Abstract

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF HONEY AGAINST SALMONELLA ISOLATES

A. Mani*, K. Anandharaj, K. Sathiyaseelan, R. Elaiyaraja and A. Vijayakumar

ABSTRACT

The present study was designed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of natural honey against typhoid causing pathogenic Salmonella species. Two types of honey samples (Black and Shain) were collected from Tiruvannamalai district and the typhoid patients’ blood samples were collected from General hospital, Chidambaram and Rajah Muthiah Medical College Hospital, Annamalai Nagar. The isolated Salmonella isolates were identified based on the biochemical parameters. Grams reaction, positive for motility, methyl red and catalase and negative for indole, VP, citrate oxidase and urease. Among the four different concentrations of Black honey samples, the highest rate of the antibacterial activity was noticed against Salmonella typhi (S-7) at 100 per cent (19 mm in dm). Four different concentrations of Black honey samples, the highest rate of the antibacterial activity against Salmonella paratyphi A (S-12) was recorded in 100 per cent (17 mm in dm). Black honey as well as medical-grade honey which have the potential to be a topical antibacterial prophylaxis because of its broad-spectrum bactericidal activity, or to be a treatment for topical infections caused by antibiotic-resistant as well as antibiotic-sensitive bacteria, should be considered for therapeutic use.

Keywords: Salmonella, Antibacterial activity, Honey, Blood samples.