Page 13 - MI-2-2

Microbes & Immunity Broad-spectrum health benefits of honey

Different nectar types (such as clover, acacia, or manuka) 3. Beneficial properties of honey
produce honeys with slightly different carbohydrate profiles,
which in turn affect not only the sweetness but also the 3.1. Antibacterial activity
36
viscosity, color, and tendency to crystallize. Crystallization, Honey, as a valuable natural product, has been shown
for instance, is often influenced by the ratio of glucose to to have significant antibacterial activity, 38-40 which
fructose – honeys with higher glucose concentrations tend holds promise for addressing the growing problem of
to crystallize more quickly. Furthermore, some honeys antibiotic resistance in conjunction with advancements
37
may contain trace amounts of sugars such as maltotriose in modern medicine. Some of the honeys that have
41
and levan, which contribute to the overall diversity of their been studied include: Manuka honey, Tualang honey,
carbohydrate content. This variation gives each honey its Sidr honey, Revamil honey, Jarrah honey, Buckwheat
unique flavor, texture, and appearance, and is a key factor honey, Gelam honey, and Kelulut honey, with their
in determining the honey’s sensory qualities and potential origins and mechanisms of action detailed in the table
nutritional benefits. (Table 1).

Table 1. Comparison of the antibacterial activity of several types of honey

Honey Source Mechanisms Applications References
Manuka honey New Zealand, Methyl glycol Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Helicobacter 42-46
Australia pylori, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Tualang honey Malaysia • Inhibits cell wall synthesis Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella 47-53
• Interferes with cellular pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella
metabolism typhimurium
Sidr honey Yemeni • Disrupts cell membranes Oral bacteria, Escherichia coli 19,53,54
• Affects protein synthesis
Gelam honey Malaysia • Inhibits cell wall synthesis Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli 48
• Interferes with cellular metabolism
Revamil honey Netherlands H O Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella 55-57
2 2
enterica, wound healing
Jarrah honey Australia H O Streptococcus pyogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae 58-61
2 2
Buckwheat honey North America, Disrupts cell membranes Enterococcus faecalis, Proteus mirabilis 62-64
Europe

Figure 4. Some sugar compounds in honey

Volume 2 Issue 2 (2025) 5 doi: 10.36922/mi.6592