Antimicrobial Effects of Honey

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Honey has seen a revival recently in the Western medical field, as it has shown inhibitory activity against a range of detrimental and antibiotic-resistant microbes of infected wounds (Nassar et al. 2012). Honey may be the first recorded medicine, having been documented in the Smith Papyrus of Egypt, which dates to between 2200-2600 BC (Zumla 1989). The Qu’ran contains passages specifically detailing the importance of honey, and the Bible tells of a promised land of “milk and honey” (Zumla 1989). Since ancient times, honey has been renowned for its wound-healing properties (Kwakman et al. 2010). With the advent of antibiotics, clinical application of honey was neglected in modern Western medicine, although it is still used in many cultures (Kwakman et al. 2010). The overwhelming use of antibiotics has resulted in widespread resistance and the development of new antibiotics is lagging behind, therefore alternative antimicrobial strategies are necessary (Kwakman et al. 2010).

Honey has demonstrated potent in vitro activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and it has been successfully applied as treatment of chronic wound infections not responding to antibiotic therapy (Kwakman et al. 2010). Furthermore, honey has received attention as an important tool against strains of bacteria such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which have become resistant to current antibiotics (Cooper 1999). There is no such resistance build-up involving honey, making it attractive as a treatment for wounds (Cooper 1999). Molan (2006) reviewed 17 randomized controlled trials involving a total of 1,965 participants, 5 clinical trials of other forms involving 97 participants treated with honey, and 16 trials on a total of 533 wounds on experimental animals all with findings that demonstrate the effectiveness of honey in assisting wound healing. This review found that honey has antibacterial activity capable of rapidly clearing infection and protecting wounds from becoming infected, while providing a moist healing environment without the risk of bacterial growth (Molan 2006). This review also reports that honey produces anti-inflammatory effects to reduce edema and exudate and prevent or minimize hypertrophic scarring (Molan 2006). Honey also stimulates the growth of granulation tissue and epithelial tissue so that healing is hastened (Molan 2006).

Section 1

Electron micrograph of the Ebola Zaire virus. This was the first photo ever taken of the virus, on 10/13/1976. By Dr. F.A. Murphy, now at U.C. Davis, then at the CDC.

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Legend/credit: Electron micrograph of the Ebola Zaire virus. This was the first photo ever taken of the virus, on 10/13/1976. By Dr. F.A. Murphy, now at U.C. Davis, then at the CDC.
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Section 2

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Section 3

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Further Reading

[Sample link] Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Special Pathogens Branch

References

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.

Edited by (your name here), a student of Nora Sullivan in BIOL168L (Microbiology) in The Keck Science Department of the Claremont Colleges Spring 2014.