Original Articles
Ayesha Firdose, Ayesha Nisar a
Abstract
This study was aimed at determining the susceptibility of organisms namely Staphylococcus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Klebsiella sp., Escherichia coli and Candida associated with burn wound infection to some Indian honey. Five swabs from patients with burn wound were cultured. The effect of honey on these pathogens was tested by performing Agar Well Diffusion assay, MIC and MBC. All the honey samples tested showed strong definite antibacterial activity against these organisms but the activity pattern was different for different honeys. The isolates were also sensitive to the antibiotics ciprofloxacin at 1 mg/ml concentration. A comparative study was made between the processed honey and the raw honey. It was seen that processed honey did not show any inhibitory effect on the pathogens under the study supporting the view that processing procedures affect the therapeutic properties. The Honey samples were treated with catalase to group them into either peroxide-based or non-peroxide based honeys. The outcome of this assay was that Acacia and Forest honey samples lost their antimicrobial activity completely whereas Neem honey showed a decreased inhibitory effect. Phytochemical analysis was also carried out which included qualitative and quantitative analysis of the honey samples for Tannins, Alkaloids, Total phenols, antioxidant potential and H2O2 levels.