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PubMedDate not supplied

Mixture of honey, beeswax and olive oil inhibits growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.

BACKGROUND: Honey, beeswax and olive oil mixture (1:1:1, v/v) is useful in the treatment of diaper dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. The study was designed to investigate effects of honey, olive oil, and beeswax and the mixture on growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans isolated from human specimens. METHODS: The following experiments were performed: 1) honey mixture was poured on holes made on plates seeded with S. aureus or C. albicans, 2) the microorganisms were cultured onto media made of honey mixture alone, nutrient agar-honey mixture and Sabouraud glucose agar-honey mixture. The concentration of honey mixture in nutrient agar or Sabouraud glucose agar was 12.5, 25, 33, 50 and 66% (v/v), and 3) honey, olive oil or beeswax was added onto nutrient agar or Sabouraud glucose agar at a ratio of 1:2 (v/v) and then were seeded with S. aureus or C. albicans. RESULTS: Clear zone of inhibition was observed around holes filled with honey mixture; 3.5 mm on media seeded with C. albicans and 4 mm on media seeded with S. aureus. No growth of either microorganism was obtained on media made of honey mixture alone. The minimum concentration of honey mixture in nutrient agar-honey mixture media required to inhibit S. aureus was 50% and 66% concentration was required to inhibit C. albicans growth onto Sabouraud glucose agar-honey mixture media. No growth of S. aureus or C. albicans was obtained on media containing honey whereas mild to moderate growth was obtained on media containing olive oil or beeswax. CONCLUSIONS: Honey and honey mixture apparently could inhibit growth of S. aureus or C. albicans.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Bactericidal activity of different honeys against pathogenic bacteria.

BACKGROUND: Renewed interest in honey for various therapeutic purposes including treatment of infected wounds has led to the search for new antibacterial honeys. In this study we have assessed the antibacterial activity of three locally produced honeys and compared them to three commercial therapeutic honeys (including Medihoney and manuka honey). METHODS: An agar dilution method was used to assess the activity of honeys against 13 bacteria and one yeast. The honeys were tested at five concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 20%. RESULTS: Twelve of the 13 bacteria were inhibited by all honeys used in this study with only Serratia marcescens and the yeast Candida albicans not inhibited by the honeys. Little or no antibacterial activity was seen at honey concentrations <1%, with minimal inhibition at 5%. No honey was able to produce complete inhibition of bacterial growth. Although Medihoney and manuka had the overall best activity, the locally produced honeys had equivalent inhibitory activity for some, but not all, bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: Honeys other than those commercially available as antibacterial honeys can have equivalent antibacterial activity. These newly identified antibacterial honeys may prove to be a valuable source of future therapeutic honeys.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2004

Investigating the antimicrobial activity of natural honey and its effects on the pathogenic bacterial infections of surgical wounds and conjunctiva.

Antimicrobial activities of 10-100% (wt/vol) concentrations of new honey, stored honey, heated honey, ultraviolet-exposed honey, and heated stored honey were tested against common human pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Entrobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella dysenteriae, Klebsiella sp., Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus hemolyticus group B, and Candida albicans. Antimicrobial activity of honey was tested in acidic, neutral, or alkaline media. These were compared with similar concentrations of glucose in nutrient broth. Surgical wounds were made on the dorsum of mice and infected with S. aureus or Klebsiella sp. The wounds were treated with local application of honey four times a day or appropriate antibiotics and compared with control values. Bacterial conjunctivitis due to E. coli, Proteus sp., S. aureus, Klebsiella sp., and P. aeruginosa was induced in rats. Conjunctival application of honey four times a day or appropriate antibiotics was used for treatment and compared with control values. Growth of all the isolates was completely inhibited by 30-100% honey concentrations. The most sensitive microbes were E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and H. influenzae. Glucose showed less antimicrobial activity than honey, and many microbes showed positive culture even in 100% glucose. Heating to 80 degrees C for 1 hour decreased antimicrobial activity of both new and stored honey. Storage of honey for 5 years decreased its antimicrobial activity, while ultraviolet light exposure increased its activity against some of the microorganisms. Antimicrobial activity of honey was stronger in acidic media than in neutral or alkaline media. Single doses of honey used to prepare the 60% concentration in nutrient broth were bacteriocidal for P. aeruginosa and bacteriostatic for S. aureus and Klebsiella sp. during certain periods. Local application of raw honey on infected wounds reduced redness, swelling, time for complete resolution of lesion, and time for eradication of bacterial infection due to S. aureus or Klebsiella sp. Its potency was comparable to that of local antibiotics. Honey application into infective conjunctivitis reduced redness, swelling, pus discharge, and time for eradication of bacterial infections due to all the isolates tested.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Assessment of the floral origin of honey by SDS-page immunoblot techniques.

