Traditional and Molecular Identification of Bacterial Contamination from Honey (Processed and Unprocessed) and Their Control by Phytotherapy

Abstract

Honey used as a potential source of medicine traditionally. Today honey is contaminated due to improper handling which leads to cause various infections. So, the aim of current study was to isolate and identify the bacterial contamination from both commercial (processed) and natural (unprocessed) honey of Pakistan. These bacteria were treated with the medicinal plants and antibiotics to cure the infectious diseases. In the present study, bacterial population was investigated from five commercial and five natural honey products. Ten pathogenic bacteria were isolated from all honey products. Only one was isolated from processed honey, while the remaining nine were isolated from unprocessed honey. Bacillus cereus, Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium septicum, Bacillus weihenstephanensis, Clostridium acetobutylicum Proteus mirabilis, Myroides odoratimimus were identified through ribotyping and traditional microbial techniques. They are recognized as a common soil and water dwelling bacteria. Antibacterial effect of medicinal plants and standard antibiotics was evaluated against these pathogens through agar disc diffusion method. Among the tested medicinal plants, Bacillus cereus and Bacillus anthracis were strongly inhibited by methanolic extract of N. sativa and Bacillus weihenstephanensis was inhibited by Citrus sinensis. On the other hand, Aloe vera and Cinnamon umverum had no effect on all the tested pathogens. All tested bacterial pathogens were strongly inhibited by medicinal plants as compared to tested antibiotics (Cefixime and ampicillin).  It was concluded that the high number of pathogenic bacteria in unprocessed honey indicated secondary contaminations of honey by poor handling. Phytotherapy indicated that medicinal plants could be used as a potential source of therapeutic agents to prevent the transfer of infectious diseases.