8/3/2019 Efficiency of Commercial and Natural Honey on Growth Inhibition of Escherichia Coli and Lac to Bacillus Casei

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Efficiency of Commercial and Natural Honey on Growth Inhibition of Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus casei 

SCOPE OF STUDY

Comparison between the Antimicrobial effect of Natural and Commercial Honey.

Would honey, as a Prebiotic, kill the probiotics or help the production of Probiotics?

INTRODUCTION

Way back into humanity’s history, struggles against pathogen-induced diseases havenever witnessed a ceasefire. As humans developed methods to combat said inducers of diseases, other pathogens emerge to take their place, and so the cycle never ends. One suchbacteria, Escherichia coli  commonly abbreviated (E. coli ), is a Gram-negative,  rod-shapedbacterium that is commonly found in the lower  intestine of  warm-blooded organisms

(endotherms). Most E. coli   strains are harmless, but some serotypes can cause serious foodpoisoning in humans, and are occasionally responsible for product recalls. The harmless strainsare part of the normal flora of the gut, and can benefit their hosts by producing vitamin K2, andby preventing the establishment of pathogenic bacteria within the intestine (Reid et al.,2001 ). 

Honey is a sweet food made by bees using nectar from flowers. The variety produced byhoney bees is the one most commonly referred to and is primary food source in waxhoneycombs inside the beehive. Beekeeping practices encourage overproduction of honey sothe excess can be taken from the colony (Harley et al.,1999). 

According to Peter C. Molan (2001), honey may be the “natural cure” for most bacterialinfections that could replace man-made antibiotics. In fact, it may be effective as an antibioticagainst pathogens, such as Escherichia coli  and Staphylococcus epidermidis . Honey is

approximately 83% sugar and about 17% water. To be exact, honey is made up of proteins,fats, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, volatile aromatic substances, fructose, glucose,sucrose, maltose, lactose, and bioflavonoid (depending on the type of honey and which flowersthe bees visited). Also small amounts pollen grain and protein get mixed into the honey(Bedforeshire Beekeepers, 2008). Researchers say that an enzyme in the honey turns into atiny amount hydrogen peroxide when combined with bodily fluids killing nearby bacteria. Honeyalso causes an increase in lymphocyte and phagocyte activity (Cooper et al.,2011).

A new research published in the July 2010 print edition of the FASEB Journal explainsfor the first time how honey kills bacteria. Specifically, the research shows that bees make aprotein that they add to the honey, called defensin-1, which could one day be used to treatburns and skin infections and to develop new drugs that could combat antibiotic-resistantinfections.

Prebiotics and Probiotics are new fields of nutritional research and broadlypromise benefits for digestion systems, heart function, immunity, and more. Prebiotics stimulatethe growth of healthy microflora that populates the large intestine. When these healthymicrofloras, which are beneficial bacteria, are allowed to flourish, they improve a range of bodyfunctions. Honey is a proven prebiotic (see Conway et al, 2010). Bifidobacteria are a group ofbacteria considered important to the health of the gastrointestinal tract (i.e., "good bacteria").Increasing the populations of these "good bacteria" (and suppressing potentially deleteriousmicroorganisms) is viewed as being important to maintain optimal gastrointestinal health. There

8/3/2019 Efficiency of Commercial and Natural Honey on Growth Inhibition of Escherichia Coli and Lac to Bacillus Casei

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are generally two approaches for increasing the populations of bifidobacteria in the gut: (1)ingesting the live and active cultures or (2) enhancing the growth of the indigenousbifidobacteria. The first method has been referred to as a "probiotic" while the second isconsidered a "prebiotic." In fact, the combination of prebiotics and probiotics, as in fermentedfoods and drinks, have a combined beneficial or symbiotic effect for your health. The symbioticeffect from fermented foods and drinks aids the population of your intestines with beneficial

bacteria, plus helps improve the survival, implantation, and growth of newly added microflorastrains.

Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) is a species of genus Lactobacillus  found in the humanintestine and mouth. This particular species of Lactobacillus  is documented to have a wide pHand temperature range, and complements the growth of L. acidophilus , a producer of theenzyme amylase (a carbohydrate-digesting enzyme). Among the best-documented, probioticsL.casei , L. casei DN-114001, and L. casei Shirota have been extensively studied and are widelyavailable as functional foods and drinks such as Yakult. (Seesuriyachan P, et.al, 1997) Honey'srole as a prebiotic adds value to fermented dairy products (Yakult) through its ability to providefood for the good bacteria; this improves shelf life and absorption qualities of these products.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

21 emba agar plates

One mL of cultured E.coli

One mL of L. casei (Yakult product)

Pipettor/ Inoculating loop/ Wire loop

Distilled Water

Natural Honey

Commercial Honey

5 small beaker

10mL sugar solution

SIGNIFICANCE of STUDY

Provide comparison between the antibacterial effect of Natural honey and Commercialhoney.

Pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli are common food safety threat in the country.Unfortunately, most of these bacteria are resistant to antibiotics. With the specific proteinfound in honey, called defensin-1, which could combat antibiotic-resistant infections  – studies could be further conducted.

Bee farming can be a good source of income. Visayas and Mindanao are suitable forbees, which are used for honey production. With our perfectly weather condition, there isan immense potential of honey production in the world market (as an agricultural productand as an antibacterial agent).

Probiotics hold great promise for research on its benefit for digestion and other bodyprocesses. Honey as a prebiotic helps stimulate the growth of this probiotic bacteria inthe body.

Promote Natural and Healthy lifestyle through consumption of Natural Honey overcommercialized and processed honey.