We report on the development of a novel alternative method for the assessment of floral origin in honey samples based on the study of honey proteins using immunoblot assays. The main goal of our work was to evaluate the use of honey proteins as chemical markers of the floral origin of honey. Considering that honeybee proteins should be common to all types of honey, we decided to verify the usefulness of pollen proteins as floral origin markers in honey. We used polyclonal anti-pollen antibodies raised in rabbits by repeated immunization of Sunflower (Elianthus annuus) and Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus sp.) pollen extracts. The IgG fraction was purified by immunoaffinity. These antibodies were verified with nitrocellulose blotted pollen and unifloral honey protein extracts. The antibodies anti-Sunflower pollen, bound to the 36 and 33 kDa proteins of Sunflower unifloral honey and to honey containing Sunflower pollen; and the antibodies anti-Eucalyptus sp. pollen bound to the 38 kDa proteins of Eucalyptus sp. unifloral honey in immunoblot assays. Satisfactory results were obtained in differentiating between the types of pollen analyzed and between Sunflower honey and Eucalyptus honey with less cross reactivity with other types of honey from different origin and also with good sensitivity in the detection. This immunoblot method opens an interesting field for the development of new antibodies from different plants, which could serve as an alternative or complementary method to the usual melissopalynological analysis to assess honey floral origin.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Intrapulmonary administration of natural honey solution, hyperosmolar dextrose or hypoosmolar distill water to normal individuals and to patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus or hypertension: their effects on blood glucose level, plasma insulin and C-peptide, blood pressure and peaked expiratory flow rate.

Safety and effect intrapulmonary administration (by inhalation) of 60 % honey solution, 10% dextrose or distill water on blood sugar, plasma insulin and C-peptide, blood pressure, heart rate, and peaked expiratory flow rate (PEFR) in normal or diabetic subjects were studied. - Twenty-four healthy subjects, 16 patients with type 11 diabetes mellitus and six patients with hypertension were entered for study. They were underwent complete physical examination and laboratory investigations. Twelve healthy subjects were subjected for distill water inhalation for 10 min, and after one week they received inhalation of honey solution (60% wt/v) for 10 min. Another 12 healthy subjects received inhalation of 10% dextrose for 10 min. Blood glucose level, plasma insulin and C-peptide, blood pressure, heart rate and PEFR were estimated before inhalation and during 2-3 hrs after inhalation, at 30 min intervals. Random blood glucose level was estimated in eight patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, and repeated 30 min after honey inhalation. One week later, fasting blood glucose level was estimated in each patient and blood glucose level was re-estimated during three hrs after honey inhalation, at 30 min intervals. Glucose tolerance test was performed in another eight patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus, and after one week the procedure was repeated with inhalation of honey, which was started immediately after ingestion of glucose. Six hypertensive patients received honey inhalation for 10 min; supine blood pressure and heart rate were measured before and after inhalation. - Results showed that in normal subjects distill water caused mild elevation of blood glucose level, mild lowering of plasma insulin, and significant reduction of plasma C-peptide. 10% dextrose inhalation caused mild reduction of plasma insulin and C-peptide and unremarkable changes in blood glucose level. No significant changes were obtained in blood pressure, heart rate or PEFR after distill water or 10% dextrose inhalation. Honey inhalation caused lowering of blood glucose level and elevation of plasma insulin and C-peptide, mild reduction of blood pressure and up to 11 and 16 percent increase in PEFR. Honey inhalation significantly reduced random blood glucose level from 199 +/- 40.9 mg/dl to 156 +/- 52.3 mg/dl after 30 min (p = 0.0303). Fasting blood glucose level was reduced after honey inhalation during three hr post-inhalation, which was significant at hr three (p<0.05). Intensity of hyperglycemia was significantly lowered in glucose tolerance test when patients received honey inhalation. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was reduced by honey inhalation in hypertensive patients; significant changes were obtained at 60 and 120 min after inhalation. No adverse effects were observed with inhalation of distill water, 10% dextrose and 60% honey solution except for nasal watery discharge experienced by all subjects and mild cough that was experienced by seven subjects after honey inhalation. - The results demonstrated that honey inhalation was safe and effective in reducing blood glucose level, in normal and diabetic subjects, it could improve glucose tolerance test, elevate plasma insulin and C-peptide and PEFR, and reduce elevated blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2004

