Antibacterial Activity of Honey on Staphylococcus Aureus Escherichia Coli and Streptococcus Pyrogen Isolated From Wound
Chapter One
Aims and objectives
- To determine antibacterial potential of honey
- To investigate the mechanism of antibacterial action of honey
- To determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of honey on bacterial isolates from wounds of human
- To yield additional knowledge such as the possible dilution of honey sample and activity of the honey sample in bacterial infection.
CHAPTER TWO
Literature Review
The medicinal properties of honey have been reported and documented by beekeepers and medical practitioners (Bankova, et.al; 2002). As a result of over use and abuse of antibiotics, there have been increases in the number of diseases, which seem to evolve to become more virulent with each generation. Investigations into natural and potent antimicrobials seemed to be the right step to take. The invasion of pathogenic organism is on the rise and as a result, effects are being made to develop antimicrobial agents from natural sources for better therapeutic effect (Gills, 1992). The therapies have drawn the interest of both public and medical communities. Current research has been focused on herbal and aromatherapy products.
Antimicrobial agents have been applied to wound for thousands of years (Moellering, 1995) but many remedies have been discontinued because the evidence to support their efficacy was anecdotal.
Continued use of systemic and topical antimicrobial agents has provided the selective pressure that has lead to the emergence of antibiotics-resistance strains which, in turn, has driven the continued search for new agents. Unfortunately, the increased costs of searching for such agents and the decreasing rate of their discovery (Moellering, 1995) has made the situation increasing urgent and the prevalence of antibiotics-resistant microbial species now justifies the re-evaluation of former treatment (Anon, 1998). Honey has been used as a medicine since ancient times in many cultures and is still used in
„folk medicine‟. The use of honey as a therapeutic substance has been rediscovered by the medical profession in more recent times, and it is gaining acceptance as an antibacterial agent for the treatment of ulcers and bed sores, and other infections resulting from burns and wound. In many of the cases in the cited reports, honey was used on infections not responding to standard effective in rapidly clearing up infection and promoting healing. Honey has also been found to be effective in treating bacterial gastroenteritis in infants.
The medicinal use of honey in wound treatment is derived from diverse ancient civilizations (Jones, 2001). The antibacterial properties of honey were recognized more than a century ago and have subsequently been extensively studied (Molan, 1992a, 1992b). A wide range of microbial species has been shown to be inhibited by honey but reported susceptibilities are not consistent. Failure to identify the botanical sources of honeys used in many of those studies, or to determine their antibacterial potency, makes comparison of reported sensitivities unreliable. It is remarkable that ancient physicians were selective in the honeys that they utilized in their remedies (Jones, 2001), although the underlying principles would have been obscure. Now it is possible to determine quantitatively the antimicrobial activity of a honey (Allen, et. al; 1991) and also to discriminate between honeys whose mode of action involves factors beyond their osmolarity in limiting bacterial growth (Allen, et.al; 1991). In most honeys this depends on the enzymic generation of hydrogen peroxide to varying degrees (Molan, 1992a).
CHAPTER THREE
Materials and Methods
Source of Sample
The organisms used in this work was collected /obtained from the medical department of UNTH and Parklane Hospital Enugu.
Source of Honey
The honey used was obtained from local commercial producers in Enugu North (Nsukka) and Enugu South (Ugwuaji). It did not contain any diluents or additives and had not been heated.
Identification of test organisms
The test organism which was collected from the medical department of UNTH and Parklane Hospital Enugu was purity
tested by sub culturing the test organisms on fresh agar plates and caring out biochemical tests such as Gram staining, indole test, catalase and coagulase test to identify the organisms.
CHAPTER FOUR
Result
The result of the biochemical test carried out in order to identify the organisms is stated in table 2 below
CHAPTER FIVE
Discussion
The study which was carried out to investigate the possible antibacterial activity of honey from different locations (Nsukka and Ugwuaji) in Enugu state on some pathogenic microorganism (staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, & streptococcus pyogen) isolated from wound demonstrated antibacterial spectrum and efficiency against the test bacterials.Comparing the antibacterial activity of the two honey sample, it was observed that honey from Nsukka produced the highest zone of inhibition (effect) at the net (100%) concentration and their zone of inhibition was 20, 15 and 10 mm respectively for staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and streptococcus pyogen (Table 3).
A distinct observation was made with the Ugwuaji honey which showed no antibacterial activity (No zone of inhibition) at the concentration (dilution) of 20% on streptococcus pyogen, hence no result was recorded compared to the other honey sample. From the result represented on table 3 and 4, it was observed that the zone of inhibition was increased with the concentration of the honey i.e. an increase in the honey concentration increases the zone of inhibition. This observation agrees with Wilix et al; (2009)
The antibacterial activity of honey was recently investigated Wilix et al; (2009) by microbiologist looking at the effect of two honey on their collection of MRSA – strains of Staphylococcus aureus that cause ward closures in hospitals because they are resistant to most or all of the commonly used antibiotics. All the strains they studied were found to have their growth halted completely by the honeys at 5 – 10%. Also it has been demonstrated (Efem; 1993) that honey can accelerate wound healing and also possess bacterial properties
Conclusion
It has been shown that the potency of the antibacterial activity can vary very markedly. The number of variable factors involved makes it impossible to predict with any certainly that a particular honey will have a high antibacterial activity assurance.
Though both honey was from the same state, honey from Nsukka demonstrated more effective antibacterial activity than that of Ugwuaji. Based on the findings of this research honey possess antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Only Streptococcus pyogen was found to be moderately susceptible in the diluted honey at different concentration. The honey used for this reach showed antibacterial effect against Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial. Both topical antimicrobial agent (O’meare et al; 2001) and appropriately selected antibiotics (Bowler et al; 2001) are valuable in the treatment of infected wounds but the routine use of systemic antibiotics for chronic wounds without signs of clinical infection is not recommended (O’ meara et al; 2001)
Recommendation
It is recommended that honey should be used as substitute for antibiotic because of its effect on bacterial. Precaution against loss of antibacterial activity should be taken and honey with high activity should not be blended with honey of low activity because a honey with low activity could well have components present that destroy antibacterial activity. The intake of honey frequently is recommended because it will go a long way to reduce the incidence of common bacterial infections. Topical use of honey on wounds is advised to prevent bacterial infection thus accelerate wound healing. For retail sale it could well be packaged in brown glass containers like other medical products to prevent loss of antibacterial activity on exposure to light.
REFERENCES
- Allen, P.C. & Reid .W. (1991). A survey of Antibacterial Activity Of Some New Zealand Honeys. New Zealand Waitako Uni. Press.
- Anon, E .F. (1998). Prevalence of Antibiotic-Resistant Microbial Species. Re- Evaluation: 40: 15-26.
- Anand, .S. & Shanmugam .j. (1998). Anti- Staphylococcus Properties of Natural Honey. Biomedicine 18:15-18.
- Armon P.J. (1980). The Use of Honey on The Treatment of Infected Wound. Wound care 10 :91.
- Al-jibril, (2002). Clinical Observation on The Wound Healing Properties of Honey. Clinical Treatment Of Wound. 75:5-7.
- Avilenna, (1991). Recommendation of Honey in the Treatment of Tuberculosiss. Journal of Medicine.123:23-45.
- Bankova V, Marcucci, M.C & Catro S.l. (2000). Propolis, Recent Advances in Chemistry & Plant Origin. Apidologic 31:3-15.
