The antimicrobial activity of prototype modified honeys that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

BackgroundAntimicrobial resistance continues to be a global issue in healthcare organisations. Honey has long been shown to possess wound healing and antimicrobial properties that are dependent on a number of physical and chemical properties of the honey. We tested the antimicrobial activity of a medicinal honey, Surgihoney® (SH) and two prototype modified honeys made by Apis mellifera (honeybee) against Staphylococcus aureus (NCIMB 9518). We also examined the modified honey prototypes for the ability to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) by changing the level of production of hydrogen peroxide from the samples.MethodsSurgihoney® (SH) was compared with two modified honeys, Prototype 1 (PT1) and Prototype 2 (PT2) using a bioassay method against a standard strain of Staphylococcus aureus. Further work studied the rate of generation of ROS hydrogen peroxide from these preparations.ResultsSurgihoney® antimicrobial activity was shown to be largely due to ROS hydrogen peroxide production. By modification of Surgihoney®, two more potent honey prototypes were shown to generate between a two- and three-fold greater antibacterial activity and up to ten times greater ROS peroxide activity.ConclusionsSurgihoney® is a clinically available wound antiseptic dressing that shows good antimicrobial activity. Two further honey prototypes have been shown to have antimicrobial activity that is possible to be enhanced due to demonstrated increases in ROS peroxide activity.

Glucose oxidase activity and hydrogen peroxide accumulation in Croatian honeys

“…Such slight changes in pH upon honey dilution were not surprising, since it is well known that honey acts as a buffer (Buba et al, 2013). (Brudzynski, 2006;Brudzynski et al, 2011;Brudzynski et al, 2017), by measurement of oxygen concentration (decomposition of H 2 O 2 by exogenously added catalase) (Bang et al, 2004), while only Cooke et al (2015) measured hydrogen peroxide content in honeys using MQuant test strips, but examined special types of honey. According to our knowledge, there is only one other report on the H 2 O 2 content in honeys where MQuant test strips were used (Kerkvliet, 1996).…”

“…However, in this research authors examined the GOX levels in honey by immunobloting technique using a polyclonal antibody against the GOX, while hydrogen peroxide content in honeys diluted to 40 % of volume to volume ratio was determined after four hours of incubation at 37 °C. The actual content of H 2 O 2 in honeys presents the net rate of its production by glucose oxidase and its decomposition by the action of catalase, and/or antioxidant action of ascorbic acid, as well as some other endogenous compounds which might act as antioxidants (Brudzynski 2006;Cooke et al, 2015;Kerkvliet, 1996;Kwakman and Zaat 2012;Schepartz and Subers, 1964;. Thus, it seems quite possible that the presence of abovementioned H 2 O 2 decomposing molecules in honey caused the lack of correlation between H 2 O 2 levels in the examined honeys and the GOX activity.…”

“…Its antimicrobial activity has been attributed to hyper-osmolarity, low pH (acidity), and the presence of antimicrobial compounds such as hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), methylglyoxal, bee defensin-1, phenolic acids (syringic, ferulic, cinnamic, benzoic, and caffeic acids), and flavonoids (pinocembrin, chrysin, galangin, pinobanksin) (Bang et al, 2004;Brudzynski et al, 2017;Brudzynski 2006;Cooke et al, 2015;Gradvol et al, 2015;Kerkvliet, 1996;Kwakman and Zaat, 2012). …”

Hydrogen Peroxide: A Potential Wound Therapeutic Target

“…Modern [79] . Some biologically modified honey has also been reported to stimulate monocytes to secrete cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and it may be attributed to H 2 O 2 [80] .…”

Reactive oxygen: A novel antimicrobial mechanism for targeting biofilm-associated infection

“…ROS is the first entirely novel antimicrobial agent to reach early clinical use for several decades [3,4]. At present, ROS is available for clinical use in the form of Surgihoney Reactive Oxygen (SHRO), a natural honey with enhanced ROS activity, although there is a non-honey-based ROS gel due to be available for clinical use shortly.…”