Conventional use of honey as antibacterial agent

Background: Honey has since been found to possess antibacterial property and is therefore employed for wound therapy. The current problems with conventional antibacterial agents, led to the choice of honey as well as other natural products by the populace, in the treatment of bacterial infections. The present study evaluates the antibacterial spectrum and efficacy of honey and compared same with tetracycline and ciprofloxacin. Methods: Different concentrations (12.5, 25.0, 50.0 and 100.0 %) of honey were studied in - vitro using Staphylococcus aureus check for this species in other resources , Staphylococcus albus check for this species in other resources , Streptococcus faecalis check for this species in other resources , Klebsiella check for this species in other resources sp., Proteus mirabilis check for this species in other resources , Pseudomonas aeruginosa check for this species in other resources , and Escherichia coli check for this species in other resources . Results: The data obtained showed a dose dependent inhibitory action of honey, except with Streptococcus faecalis where there was no growth inhibition. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of honey presented Staphylococcus albus as the most susceptible organism and Escherichia coli, the least. While ciprofloxacin (2.0 mg/ml) exerted a greater potency than honey, tetracycline was found to be less potent than 100% concentration of honey, except with Escherichia coli. Conclusion: The antibacterial action of honey was observed with 50% as well as the neat concentration. However, ciprofloxacin exhibited a greater potency and efficacy as well as a broader spectrum than honey, which shows that where a broad spectrum antibacterial is required, the conventional drugs, especially the newer ones are preferred to honey.