Influence of brood, vent screening, and time of year on honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) pollination and fruit quality of greenhouse tomatoes.

Greenhouse tomatoes, Lycopersicon esculentum Miller (Solanaceae), are autogamous, but facilitated pollination results in increased fruit size and set. Previous research examining honey bee pollination in greenhouse tomato crops established that fruit quality resulting from honey bee visitation is often comparable to bumble bees (Bombus spp.) and significantly better than in flowers that receive no facilitated pollination. However, management alternatives have not been studied to improve tomato fruit quality when honey bees are the only pollination option available for the high-value greenhouse industry. We investigated whether the quantity of brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae) in a honey bee colony in the winter and screening on greenhouse vents in the summer would encourage honey bee foraging on tomato flowers. We also established the influence of time of year on the potential for honey bees to be effective pollinating agents. We constructed small honey bee colonies full of naive forager bees with either two frames of brood ("brood colonies") or two empty frames ("no-brood") and compared total fruit set and the number of tomato seeds resulting from fruit potentially visited by honey bees in each of these treatments to bagged flowers that received no facilitated pollination. There was no significant difference in the quality of fruit resulting from honey bees from "brood" and "no-brood" colonies. However, these fruits produced significantly more seeds than bagged flowers restricted from facilitated pollination. Honey bees from brood and no-brood colonies also resulted in 98% fruit set compared with 80% fruit set in bagged flowers that received no facilitated pollination. During the summer, the number of seeds per fruit did not differ significantly between unbagged flowers potentially visited by honey bees in screened greenhouses and unscreened greenhouses and bagged flowers that received no facilitated pollination. However, time of year did have a significant influence on the quality of fruit produced by honey bees compared with flowers that received no facilitated pollination, because no difference in seed number was observed between the treatments after mid-April. The results from this study demonstrate that the management of brood levels and vent screening cannot be used to improve the quality of fruit resulting from honey bee pollination and that honey bees can be a feasible greenhouse pollination alternative only during the winter.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2005

Effects of honey on the urinary total nitrite and prostaglandins concentration.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate effects of natural and artificial honey solutions on urinary nitrite content, prostaglandin excretion and urinary variables in healthy individuals. METHODS: The study comprised 12 individuals, nine males and three females; age range 25-45 years. Urinary total nitrite, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) were assessed in spot morning sample and 1, 2, and 3 hours after ingestion of 80 g of natural honey dissolved in 250 ml water. Honey solution was given at night; urine volume, urinary osmolality and electrolytes, and serum osmolality and electrolytes, were assayed 10 hours after drinking honey. Same procedure was repeated after drinking artificial honey (30 g glucose plus 38 g fructose) and compared with control (drinking 250 ml of water). RESULTS: The mean (SD) of total urinary nitrite excretion was 103 +/- 43.5 micromol/l which was increased by 40%, 55% and 74% at 1, 2, and 3 hours after drinking honey solution respectively. The mean urinary PGE2 was 1.323 +/- 0.8 ng/ml that was decreased by 31% 3 hours after honey ingestion. The mean urinary PGF2 alpha was 1.554 +/- 1.2 ng/ml and that of TXB2 was 0.35 +/- 0.4 ng/ml. Forty-four percent reductions in urinary PGF2 alpha and 67% reduction in TXB2 were obtained 3 hours after drinking honey. Honey increased insignificantly free water clearance, filtered sodium and creatinine clearance. It decreased insignificantly urinary osmolality, urinary calcium, urinary sodium, and fasting blood sugar (FBS). Little changes were obtained in urine volume and urinary urea, glucose and creatinine concentration. Artificial honey decreased urinary nitrite and increased urinary prostaglandins concentration. It increased insignificantly free water clearance, filtered sodium, urinary urea, urinary creatinine and creatinine clearance. It decreased insignificantly urinary osmolality, urinary calcium, urinary sodium, and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa). Artificial honey increased FBS by 14% and urinary glucose by 76.5%, and decreased serum sodium and plasma osmolality. CONCLUSION: Honey solution decreased urinary prostaglandins concentration and increased total urinary nitrite content whilst artificial honey decreased urinary nitrite and increased urinary prostaglandins.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2006

