title: Effects of natural honey on polymicrobial culture of various human pathogens.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Honey has a wide range of antimicrobial activity. All previous studies have considered honey's effect on a single microbe. The present study investigated activity of honey towards a high dose of single or polymicrobial culture.
  
  
  METHODS
  10 µl specimens of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Candida albicans (C. albicans) were cultured in 10 ml of 10-100% (wt/v) honey diluted in broth. Six types of polymicrobial microbial cultures were prepared by culturing the isolates with each other onto broth (control) and broth containing various concentrations of honey (10-100% wt/v). Microbial growth was assessed on solid plate media after 24 h incubation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Honey (30-70%) prevents growth of 10 µl specimens of all the isolates. Greater reduction in growth of E. coli was observed when cultured with S. aureus. Culturing of S. aureus with S. pyogenes, C. albicans, or E. coli increased its sensitivity to honey. S. aureus and S. pyogenes increased sensitivity of C. albicans to honey while E. coli and C. albicans decreased sensitivity of S. pyogenes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It might be concluded that honey prevents and inhibits growth of single and polymicrobial pathogenic cultures. Polymicrobial culture affects growth of the isolates and increases their sensitivity to honey.
authors.affiliation: Al-Waili's Foundation for Science, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Noori S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Al-Waili
authors.affiliation: Dubai Specialized Medical Center, Islamic Establishment for Education, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Faiza S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Al-Waili
authors.affiliation: Dubai Specialized Medical Center, Islamic Establishment for Education, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akmal
authors.affiliation: Dubai Specialized Medical Center, Islamic Establishment for Education, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Amjed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Al-Waili's Foundation for Science, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Khelod Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Salom
authors.affiliation: Bee Research Chair, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabi.
authors.forename: Ahmad A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al Ghamdi
keywords: Candida albicans; Escherichia coli; Staphylococcus aureus; Streptococcus pyogenes; honey