Antibacterial Activities of Selected Samples of Honey in South-Western Nigeria against Bacteria in Wound Infections

Abstract

The global challenges resulting from the emergence of numerous resistant pathogenic bacteria have led to a search for alternative therapy ethnomedically. As a result, honey is increasingly valued for its antibacterial activity. In this study, the antibacterial activity of different honey samples was assessed in vitro using agar dilution at different concentration of 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 75% and 100% (v/v) dilution. The antibacterial activity was also determined by spectrophotometric assay at 620 nm. The result showed that KG honey sample inhibited the different bacterial isolates at a concentration of 5% and LB honey sample inhibited the isolates at 20% while other honey samples inhibited the bacterial isolates at concentrations ranging between 10% and 30% (v/v) dilution of each honey samples. Thus, the minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged between a concentration of 5% and 30% (v/v) dilution even though antibacterial activities concentration ranged from 5% - 100% (v/v). Ps. aeruginosa ATCC 15442 was considered the most susceptible of all the test isolates. The increases in the absorbances showed that the bacterial populations in each of the honey samples were reduced as the exposure time increases. The study shows that honey being sold in Nigeria may be used as a therapeutic agent to treat infections as they may be an excellent alternative to curtail the further spreading of multi-drug-resistant microorganisms in Nigeria.