Tetracycline residues in honey after hive treatment.

Tetracyclines are used to control bacterial diseases such as European and American foulbrood, which may cause severe losses in the honey bee population and honey production. By using 24 hives randomly distributed into four groups of six hives, this study was performed to measure the occurrence of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) residues in honey following two types of TC application. Two groups of colonies were treated three times with 0.5 g TC in 1 litre syrup (group S) or in 10 g powdered sugar (group P). Six hives of a first control group (C) fed with untreated syrup were installed at 20 and 45 m from groups S and P, respectively. A second control group (DC) was set up 3 km away. Honey was sampled at different times from all hives, and honey artificially contaminated with TC was stored in the laboratory at 4, 20 and 35 degrees C; all samples were analysed by ELISA and HPLC methods. One day after the last application, the mean TC concentration in brood chamber honey was ten times higher in group S (40.7 mg kg(-1)) than in group P (4.34 mg kg(-1)). After 8 days, TC residues were detected in all hives of group C. After 146 days, the mean TC concentration in harvested honey was 1.54, 0.35 and 0.15 mg kg(-1) for groups S, P and C, respectively. The control group C had been contaminated with TC by drifting. In all hives of group DC, no residues were detected at any time during the study. The honey collected at day 504 did not contain any detectable TC residues, except in one super from group C (0.026 mg kg(-1)). The half-life of TC in honey from supers was similar in groups C, S and P: 65 days. This duration was twice lower than in honey stored in laboratory in similar conditions: at 35 degrees C in the dark (t(1/2) = 121 days). In honey stored at 20 degrees C, TC was quite stable and its half-life was 242 days. The data from these experiments indicate levels of TC residues in honey after a treatment in hives, their persistence and diffusion into the apiary. These results show that the TC must be used with precaution in honey production.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

The effect of dilution on the rate of hydrogen peroxide production in honey and its implications for wound healing.

OBJECTIVE: Honey is an effective antiseptic wound dressing, mainly the result of the antibacterial activity of hydrogen peroxide that is produced in honey by the enzyme glucose oxidase. Because the rate of production of hydrogen peroxide is known to vary disproportionately when honey is diluted, and dilution of honey dressings will vary according to the amount of wound exudate, it is important to know more about the production of hydrogen peroxide at different concentrations of honey. DESIGN: The rates of hydrogen peroxide production by honey with respect to honey dilution were measured in eight different samples of honey from six different floral sources. SETTINGS: Honey Research Unit, Waikato University, Hamilton, New Zealand. MAIN RESULTS: The maximum levels of accumulated hydrogen peroxide occurred in honey solutions diluted to concentrations between 30% and 50% (v/v) with at least 50% of the maximum levels occurring at 15-67% (v/v). This is equivalent to a 10 cm x 10 cm dressing containing 20 mL of honey becoming diluted with 10 to 113 mL of wound exudate. Maximum levels of hydrogen peroxide reached in the diluted honeys were in the range of 1-2 mmol/L. CONCLUSION: Significant antibacterial activity can be maintained easily when using honey as a wound dressing, even on a heavily exuding wound. Concentrations of hydrogen peroxide generated are very low in comparison to those typically applied to a wound, thus, cytotoxic damage by hydrogen peroxide is very low.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗
PubMed2004

Antibacterial activity of bee honey and its therapeutic usefulness against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella typhimurium infection.

