Biological Activities of Natural Honey Produced In Basrah Governorate

Abstract

Honey is a unique food product that contains biologically active compounds derived from Bees and plants. These bioactive compounds can be linked to antimicrobial activity has the ability to destroy or inhibit the growth of certain pathogenic microorganisms. Three kinds of local honey were collected in Basrah governorate: Ziziphus (Sidr) honey (S), Medicago (Barsim) honey (B), and Eucalyptus (Calbtose honey) (C). Collected from honey shops in the province. The antibacterial potential of each honey was evaluated using 12 pathogenic strains, Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumonia, Staphylococcus spp.), Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudonetum aeruginosa, Acinetobacter, and Pseudomonasus spp.), and fungi (Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata). The results of the antibacterial activity against bacteria and fungi showed all honey types were significantly effective against pathogenic isolates. The highest values of the inhibition zone were about 50 mm by Ziziphus (Sidr) honey (S). The Eucalyptus (Calbtose honey) (C) showed lower values compared to the other types. The biological activity against fungi (Antifungal) showed the different types of honey had less effect than the bacteria. The results of antioxidants showed that all types of honey showed different actions, the highest by Ziziphus (Sidr) honey (S) (60%), followed by Medicago (Barsim) honey (B) (55%) and the lowest was (53%) by Calbtose honey (C). The bioactivity of honey on the biofilm was showed the highest values of Biofilm inhibition level was formed by Staphylococcus aureus at concentrations of 25 % of Barsim (B) compared to the other types, on the other side the maximum inhibition of biofilm was formed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa at concentrations 25 % was for Barsim (B).