Medicinal plant (Ocimum basilicum) based enhancement of honey bioactivity

Abstract

Antibiotics have been the mainstay of infectious disease treatment for decades. However, indiscriminate antibiotic usage has led to resistance in humans and pathogens. Therefore, there is a dire need for alternative antimicrobial drugs to cure infectious illnesses. Different culinary spices, herbs, and aromatic plants are known to possess antimicrobial properties, which are associated with the compounds synthesized during secondary plant metabolism. These products are popular for their active ingredients. This study examined the antimicrobial potential of a medicinal plant (Ocimum basilicum) and its honey produced by an alternative method. Furthermore, the potential of this bioactive honey as a local antimicrobial agent was also examined against antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other bacterial species. The antioxidant properties of both products (honey and plant extract) were also analyzed. The antioxidant activity of Ocimum basilicum honey remained similar to other types of honey. An Ocimum basilicum honey concentration of 25 % exhibited antimicrobial activity against all the test species except Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which remained resistant to this concentration. The results revealed higher antioxidant and antibacterial efficacy of O. basilicum honey produced during this study. Escherichia coli and S. aureus (including MRSA) are the main infectious pathogens of soft tissues and skin. O. basilicum honey could be topically used to treat skin bacterial infections.