The authors studied the effect of storage period and heat on the physical and chemical properties of honey and proceeded to study the antibacterial effect of honey on Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. In samples of honey (Egyptian clover honey) that were heat-treated and stored over a long period of time, water content decreased, hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) was produced and increased in concentration, and enzyme activity decreased. Colour, measured in optical density, was markedly affected in honey samples stored over long periods of time, as was the refractive index, but electrical conductivity remained unaffected by storage or heating. Similarly, the storage period had no effect on pH value. To study the therapeutic effect of honey on E.coli and S. typhimurium, 25 isolates of E. coil O157:H7 (18.5%) and 49 isolates of S. typhimurium (36.2%) were isolated from 135 samples taken from children and calves (30 stool samples from children and 105 samples from calf organs and faecal swabs). Most E. coli O157:H7 and S. typhimurium isolates were highly resistant to most antibiotic discs. In vitro, the antibacterial effect of honey was more pronounced on E. coil O157:H7 than on S. typhimurium. Water content, pH value, HMF and the presence of H2O, all played an important role in the potency of olover honey as an antibacterial agent. In vivo, mice were used as a model for studying the parenteral usefulness of honey as an antibacterial agent against both pathogens. The antibacterial activity of honey that had been stored over a long period of time decreased and high concentrations of honey proved more effective as antibacterial agents. In this study there was lower mortality among mice treated with honey but the parenteral application of honey and its therapeutic properties require further investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Effects of honey bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and bumble bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) presence on cranberry (Ericales: Ericaceae) pollination.

Honey bees, Apis mellifera L., are frequently used to pollinate commercial cranberries, Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait., but information is lacking on the relative contribution of honey bees and native bees, the effects of surrounding vegetation on bee visitation, and on optimal timing for honey bee introduction. We begin with a descriptive study of numbers of honey bees, bumble bees, and other bees visiting cranberry blossoms, and their subsequent effect on cranberry yield, on three cranberry properties in 1999. The property surrounded by agricultural land, as opposed to wetlands and woodlands, had fewer numbers of all bee types. In 2000, one property did not introduce honey bee colonies, providing an opportunity to document the effect of lack of honey bees on yield. With no honey bees, plants along the edge of the bed had significantly higher berry weights compared with nonedge plants, suggesting that wild pollinators were only effective along the edge. Comparing the same bed between 1999, with three honey bee colonies per acre, and 2000, with no honey bees, we found a significant reduction in average berry size. In 2000, we compared stigma loading on properties with and without honey bees. Significantly more stigmas received the minimum number of tetrads required for fruit set on the property with honey bees. Significantly more tetrads were deposited during mid-bloom compared with early bloom, indicating that mid-bloom was the best time to have honey bees present. This study emphasizes the importance and effectiveness of honey bees as pollinators of commercial size cranberry plantings.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Antibacterial activity of 13 honeys against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

In this study the activity of 13 honeys, including three commercial antibacterial honeys, against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was determined. Antibacterial activity of the honeys was assayed using standard well diffusion methods. All honeys, and an artificial honey, were tested at four concentrations (10%, 5%, 2.5%, and 1% wt/vol) against E. coli and P. aeruginosa, and zones of inhibition were measured. All honeys tested had an inhibitory effect on the growth of E. coli and P. aeruginosa, with one honey still having activity against E. coli and three having activity against P. aeruginosa at 2.5%. No honey was active at 1% concentrations. E. coli was more susceptible to inhibition by the honeys used in this study than was P. aeruginosa. In this study we have demonstrated that several honeys, in addition to commercial antibacterial honeys, can inhibit E. coli and P. aeruginosa and may have potential as therapeutic honeys.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1996

The effect of gamma-irradiation on the antibacterial activity of honey.

