Antibacterial Effect of Raw Honey on Clinical Bacterial Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, And Escherichia coli

Abstract

The development of multiple drug resistant bacteria, causing human infection in clinical practice unfold the use of natural sources like honey, medicinal plants of non-antibiotic drugs, having antibacterial potentiality. Beside the medicinal plants, the antibacterial effects of raw honey on clinical bacterial isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli were studied. The raw honey samples were collected from the beekeepers at Umugwu Ezedike in Udi Local Government Area Enugu State Nigeria. The honey samples were prepared by diluting the honey with distilled water to produce honey of various concentrations, i.e. 20% v/v, 40% v/v, 60% v/v, 80% v/v and 100% v/v. The clinical isolates from Accident and Emergency Department University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla Enugu were cultured in Nutrient agar, Cetrimide agar, Macconkey agar, and Methylene Blue agar (EMB) for identification and confirmation. The antibacterial effects of raw honey on the clinical bacterial isolates were evaluated in-vitro using agar well diffusion methods with Gentamicin as control. The results showed that raw honey demonstrated antibacterial effect against the test isolates with higher effect in Staphylococcus aureus (with zone of inhibition of 21mm) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19mm) and Escherichia coli (18mm). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the extract from this study ranges from 12.5-50mg/ml while the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts ranges from 25-50mg/ ml. Hence, raw honey has antibacterial properties and can also serve as a therapeutic substance for the treatment of bed sores, and other infections resulting from burns.