Antimicrobial and antinematodal activity of natural honey; an overview

Abstract

Natural honey, a valued natural product is used for nutritional purpose as well as for the treatment of various clinical conditions ranging from wound healing to microbial infection. This review highlighted the importance of natural honey as antiviral, antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antifungal and antinematodal agent. These anti-infective properties are due to several components of honey including amino acids, proteins, enzymes, phenols, organic acids etc. Many in-vitro and in-vivo studies showed the antibacterial activity of honey against several veterinary and human pathogens like Shigella, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori.  The antibacterial activity of honey is characterized by high osmolarity, antioxidants compounds and low pH of honey. The sugar dependent high osmolarity is also found to be potent against fungal species Candida albicans. On the other hand, honey proteins have shown antiprotozoal agents against protozoal species Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia. Glycoproteins and glycopeptides of honey contribute to the nematicidal action of natural honey, which was revealed by death of C. elegans treated with honey proteins. Natural honey also possess antiviral activity.