There is increasing usage of honey as a dressing on infected wounds, burns and ulcers, but there is some concern that there may be a risk of wound botulism from the clostridial spores sometimes found in honey. It is well-established that the antibacterial activity is heat-labile so would be destroyed if honey were sterilized by autoclaving, but the effect of gamma-irradiation on the antibacterial activity of honey is not known. Therefore an investigation was carried out to assess the effect on the antibacterial activity of honey when the honey was subjected to a commercial sterilization procedure using gamma-irradiation (25 kGy). Two honeys with antibacterial activity due to enzymically-generated hydrogen peroxide and three manuka honeys with non-peroxide antibacterial activity were investigated. The honeys were tested against Staphylococcus aureus in an agar well diffusion assay. There was no significant change found in either type of antibacterial activity resulting from this form of sterilization of honey, even when the radiation was doubled (to 50 kGy). Testing of honey seeded with spores of Clostridium perfringens and C. tetani (10000 and 1000 spores g-1 of honey, respectively) showed that 25 kGy of gamma-irradiation was sufficient to achieve sterility.

Honey↗
PubMed2005

Assessment of losses in honey yield due to the chalkbrood disease, with reference to the determination of its economic injury levels in Egypt.

In Egypt, the chalk brood (CHB) disease caused by the fungus, Ascosphaera apis Maassen started again infesting the honeybee, Apis melifera L (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies after a cessation pause of seven to nine years. For the first time, an attempt has been made to look into the problem of the CHB disease from the view point of assessing losses in both clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) and chinus (Chinus molus) honey yields. In this regard, two techniques were adopted. Under the natural conditions of the experimental apiary (first technique), loss in clover honey was 18.412 +/- 0.663%, on average, whereas the average loss in chinus honey was 18.332 +/- 1.536%. In the second technique of loss appraisal (artificial infection). The tested honeybee colonies were artificially infected with four sources of A. apis infection, I.e. black mummies, white mummies, pollen grains and water, in addition to controls to create the so-called "different levels of infection". The mean percentages of losses in clover honey were 30.06 +/- 1.807, 27.95 +/- 1.062; 21.13 +/- 0.987; 16.96 +/- 0.672 and 0.00 +/- 0.00 for black mummies, white mummies, pollen grains, water and control, respectively. Taking into account the relationship between number of resulted mummies in each source of infection and % loss in clover honey, it could be concluded that as the resulted mummies increased, the corresponding clover honey yield decreased in each source of infection. It was noticed that the % loss in clover honey differed as the used technique differed. For example, the percentage loss in clover honey produced from colonies exposed to the natural conditions was relatively less than that of the artificially infected ones. This has been discussed in the text. However, the causative pathogen of CHB disease resulted in serious decrease in honey production. Loss appraisal is a perquisite step for the determination of the economic injury levels (EILs). By regressing % loss in clover honey yield against the total number of fallen mummies, the linear equation was worked out to be: Y = 0.242 + 0.040 x (r2 = 0.99, F = 62408.865). Depending on the total costs of controlling CHB disease, the EIL values were 31.875 and 11.250 mummies/colony for cedar oil and thymol granules, subsequently. As to the chinus honey the corresponding EILs were 18.940 and 6.683 mummies/colony for cedar oil and thymol granules, in respect, as a result of adopting the regression formula: Y = -6.762 + 0.101 X. As for the clover honey (artificial infection) the EIL values were 39.844 and 14.063 mummies/ colony in case of using cedar oil and thymol grains, subsequently. These values were worked out using the formula Y = 5.871 + 0.032 X. From the practical point of view, apiarists should not use thymol or cedar oil as fallen mummies don't reach the suggested EILs values to minimize control costs as much as possible.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Analyses of avocado (Persea americana) nectar properties and their perception by honey bees (Apis mellifera).

