Scientists Identify a Secret Ingredient in Honey That Kills Bacteria

New information has been uncovered for those looking for a natural alternative to antibiotics. Research published in the July 2010 print edition of the FASEB Journal explains for the first time how honey kills bacteria. The research shows that bees make a protein that they add to the honey called defensin-1, which can be used to treat burns and skin infections.

"We have completely elucidated the molecular basis of the antibacterial activity of medical-grade honey, which contributes to the applicability of honey in medicine," said Sebastian A.J. Zaat, Ph.D., a researcher involved in the work from the Department of Medical Microbiology at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam. "Honey or isolated honey-derived components might be of great value for prevention and treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria."

To make the discovery, Zaat and colleagues investigated the antibacterial activity of medical-grade honey in test tubes against a panel of antibiotic-resistant, disease-causing bacteria. They developed a method to selectively neutralize the known antibacterial factors in honey and determine their individual antibacterial contributions. Ultimately, researchers isolated the defensin-1 protein, which is part of the honeybee immune system and is added by bees to honey. After analysis, the scientists concluded that the vast majority of honey's antibacterial properties come from that protein. This information also sheds light on the inner workings of honey bee immune systems, which may one day help breeders create healthier honey bees.

"We've known for many years that honey can be good for what ails us, but we haven't known how or why it works," said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of the FASEB Journal, "Now that we've extracted a potent antibacterial ingredient from honey, we can make it still more effective and take the sting out of bacterial infections."

Even though all types of honey contain healing properties to some degree, it has been determined that Manuka honey from New Zealand seems to have the highest levels of these healing properties. Therefore, active medical-grade Manuka Honey is most appropriate for medicinal use. For more information or to purchase Manuka Honey, and Manuka Honey products, call 1-866-427-73269 or visit www.HoneymarkProducts.com.

Facts About UMF Manuka Honey

Honey that is produced from the nectar of the Manuka tea tree flowers has unique antibacterial properties which are not present in honey derived from other plants. Some honeys are no more antibacterial than sugar, while active Manuka honey with a high UMF rating can be diluted more than 100-fold and still destroy infectious bacteria.

Most honey (including Manuka honey) contains the enzyme glucose oxidase which, in the presence of oxygen, produces Hydrogen peroxide which is antibacterial when it comes in contact with body tissue or serum. UMF Manuka honey contains another antibacterial component in addition to the presence of the enzyme glucose oxidase. This second antibacterial component is called the Unique Manuka Factor. There is evidence that UMF and hydrogen peroxide provide synergistic antibacterial action.

UMF® is the registered trademark of the Active Manuka Honey Industry in New Zealand. Only Manuka honey that is regulated by this association can bare the UMF® trademark on the label accompanied by a number which indicates the strength of the Unique Manuka Factor. A minimum of UMF 10+ is required to carry the UMF® trademark and to be considered suitable for medicinal purposes. All Manuka honey carrying the UMF® label has been tested and certified in a licensed facility.

The UMF numbers (i.e. UMF 16) come from a standard laboratory test of antibacterial activity, with the honey being compared with a standard antiseptic phenol, (also known as carbolic) for potency. For example, Manuka honey with a UMF rating of 10+ would be equivalent to the antiseptic potency of 10% solution of phenol, as used as carbolic disinfectant; a honey with a rating of 15+ would have a potency equivalent to a 15% solution of phenol.

UMF is stable, so there is no concern about Manuka honey losing its activity in storage. The UMF antibacterial activity has been shown in scientific studies to diffuse deeper into skin tissues than the hydrogen peroxide from other types of honey.

Manuka Honey UMF 10 or higher is more effective against bacteria than other types of honey. For example, active Manuka honey with UMF is about twice as effective as other honey against Eschericihia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the most common causes of infected wounds. Manuka Honey UMF 20 or higher is not recommended because of reports that it can cause sensitivity in the form of a burning or stinging sensation. Manuka Honey 16+ is the most desirable potency for most applications.

Manuka honey that merely bears a number without "UMF®" preceding it is most likely not regulated or laboratory tested. Therefore, consumers have no assurance that this Manuka Honey is of the potency that is advertised on the label.

For more information or to purchase Manuka Honey UMF16+, call 1-866-427-7329 or visit www.HoneymarkProducts.com.

Unique Antibacterial Compound Found in Manuka Honey

Throughout history, honey has been known for its healing properties. It was eventually discovered that honey derived from certain plants have more healing qualities than others. For decades, scientists have been researching various honey derived from different plants in New Zealand, and have identified Manuka honey as having significantly higher levels of antibacterial properties than other types of honey.

Most forms of honey are antibacterial due to the presence of glucose oxidase enzyme. When this enzyme comes in contact with body tissue, it releases low levels of hydrogen peroxide, which can destroy bacteria. When studying honey derived from the nectar of the Manuka plant (Leptospermum scoparium), researchers discovered that it contained a second antibacterial component in addition to the glucose oxidase enzyme. This component is unique to the Manuka plant and contains antibacterial properties that are effective against highly resistant forms of bacteria such as MRSA, VRE and H. pylori.

