honeys. Inhibitory and bactericidal activities of honeys were studied to determine the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations. The contents of glucose oxidase (GOX) enzyme, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and total polyphenols (TP) were determined in honeys. We found that honey samples showed different antibacterial efficacy against the tested bacteria as follows: wildflower honeys > acacia honeys > rapeseed honeys. Overall antibacterial activity of the honeys was statistically-significantly correlated with the contents of H2O2 and TP in honeys. A strong correlation was found between the H2O2 and TP content. On the other hand, no correlation was found between the content of GOX and level of H2O2. Antibacterial activity of 12 selected honeys was markedly reduced by treatment with catalase, but it remained relatively stable after inactivation of GOX with proteinase-K digestion. Obtained results suggest that the antibacterial activity of blossom honeys is mainly mediated by H2O2 levels present in honeys which are affected mainly by polyphenolic substances and not directly by GOX content.

Highlights

Honey, a bee product, offers a broad-spectrum of biological properties including antimicrobial and wound healing activity [1]
We recently reported that H2 O2 in diluted honeydew honeys is likely produced via an alternative non-enzymatic pathway, where plant polyphenols may take part in the process of gradual H2 O2 production [10]
Content among the honey samples (r = −0.087, P = 0.521). These results suggest that there is no direct relationship between the level of glucose oxidase (GOX) and the level of H2 O2 in blossom honeys

Summary

Introduction

A bee product, offers a broad-spectrum of biological properties including antimicrobial and wound healing activity [1]. Antibacterial and anti-biofilm potentials of honey have been considered as an exclusive criterion of its wound healing properties. Molecules 2019, 24, 1573 phytochemicals [2,3,4]. Some of these potent natural honeys are currently being used as medical-grade substances in dermatological and other medical practices under different brands, e.g. Medihoney (manuka-based honey), Revamil (blossom-based honey), and Honevo (kanuka-based honey) [5,6,7]. Low pH, and water activity, it has been considered that hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 )

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