Background: Different researches on therapeutic effects of honey have been conducted in different regions; however the study on the potential
antibacterial activity of Malaysian honey is still limited. In this study, antibacterial activities of different monofloral honey samples were tested against
several common human pathogenic bacteria.
Materials and Methods: The well-diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)
techniques were employed to investigate the putative antibacterial activity of Malaysian monofloral honey from
Koompassia excelsa
(Becc.) Taub
(Tualang),
Melaleuca cajuputi
Powell (Gelam) and
Durio zibethinus
Murr. (Durian). Honey samples were tested against
Staphylococcus aureus
ATCC6518 and ATCC25923,
Staphylococcus epidermidis
ATCC12228,
Enterococcus faecium
LMG16192,
Enterococcus faecalis
LMG16216 and
ATCC29212,
Escherichia coli
ATCC25922,
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium ATCC14028 and
Klebsiella pneumoniae
ATCC13883.
Results: Marked variations were observed in the antibacterial activity of these honey samples. Durian honey failed to produce substantial antibacterial
activity, whereas Tualang and Gelam honey showed a spectrum of antibacterial activity with their growth inhibitory effects against all of the tested
bacterial species including vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).
Conclusion: Present findings suggested Gelam honey possesses highest antibacterial effect among the tested Malaysian honey samples.
