Bactericidal activity of different types of honey against clinical and environmental isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
OBJECTIVE
Honey has had a valued place in traditional medicine for centuries. Renewed interest in honey for various therapeutic purposes, including treatment of infected wounds, has led to the search for different types of honey with antibacterial activity. In this study, we have assessed the antibacterial activity of different types of honey (manuka honey from Australia, heather honey from the United Kingdom, and locally marketed Indian honey).


METHODS
The agar dilution method was used to assess the antibacterial activity of honey against 152 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
The locally available (khadikraft) honey produced the best activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and was found to be better than all of the imported varieties of therapeutic honey.
Mullai
Venkatachalam
V
Department of Microbiology, Dr. ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chen- nai, India.
Menon
Thangam
T
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents