title: Bactericidal activity of different honeys against pathogenic bacteria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Renewed interest in honey for various therapeutic purposes including treatment of infected wounds has led to the search for new antibacterial honeys. In this study we have assessed the antibacterial activity of three locally produced honeys and compared them to three commercial therapeutic honeys (including Medihoney and manuka honey).
  
  
  METHODS
  An agar dilution method was used to assess the activity of honeys against 13 bacteria and one yeast. The honeys were tested at five concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 20%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve of the 13 bacteria were inhibited by all honeys used in this study with only Serratia marcescens and the yeast Candida albicans not inhibited by the honeys. Little or no antibacterial activity was seen at honey concentrations <1%, with minimal inhibition at 5%. No honey was able to produce complete inhibition of bacterial growth. Although Medihoney and manuka had the overall best activity, the locally produced honeys had equivalent inhibitory activity for some, but not all, bacteria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Honeys other than those commercially available as antibacterial honeys can have equivalent antibacterial activity. These newly identified antibacterial honeys may prove to be a valuable source of future therapeutic honeys.
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, Australia.
authors.forename: Patricia E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Lusby
authors.forename: Alexandra L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Coombes
authors.forename: Jenny M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents