Antimicrobial Activities And Physico-chemical Analyses Of Honeys

In Nigeria, honey is considered to be important in traditional treatment of respiratory ailments, surface infections, diarrhoea and other diseases as reported by Eleazu et al., 2013. There are enormous reports on the physico - chemical, antimicrobial,  microbiological and medicinal properties of honey from different parts  of the world, including North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and South Africa (Cooper et al., 2009; Gomes et al., 2010; Mandal and Mandal, 2011; Fahim et al., 2014). There is paucity of information on Nigerian honey, although some researchers (Adesunkanmi and Oyelami, 1994; Adebiyi et al., 2004; Omafuvbe and Akanbi,

2009, Anyanwu, 2012; Eleazu et al., 2013; Buba et al., 2013) have reported antimicrobial activity and some chemical and physical properties of honey collected from Nigeria. The research on antifungal activity of Nigerian honey is also scarce (Anyanwu, 2012). All the reports so far have shown that Nigerian honeys have bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities against wide range of bacteria and fungi (Akujobi and Njoku, 2010; Anyanwu, 2012; Eleazu et al., 2013; Buba et al., 2013).

However, most of the antimicrobial studies against pathogenic bacteria, viruses and fungi were carried out using honey produced by the honey bee (Eg.  Apis  mellifera), while it appears that no  research has been  done  on honey produced by  other insects. To our understanding, nothing has been done on the antimicrobial potential of these honeys indigenous to Nsukka produced by other insects (not bees)  like Hypotrigona spp. and Melipona spp. This study will focus  on the  analysis  of  these different honey samples. Prior to antimicrobial activity testing, the physico- chemical properties (such as pH, colour, ash, protein, and moisture contents, hydroxymethyl furfural contents, total sugar contents, reducing sugar and  non-  reducing sugar contents), antimicrobial  properties  (non-peroxidase/peroxidase  activity) and antioxidative properties (such as phenol and flavonoid  contents)  of various ‘none bee’ honey samples were analyzed to assess their quality.

1.2.STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Antimicrobial agents (such as newly synthesized antimicrobial drugs) are essentially important in reducing the global burden of infectious diseases. However, the rapid increase in multiple drug resistant microorganisms associated  with  conventional  agents has necessitated the search for new antimicrobial agents that are safer and less expensive. Therefore, a re-evaluation of the therapeutic use of ancient remedies, such   as honey is clearly needed.

1.3.AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activities of honeys from Apis mellifera and stingless bees, Hypotrigona spp. and Melipona spp. against some bacterial and fungal species.

1.4. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

? To evaluate and compare the physicochemical properties of the honey varieties.

? To correlate some physico-chemical properties of the honey varieties.

? To evaluate the antimicrobial activities of the honey varieties using agar well diffusion methods.

? To determine and compare the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum biocidal concentration (MBC) of the honey varieties.

? To determine non-peroxidase antimicrobial activities of the honey varieties.

1.5. LITERATURE REVIEW

1.5.1. Ancient Use of Honey as a Medicine

Honey is known as one of  the  oldest medicines and has been used by almost  all societies on earth, dating back to 210 B.C. It has been used in different places such  as Spain, India, Africa and Australia (Molan, 1998; Joshi et al., 2008). It has been not only been used as food, but also it has been used to treat many clinical conditions such as gastrointestinal tract diseases, ulcers and ophthalmic problems (Khan et al., 2007).

Evidences of old pictures drawn on rocks have been found to support that the honey was gathered and used ages before even written history.  Honey was mentioned  in very old civilisations like the Sumerians and  Babylonians  (Ransome,  2004).  Indeed, the medical use of honey was stated in Ancient Egyptian records as well as in that of the Ancient Greeks (Simon et al., 2009). The use of honey by  Ancient  Egyptians was recorded in the Edwin's Smith surgical papyrus (Joneset  al.,  2000).  This papyrus is believed to be written before 1700 B.C. (Ransome, 2004; Chattopadhyay et al., 2009). Ancient Greeks were probably, the first civilisation  to keep hives for honey production (Ransome, 2004; Chattopadhyay et al., 2009). They believed that honey is an essential healthy food (Crane, 1999; Ransome, 2004; Chattopadhyay et al., 2009).

Also, more than 15,000 years ago, paintings in caves near Valencia in Span showed people collecting honey (Joshi et al., 2008).  In addition, almost all religions  and folk beliefs have mentioned honey as a good food for people's  health.  For  example, when the Children of Israel were in Egypt, the promise to them was 'land flowing with milk and honey'. In Islam more than 1,400 years ago, both  the  holy  Quran and Hadith (Prophet Talk) referred to honey as a healer  of  disease.  This  appears in the special chapter of Quran on honey and  the  translation (16:68-69) is  “And your Lord revealed to the bee saying: Make hives in the mountains and in the  trees and in what they build. Then eat of all the fruits and walk in the ways  of your  Lord submissively. There comes forth from within it a beverage of many colours, in which there is healing for men; most surely there is a sign in this for a people who reflect”(Crane, 1975; Ali, 1989). Also, honey was mentioned in the Bible. Solomon in his proverbs (24:13) has advised his son: “my son, eat thou honey for it is good”  (Joshiet al., 2008; Cooper et al., 2009).

Honey was used for healing of wounds for more than 4,000 years. The use of honey to cover wounds was recorded in Ancient Egypt (Gunther, 1934). Aristotle (384-322 B.C.) is one of the famous ancient physicians who used honey for wound healing. He mentioned that pale honey was “good as a salve for sore eyes  and  wounds”. Dioscorides (c. 50 AD) is another famous ancient physician  and  he  has stated that yellow honey was the best, being “good for all rotten and hollow ulcers” (Zumla and Lulat, 1989; Molan, 1998).

Chattopadhyay et al. (2009) mention that details of using of honey for wound cure practices in the Middle Ages have been documented from 1392. In recent years, many researchers have concluded that honey is a good  therapy  for  wounds  (Molan and Betts, 2004; Bell, 2007; Evans and Flavin, 2008; Robson et al., 2009).