Selected mechanisms of the antimicrobial effect of honey in the aspect of drug resistance of bacteria

Abstract

The aim of the study was to review the available literature on the significance of factors and mechanisms of the antimicrobial effect of honey and the possibilities of using them to stabilize or inhibit the growth of selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria particularly capable of developing drug resistance. It can be concluded from data in the literature that the factors and mechanisms of the antimicrobial effect of honey are numerous and diverse. Honey can be effective in fighting microbes due to its physical, chemical and biological properties. The mechanisms of the antimicrobial effect of honey include, above all, high osmotic pressure, low pH caused by the presence of organic acids and hydrogen peroxide, high content of phenolic compounds, lysozyme (to a limited extent) and methylglyoxal in manuka honey and defenazine-1 in Revamil honey. Based on the presented research results, it was observed that the level of antibiotic activity of honey depends on its variety, geographic origin, concentration of honey solution, but also on the type of bacterial strain tested and its resistance. Bactericidal and bacteriostatic effects of various varieties of honey have been found in certain Gram-positive bacteria (manuka honey – Staphylococcus aureus; Scottish heather honey – Staphylococcus epidermidis) and Gram-negative bacteria (undiluted Thai honeys – Escherichia coli; 3% (v/v) solution of honey – Salmonella enterica; manuka honey – Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm). The high level of antibiotic activity of honey against these bacteria species is a potential opportunity to support therapies in cases of infections caused by these microorganisms, which can help fight the problem of drug resistance. The possibility of inhibiting or limiting the development of pathogenic bacteria without resorting to antibiotics would also have a mitigating impact on the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. However, it is advisable to extend the spectrum of research in this area to include bacteria species for which the current experimental results are mutually contradictory (Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis) and to include in the research microorganisms that have not yet developed drug resistance. In addition, both for economic reasons and due to the limited supply, alternative varieties of honey should be researched more extensively in research, apart from manuka honey which is most often used in experiments by scientists. In addition to the unquestionable advantages of honeys, it is important to remember that they can be contaminated with spores of Clostridium botulinum and Bacillus cereus.