Antibacterial activity of honey (Apis mellifera) on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia and Escherichia coli isolated from wastewater

The use of honey as a remedy for microbial infections has been the reason behind recent researches on its antimicrobial activity. The research assessed the antibacterial activity of honey on Eschericia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from environmental wastewater, using disc diffusion method at various concentrations of honey ranging from 62.5 - 1000 mg/ml while the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined using macro-dilution method. The zones of inhibition across the disc were measured after 24 hours of incubation. Results showed that honey has higher antibacterial activity on E. coli compared to other test isolates and also higher on E. coli than ciprofloxacin. Honey showed weaker activity on K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa compared to standard antibiotics. MIC was 250 mg/ml for E. coli while K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa were at 500 mg/ml. MBC for E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa were observed at 312. 5 mg/ml, 687.5 mg/ml and 750 mg/ml respectively. Honey has promising antibacterial activity on infections caused by E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa because of its antibacterial properties such as low pH, high osmolarity, and production of hydrogen peroxide.