Honey will help to destroy antibiotic-resistant microorganisms
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021
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One of the latest studies of scientists has shown that honey, which has long established itself as one of the most effective agents in wound healing, also has the ability to combat the resistance of pathogenic microorganisms to antibiotics.
The resistance of pathogenic microflora to antibacterial drugs develops over time and as a result, antibiotics become ineffective, and a person remains vulnerable to infection. In this regard, all health protection units call for the use of antibacterial drugs only as a last resort and continue to search for ways that would help control and combat the resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics.
In numerous studies, it was found that honey can significantly help in the fight against infectious diseases. Unusual properties of honey include its ability to act on the infection on several levels, which makes bacteria harder to develop resistance. In the composition of honey, an enzyme is present that promotes the production of hydrogen peroxide, organic acids, flavonoids. It also contains a high level of sugar and polyphenols, which destroy microorganisms at the cellular level. As the research team notes, as a result of the high sugar content in honey, an osmotic effect is obtained and as a result, water is drawn from the bacterial cells, which eventually leads to their death. In addition, in other studies it has been established that honey is also capable of inhibiting the ability of bacteria to communicate among themselves, to control their own behavior through the secretion of molecular signals and to create biofilms. Scientists say that honey interferes with the ability of bacteria to communicate and guide their behavior, so that the activity of pathogenic microorganisms is reduced, and sensitivity to antibacterial drugs is increased. Some bacteria with the help of such a system of interrelation are able to control the production of toxins that affect the pathogenicity of microflora and their ability to provoke the disease.
Also, one of the main advantages of honey, according to experts, is its targeted action on the blocking of bacterial enzymes associated with the growth of microorganisms, while antibiotics do not. Most antibacterial drugs eventually become ineffective, as bacteria develop resistance to the mechanism of their action, and they simply do not react to them.
Numerous laboratory studies, as well as some clinical studies in this field, also confirmed the presence of antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial effect in honey against many microorganisms. The research team was engaged in a more in-depth study of the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of honey. As they noted, standard testing of the antioxidant effect of honey, isolation and determination of antioxidant polyphenolic compounds was carried out. Also, the antibacterial effect of honey on various pathogenic microorganisms was studied, for example, honey showed good efficacy against intestinal, pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus.
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