Honey bees are important avocado pollinators. However, due to the low attractiveness of flowers, pollination is often inadequate. Previous work has revealed that avocado honey is relatively unattractive to honey bees when compared with honey from competing flowers. We characterized avocado honey and nectar with respect to their odor, color, and composition of sugars, phenolic compounds, and minerals. Furthermore, we tested how honey bees perceive these parameters, using the proboscis extension response bioassay and preference experiments with free-flying bees. Naïve bees were indifferent to odors of avocado and citrus flowers and honey. Experienced bees, which were collected in the field during the blooming season, responded preferentially to odor of citrus flowers. The unique sugar composition of avocado nectar, which contains almost exclusively sucrose and a low concentration of the rare carbohydrate perseitol, and the dark brown color of avocado honey, had no negative effects on its attractiveness to the bees. Phenolic compounds extracted from avocado honey were attractive to bees and adding them to a solution of sucrose increased its attractiveness. Compared with citrus nectar and nonavocado honey, avocado nectar and honey were rich in a wide range of minerals, including potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, iron, and copper. Potassium and phosphorus, the two major minerals, both had a repellent effect on the bees. Possible explanations for the presence of repellent components in avocado nectar are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Antimutagenic effect of various honeys and sugars against Trp-p-1.

Honey has been used since ancient times as a flavorful sweetener and for its therapeutic and medicinal effects. Consumers' demand for natural, healthy products has driven renewed interest in honey's health benefits. The commonly encountered food mutagen, Trp-p-1, has been demonstrated to be mutagenic in bacteria and carcinogenic in animals. Chemically, honey is quite complex. Honey is comprised primarily of sugars; however, it contains many other potentially biologically active components, such as antioxidants. Sugars have been reported to display both mutagenic and antimutagenic effects in different systems; antioxidants often display antimutagenic activity. Little information exists about potential antimutagenic effects of honey. Antimutagenicity of honeys from seven different floral sources against Trp-p-1 was tested via the Ames assay and compared to that of a sugar analogue and to individually tested simple sugars. All honeys exhibited significant inhibition of Trp-p-1 mutagenicity; most demonstrated a linear correlation between percentage inhibition and log transformed honey concentration from 10 microg/mL to 20 mg/mL. Each displayed significant degrees of inhibition of mutagenicity above concentrations of 1 mg/mL, with individual variations in degree of effectiveness. Buckwheat honey displayed the greatest inhibition at 1 mg/mL, with slightly less effectiveness at higher concentrations. A sugar analogue demonstrated a pattern of inhibition similar to that of the honeys, with enhanced antimutagenicity at concentrations greater than 1 mg/mL. Glucose and fructose were also similar to honeys and were more antimutagenic than maltose and sucrose.

Antimutagenic Agents↗
PubMed2002

Honey: a potent agent for wound healing?

Although honey has been used as a traditional remedy for burns and wounds, the potential for its inclusion in mainstream medical care is not well recognized. Many studies have demonstrated that honey has antibacterial activity in vitro, and a small number of clinical case studies have shown that application of honey to severely infected cutaneous wounds is capable of clearing infection from the wound and improving tissue healing. The physicochemical properties (eg, osmotic effects and pH) of honey also aid in its antibacterial actions. Research has also indicated that honey may possess antiinflammatory activity and stimulate immune responses within a wound. The overall effect is to reduce infection and to enhance wound healing in burns, ulcers, and other cutaneous wounds. It is also known that honeys derived from particular floral sources in Australia and New Zealand (Leptospermum spp) have enhanced antibacterial activity, and these honeys have been approved for marketing as therapeutic honeys (Medihoney and Active Manuka honey). This review outlines what is known about the medical properties of honey and indicates the potential for honey to be incorporated into the management of a large number of wound types.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1999

Antibacterial activity of honey against strains of Staphylococcus aureus from infected wounds.

The antibacterial action of honey in infected wounds does not depend wholly on its high osmolarity. We tested the sensitivity of 58 strains of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus, isolated from infected wounds, to a pasture honey and a manuka honey. There was little variation between the isolates in their sensitivity to honey: minimum inhibitory concentrations were all between 2 and 3% (v/v) for the manuka honey and between 3 and 4% for the pasture honey. Thus, these honeys would prevent growth of S. aureus if diluted by body fluids a further seven-fold to fourteen-fold beyond the point where their osmolarity ceased to be completely inhibitory. The antibacterial action of the pasture honey relied on release of hydrogen peroxide, which in vivo might be reduced by catalase activity in tissues or blood. The action of manuka honey stems partly from a phytochemical component, so this type of honey might be more effective in vivo. Comparative clinical trials with standardized honeys are needed.

Honey↗