Background:Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is linked to the development of the majority of peptic ulcers and some types of gastric cancers, and its antibiotic resistance is currently found worldwide.Objective:This study is aimed at evaluating the anti-H. pylori activity of Korean acacia honey and isolating the related active components using organic solvents.Material and Methods:The crude acacia honey was extracted with n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol. The EtOAc extract was subjected to octadecyl-silica chromatography. The extracts and fractions were then examined for anti-H. pylori activity using the agar well diffusion method. The antimicrobial activity of abscisic acid against H. pylori was investigated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs), and by performing a time-kill assay.Results:Abscisic acid related to the botanical origins of acacia honey from Korea has been analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography. The MICs and MBCs of abscisic acid were 2.7 ± 1.3 and 6.9 ± 1.9 μg/mL, respectively. The bactericidal activity of abscisic acid (at 10.8 μg/mL corresponding to 4 × MIC) killed the organism within 36–72 h. These results suggest that abscisic acid isolated from Korean acacia honey has antibacterial activity against H. pylori.Conclusion:Abscisic acid isolated from Korean acacia honey can be therapeutic and may be further exploited as a potential lead candidate for the development of treatments for H. pylori-induced infections.SUMMARY The crude acacia honey was extracted with n-hexane, dichloromethane, EtOAc, and n-butanolThe EtOAc extract yielded eight fractions and four subfractions were subsequently obtained chromatographicallyAbscisic acid was isolated from one subfractionAll the solvent extracts and fractions showed antibacterial activity against H. pyloriAbscisic acid exhibited antibacterial activity against H. pylori. Abbreviations used: MeOH: Methanol; EtOAc: Ethyl acetate; TSB: Trypticase soy broth; MIC: Minimum inhibitory concentration; MBC: Minimum bactericidal concentration; CFU: Colony-forming units; UPLC: Ultra-performance liquid chromatography; DAD: Diode array detector; UV: Ultraviolet; ODS: Octadecyl-silica; MS: Mass spectrometry; SE: Standard error.

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Emerging evidence indicates that inflammation in atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with immune-mediated abnormalities in the skin. The history and severity of AD are risk factors for dust mite allergy. Bee venom (BV) is used in a complementary medicine to treat various diseases and skin disorders. Purified BV is obtained through electric stunning with a BV collector, without the harming of honeybees, followed by the removal of impurities from the collected BV and lyophilization of the final product. To evaluate the therapeutic potential of purified BV for AD, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of BV on house dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) antigen-stimulated HaCaT keratinocytes. The results showed that D. farinae induced significant increased levels of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) compared to those in the normal control. However, purified BV inhibited the elevated expression of PAR2, ICAM-1 and IL-6 at the gene and protein levels. Thus, purified BV may have a therapeutic potential for the treatment and management of AD.