title: Antimicrobial activity of different Finnish monofloral honeys against human pathogenic bacteria.
abstract: The antimicrobial activity and phenolic compounds of five Finnish honey products against important human pathogens Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus were analyzed. Microbroth dilution method and HPLC-DAD were used in antimicrobial testing and phenolic compound determination, respectively. Significant antimicrobial activity (p < 0.01) against all the tested pathogens was found from willow herb (Epilobium angustifolium), heather (Calluna vulgaris), and buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) honeys. This is the first report on antimicrobial activity of Finnish monofloral honeys against streptococcal and staphylococcal bacteria. To our knowledge this is also the first report on the antimicrobial effect of honey against S. pneumoniae.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huttunen
authors.forename: Kaisu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Riihinen
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kauhanen
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tikkanen-Kaukanen
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D001688:Biological Products / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D029795:Calluna / Q000737:chemistry; D031666:Epilobium / Q000737:chemistry; D019612:Fagopyrum / Q000737:chemistry; D035264:Flowers / Q000737:chemistry; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010636:Phenols / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D010636:Phenols
keywords: Honey; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Streptococcus pyogenes; antimicrobial; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus