The antimycobacterial effect of honey: an in vitro study

Avicenna recommended honey in the treatment of tuberculosis. Honey has potent bactericidal activity against many pathogenic organisms, but its antimycobacterial effect has never been studied. In this study the antimycobacterial effect of honey was evaluated in vitro. Standard Lowenstein-Jenson media and L-J media containing various concentrations of honey were prepared. Two bacilli from positive cultures and two from positive smears of the affected patients were inoculated on each of the prepared plates. It was demonstrated that the growth of mycobacteria was inhibited by adding 10% honey to the media. Mycobacteria did not grow in culture media containing 10% and 20% honey while it grew in culture media containing 5%, 2.5% and 1% honey. The good antimycobacterial effect, sterility, low cost, and easy availability of honey makes it an ideal antimycobacterial agent.