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Study isolates powerful antibiotic protein in honey
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Using a novel approach of successively neutralizing the bactericidal factors of medical-grade honey, researchers have isolated an antibiotic protein called defensin-1 that accounts for honey’s well known antibacterial properties, according a study published in The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB).
"We have completely elucidated the molecular basis of the antibacterial activity of a single medical-grade honey, which contributes to the applicability of honey in medicine," said co-author Sebastian A.J. Zaat, PhD, in a FASEB press release. "Honey or isolated honey-derived components might be of great value for prevention and treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria."
Several bacteria tested
Zaat and colleagues tested several bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and extended-spectrum ß-lactamase producing Escherichia coli, against the antibiotic power of medical-grade honey and a honey-equivalent sugar solution. The bacteria were killed by 10% to 20% (v/v) honey, whereas 40% (v/v) or more of the sugar solution was needed for the same activity.
Honey accumulated up to 5.62 ± 0.54 mM H2O2 and contained 0.25 ± 0.01 mM methylglyoxal (MGO). The researchers performed enzymatic neutralization of the two compounds, yet honey still retained significant activity. After using B. subtilis to perform an activity-guided isolation of the honey’s remaining antimicrobial properties, the researchers discovered defensin-1, a protein that is added to honey by bees.
Future uses
The researchers then neutralized defensin-1 and found that honey only had minimal antibiotic activity left.
“Thus, we fully characterized the antibacterial activity of medical-grade honey,” the researchers wrote in their study.
Defensin-1 could one day be used to treat burns, skin infections and to develop new drugs for treating antibiotic-resistant infections, according to the press release.
- Reference:
Kwakman PHS, te Velde AA, de Boer L, et al. How honey kills bacteria. The FASEB Journal. 2010;24:2576-2582.
