title: Modeling the synergistic antibacterial effects of honey characteristics of different botanical origins from the Sahara Desert of Algeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Honey has multiple therapeutic properties due to its composition with diverse components.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of Saharan honeys against bacterial pathogens, the variation of honey floral origins, and its physicochemical characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  The antimicrobial activity of 32 samples of honey collected from the Algerian Sahara Desert was tested on four bacteria; Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The botanical origin of honeys and their physicochemical properties were determined and their combined antibacterial effects were modeled using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 32 study samples, 14 were monofloral and 18 were multifloral. The pollen density was on average 7.86 × 10(6) grains/10 g of honey, water content was 14.6%, electrical conductivity (EC) was 0.5 μS/cm, pH was 4.38 ± 0 50, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content was 82 mg/kg of honey, total sugars = 83%, reducing sugars = 71%, and the concentration of proline = 525.5 ± 550.2 mg/kg of honey. GLMM revealed that the antibacterial effect of honey varied significantly between bacteria and floral origins. This effect increased with increasing of water content and reducing sugars in honey, but it significantly decreased with increase of honey EC. E. coli was the most sensitive species with an inhibition zone of 10.1 ± 4.7 mm, while C. perfringens was the less sensitive. Honeys dominated by pollen of Fabaceae sp. were most effective with an overall antimicrobial activity equals to 13.5 ± 4.7 mm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Saharan honeys, of certain botanical origins, have physicochemical and pollinic characteristics with relevant potential for antibacterial purposes. This encourages a more comprehensive characterization of honeys with in vivo and in vitro investigations.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Bioressources Sahariennes, Université Kasdi Merbah Ouargla Ouargla, Algeria.
authors.forename: Hadda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Laallam
authors.affiliation: Equipe de Palynologie, Laboratoire de Biologie Végétale, University of Annaba Annaba, Algeria.
authors.forename: Larbi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boughediri
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Bioressources Sahariennes, Université Kasdi Merbah Ouargla Ouargla, Algeria.
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bissati
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Natural and Life Sciences, University of Tebessa Tebessa, Algeria.
authors.forename: Taha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Menasria
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Régional du Centre Algérien du Contrôle de la Qualité et de l'Emballage Ouargla, Algeria.
authors.forename: Mohamed S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Mouzaoui
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Protection des Ecosystèmes en Zones Arides "EcoSys," Université Kasdi Merbah Ouargla Ouargla, Algeria.
authors.forename: Soumia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hadjadj
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biogeochemistry of Desert Environments, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Kasdi Merbah Ouargla Ouargla, Algeria.
authors.forename: Rokia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hammoudi
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural and Life Sciences, Faculty of Exact Sciences and Natural and Life Sciences, University of Tebessa Tebessa, Algeria ; Department of Ecology and Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, University of Batna 2 Batna, Algeria.
authors.forename: Haroun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chenchouni
keywords: GLMM; Sahara Desert bioresources; antibacterial chemotherapy; antibacterial effects; floral origin; honey characterization