Abstract
Skin and chronic wound infections are an increasing and urgent health problem worldwide. Their management is difficult and the development of antibiotic resistance by both planktonic and biofilm-associated bacteria necessitates the use of alternative treatments. The purpose of this study was to compare the antimicrobial activity of four honeys from different floral and geographical origins: Melipona beecheii honey (Cuba) and three Apis mellifera honeys [Manuka honey (New Zealand), A. mellifera honey (Cuba), and African honey (Kenya)]. The physicochemical parameters were within the ranges reported for these honeys and M. beecheii honey stood out due to its acidic character. An agar incorporation technique was used to determine the minimum active dilution of each honey against 52 clinical isolates (34 Gram-positive, 17 Gram-negative, and 1 Candida albicans). The antibiofilm activity of honeys was tested by assessing their ability to inhibit biofilm formation and to disrupt preformed biofilms. Overall, M. beecheii honey had the highest antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, although a marked disruption in preformed biofilms was shared by all tested honeys. Structural changes induced by M. beecheii honey on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy suggesting that this honey has a potent antimicrobial action and may be an excellent candidate for the development of topical preparations for the treatment of infected wounds.
Highlights
The development of new classes of antibiotics has diminished over the past 20 years, with few companies remaining active in this pharmaceutical area
According to the color analysis Manuka honey was classified as light amber honey (Pfund values between 51 and 85 mm), while African honey was classified as dark honey (Pfund > 114 mm)
A large number of studies of New Zealand/Australian Manuka honey have shown that (i) it has broad spectrum activity against pathogenic bacteria (Willix et al, 1992; Karayil et al, 1998; French et al, 2005); that (ii) such activity is independent of susceptibility or resistance to common antibiotics (Willix et al, 1992; Karayil et al, 1998; Cooper et al, 2002); and that (iii) honey-susceptible organisms — unlike what happens with systemic antibiotics and other topical antimicrobials — are apparently unable to turn honey-resistant (Blair et al, 2009; Cooper et al, 2010; Maddocks and Jenkins, 2013)
Summary
The development of new classes of antibiotics has diminished over the past 20 years, with few companies remaining active in this pharmaceutical area. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have significantly increased, largely due to overuse and misuse of antibiotics. This antibiotic crisis is in progress globally and involves drugs for systemic use, and for Antimicrobial Activity of Honey topical use: for instance, the management of chronic wounds often requires long-term therapy (e.g., diabetic foot, venous ulcers, and pressure ulcers). The potential role of honey — renowned for its wound-healing properties since ancient times — has been rediscovered in recent years (Molan, 1999; Maddocks and Jenkins, 2013; Cooper, 2016). This effect is largely attributed to high osmolarity, acidity (pH and free acidity), low water activity, hydrogen peroxide production, and the presence of other phytochemical components (Kwakman et al, 2010; Kwakman and Zatt, 2012; Alvarez-Suarez et al, 2018)
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