PHYSIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF HONEY ON SOME PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM WOUNDS OF PATIENTS

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the physiochemical parameters and antibacterial activity of honey on pathogenic microorganisms, specifically Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, isolated from wounds of patients. The primary objectives included isolating these test organisms from wound samples, determining the physiochemical properties of honey, assessing its antibacterial potential, exploring its mechanism of action, and determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of honey against the bacterial isolates.

Fifty wound samples were collected from patients in various hospitals in Umuahia, Abia State, using sterile swab sticks. The samples were cultured on appropriate media, and the bacterial isolates were identified through biochemical tests such as Gram staining, indole, catalase, coagulase, and citrate utilization tests. The physiochemical properties of the honey sample, including its pH, moisture content, and sugar concentration, were analyzed to ascertain its authenticity and antibacterial potential.

The results indicated that honey exhibited significant antibacterial activity against the isolates, with Staphylococcus aureus showing the highest prevalence (49%), followed by Escherichia coli (47%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (41%). The antibacterial efficacy of honey was concentration-dependent, with higher honey concentrations yielding larger zones of inhibition. However, some bacterial resistance to honey was observed, particularly when compared to the control antibiotic, augmentin, which demonstrated greater antibacterial potency.

The study also explored the mechanism of action of honey’s antibacterial properties, including its osmotic effect, acidity, and the presence of hydrogen peroxide and other bioactive compounds. Despite its effectiveness, variations in MIC values were observed, with some bacterial isolates, such as Staphylococcus aureus from sample 4, showing resistance to all honey concentrations tested.

In conclusion, this research confirms that honey possesses significant antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, making it a potential alternative treatment for wound infections. However, variations in potency suggest that honey should be carefully selected for medical use to ensure optimal antibacterial efficacy. Recommendations include the use of honey as a substitute for conventional antibiotics in wound care, frequent consumption of honey to reduce bacterial infections, and proper packaging to preserve its antibacterial properties.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       Introduction

1.1         Aims and Objectives

CHAPTER TWO

2.0       Literature Review

2.1       Wound Infection

2.1.1    Staphylococcus aureus

2.1.2    Escherichia coli

2.1.3    Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2.3      Local Test for Real Honeys

2.4       Classification of Honey

2.5       Extraction

2.6      Preservation

2.7      Properties and Active Ingredients of Honey

2.8      Mode of Action of some of the Antibacterial Substances in Honey.

2.9       Clinical Conditions that Respond to Treatment with Honey

2.10      Honeys as an Antibacterial Agent

2.11      Practical Consideration for the Clinical use of Honey

2.12     Adverse Reaction of Honey

2.13      Resent Research on Honey

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.0  Sample collection

3.1  Media preparation and Inoculation

3.2  Identification of test Organisms

3.3  Source of Honey Sample

3.4  Preparing the Honey Concentration

3.5  Physicochemical Analysis of Honey

3.6  Antimicrobial screening

CHAPTER 4

RESULT

CHAPTER 5

5.0  Discussion

5.1  Conclusion

5.2  Recommendation

REFERENCES

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1:           Prevalence of the Test Organisms Isolated

Table 2:           The Physicochemical Analysis of Honey Sample

Table 3:           The Biochemical Result, cultural and Morphological Characteristics of the Test Organisms

Table 4:           The zones of inhibition of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates

Table 5:           The Zones of Inhibition of the Escherichia coli isolates

Table 6:           The Zones of Inhibition of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates

Table 7:           Minimum Inhibitory concentration for Staphylococcus aureus

Table 8:           Minimum Inhibitory Concentration for Escherichia coli

Table 9:           Minimum Inhibitory Concentration for Pseudomonas aeruginosa

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       Introduction

Infections and other health related problems have been of great concern to human beings and chemotherapy is the main approach in the treatment of such conditions. Investigation into the microbial flora of wound began in the late 19th century and since then; improvements in techniques have facilitated the recovery, identification and enumeration of a wide variety of microbial species. Most wounds support relatively stable polymicrobial communities (Bowkler et al., 2001) often without signs of clinical infection (Hansson et al., 1993).

However, potential pathogens may be present and the delicate balance between colonized wound and an infected wound depends on the interplay of complex host and microbial influences (Emmerson, 1998). The development of wound infection has deleterious effect on patients by causing increased pain, discomfort, inconveniences and can lead to life threatening conditions or even death. Some pathogens found in wound specimens include, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes, Klebsiella species among others.

Major challenges encountered with antibiotics in clinical use are resistance to antibiotics which leads eventually to failure of the treatment (Blair 2004). Infectious diseases are known to be treated with herbal remedies throughout the history of mankind; even today, natural substances continue to play a major role in primary health care as therapeutic remedies in many developing countries (Jonathan et al., 2007). Over the years, there have been reports of the production of more potent antibiotics e.g. third and fourth generation of cephalosporin by pharmaceutical companies which are not readily available and expensive. Problems of various antibiotics include low efficacy, side effect which has lead investigations into natural and potent antibacterial seeming to be the right step to take. The invasion of pathogenic organism is on the rise as a result, effects are been made to develop antibacterial agent from natural sources for better therapeutic effect (Gills, 1992). The therapies have drawn the interest of both public and medicinal communities. Current research has been focused on herbal and aromatherapy product. However, a number of their product such as honey has shown therapeutic promise.

The presence in honey of various inhibins as described by (Doid and Dzaio, 1937) has been reported by several investigators. Honey was used to treat infected wound as long as 2000 years ago before bacterial were discovered to be the cause of infection in c.50 AD, Dioscorides described honey as been “good for all rotten and hollow ulcers” (Gunther, 1959). More recently, honey has been reported to have an inhibitory effect to around 60 species of bacterial including aerobes and anaerobes, Gram positive and Gram negative (Molan, 1992). The current prevalence of the therapeutic use of ancient remedies, include honey committee on science and technology.

1.2  Aims and Objectives

    i.           To isolate the test organisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) from wounds of patients.

     ii.         To determine the physiochemical properties of honey.

   iii.         To determine antibacterial potential of honey against the isolates.

   iv.         To investigate the mechanism of antibacterial action of honey on the test organisms.

     v.         To determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of honey on bacterial isolates from wounds of human beings.

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