Antibacterial Activity of Honey Samples from Ukraine

Abstract

The employment of natural substances such as beehive products with a preventive and therapeutic purpose has been a widespread custom since ancient times. In this investigation, the antibacterial activity of 41 honey samples from different Ukraine regions has been evaluated. For each honey, melissopalynological and physico-chemical analysis were performed in order to determine botanical origin, pH, glucose and fructose contents and free acidity. So, antibacterial activity against <i>Staphylococcus</i><i>aureus</i> CCM 4223, <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> ATCC 7644, <i>Salmonella enterica</i> serovar Typhimurium CCM 3807 and <i>Escherichia coli</i> ATCC 25922 was assessed through the determination of MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) and MBC (Minimum Bactericidal Concentration) values by the microdilutions method. The results show that the most susceptible bacterial strain was L. monocytogenes. Its growth was inhibited at a honey concentration ranging from 0.094 to 0.188 g/mL. The most resistant bacterial strain was <i>S. aureus</i>. As concerns MBC values, <i>L. monocytogenes</i> was the most susceptible bacteria, while <i>S. aureus</i> was the most resistant. <i>Helianthus</i> spp. honeys was the most effective against all tested bacterial strains, followed by <i>Robinia</i> spp. and multifloral honeys. Promising results for MIC tests have been found for <i>Brassica</i> spp.