The additional compound that is present in some Manuka honey has become known as the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF). Its potency is able to be quantified in laboratory testing and identified by numbers ranging from 0 through 30. To date, no harmful bacteria have been able to develop a resistance to active Manuka honey with a UMF rating of 10 or higher. Manuka honey is also resistant to heat and the catalase effect of body serum which can negatively affect the hydrogen peroxide activity of other types of honey. This makes active Manuka honey a much more viable option for medicinal use.

Manuka Honey has tremendous healing properties and can be used for stomach aches and sore throats by stimulating the immune system and helping to prevent dehydration. It also provides outstanding success in treating infected wounds that have not responded to conventional treatment. Manuka honey is the only honey available that is tested for its antibacterial activity. There is evidence that UMF and hydrogen peroxide may have a synergistic action in contributing to the antibacterial activity of Manuka Honey. UMF is not affected by the catalase enzyme present in body tissue and serum. This enzyme will break down the hydrogen peroxide which is the major antibacterial factor in other types of honey. If a honey without UMF were used to treat an infection, the potency of the honey's antibacterial activity would most likely be reduced because of the action of catalase.

The enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide in honey is destroyed when honey is exposed to heat and light. However, UMF is stable, so there is no concern about Manuka honey losing its activity. The enzyme in other honeys becomes active only when the honey is diluted. However, UMF is active in full strength honey, which will provide a more potent antibacterial action, diffusing into the depth of infected tissues.

Non-UMF honey needs oxygen to produce hydrogen peroxide and may not work under wound dressings or in wound cavities. However, Manuka Honey with UMF is active in all situations. The enzyme in non-UMF honey becomes active only when the acidity of the honey is neutralized by body fluids, but then the honey is diluted. It could be destroyed by the protein-digesting enzymes that are in wound fluids. However, UMF antibacterial activity diffuses deeper into skin tissues than does the hydrogen peroxide from other types of honey. Therefore, UMF Manuka Honey is more effective against bacteria than other types of honey. In fact, it's about twice as effective against E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus which are the two most common causes of infected wounds. Manuka Honey UMF 16 is recommended for most applications.

For more information or to purchase Manuka Honey, call 1-866-427-7329 or visit www.HoneymarkProducts.com.

How Manuka Honey Fights Infection

Scientists at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, have uncovered that Manuka honey can help fight infection by destroying key bacterial proteins.

Led by Dr. Rowena Jenkins, the research team investigated the mechanisms of Manuka honey action. They found that its antibacterial properties were not due solely to the sugars present in the honey. They grew Meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the laboratory and treated it with and without Manuka honey for four hours. The experiment was repeated with sugar syrup to determine whether the effects were due to sugar content in honey alone.

The bacterial cells were then broken and the proteins isolated and separated on a system that displayed each protein as an individual spot. The researchers saw many fewer proteins from the Manuka honey-treated MRSA cells, and one particular protein called FabI seemed to be completely missing.

FabI is a protein that is needed for fatty acid biosynthesis. This essential process supplies the bacteria with precursors for important cellular components such as lipopolysaccarides and its cell wall.

The scientists said that the absence of those proteins in honey-treated cells could help explain the mode of action of Manuka honey in killing MRSA.

Manuka and other honeys have been known to have wound healing and anti-bacterial properties for some time. However, the way in which they act is still not known. If scientists can discover exactly how Manuka honey inhibits MRSA, it could be used more frequently as a first-line treatment for infections with bacteria that are resistant to many currently available antibiotics.

The work was presented at the Society for General Microbiology’s meeting at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.

Honey, Natures Medicine

It has been discovered that honey contains natural healing properties that are capable of treating a wide range of health conditions.

The idea of using honey as a medicine should not be viewed as being far-fetched. After all, honey is derived from the nectar of flowers and many plants are well known for their medicinal qualities. Honeybees enhance the medicinal qualities of the nectar by adding enzymes to it when producing honey.

Honey is considered to be antimicrobial and capable of destroying many of the infectious microorganisms that cause disease and health complications. Whether it's a bacteria, virus, fungus or parasite, honey inhibits these pesty little microbes from causing harm. Honey has been known to be effective in destroying the following pathogens:

* Bacillus anthracis
* Corynebacterium diphtheriae
* Escherichia coli
* Haemophilus influenzae
* Listeria monocytogenes
* Mycobactyerium tuberulosis
* Pasteurella multocida
* Pseudomonas aeruginosa
* Salmonella
* Serratia marcescens
* Shigella
* Staphylococcus aureus
* Streptococcus species
* Vibrio cholerae

Honey’s antibacterial properties vary predicated on the floral source, more specifically, the flowers that the bees gather nectar from. Some types of honey are more effective as a medicine than others. For example, Manuka Honey from New Zealand is exceptionally effective in treating many conditions from stomach ulcers to MRSA Staph infections. Manuka Honey’s healing properties are due to osmolarity, acidity, hydrogen peroxide and unique plant derived components. As a result, Manuka Honey is being viewed as an excellent alternative to traditional forms of medicine, particularly in cases where conventional medicine has proven to be ineffective.

“The therapeutic potential of honey is grossly underestimated and underutilized,” says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International, which is a manufacturer of health care products containing active Manuka Honey as a natural healing agent. “It’s health benefits, both internally and topically on the skin, are being recognized worldwide and will most likely replace many chemical-based ingredients in health care products in the future.”

For more information or to purchase Manuka Honey and Manuka Honey products, call 1-866-427-7329 or visit www.HoneymarkProducts.com.