Introduction

Honeys are complex substances produced by bees and may contain different compounds with bioactive properties, which vary according to the region where they are produced and collected (Pita-Calvo & Vásquez, 2017). The interest in using a natural product with therapeutic properties has increased in recent years. Honey has antibacterial activity, which has been widely recognized, against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Jantakee & Tragoolpua, 2015; Fyfe, Okoro, Paterson, Coyle, & McDougall, 2017; Poovelikunnel et al., 2018). The antibacterial properties of honey are attributed to its chemical composition such as osmolarity, the presence of hydrogen peroxide, low pH and the role of phytochemical compounds such as polyphenols, antioxidants, antimicrobial peptides as well as Maillard reaction products (Anthimidou & Mossialos, 2013).

The Aroeira honey is produced by Apis mellifera bees in the Brazilian Dry Forest. It is characterized by predominance of Myracrodruon urundeuva and in this biome, the scarcity of floral resources, associated with high temperatures and low humidity, induce bees to seek these massive food sources to ensure their food supply. This leads to the productions of a honey which has peculiar characteristics that differentiate it from other types of honey from other Brazilian regions: predominance of pollen grains of M. urundeuva, dark amber color, less sweet taste and does not crystallize at room temperature. This honey also has physical-chemical characteristics such as high electrical conductivity, high levels of ash content, less acid pH and acidity, high levels of invertase and the presence of melezitose and erlose (Bastos, Calaça, Simeão, and Cunha, 2016). It is a little-known honey and because of its organoleptic characteristics is less attractive for commercialization.

The use of natural products and the research for new applications have increased significantly in several areas such as agriculture and food industry and mainly in the pharmaceutical industry in search of products with therapeutic properties to assist in the treatment of diseases related to pathogenic and resistant microorganisms (Costa & Júnior, 2017).

S. aureus is one of the pathogens most involved in nosocomial infections and represents a serious public health problem because it is easily capable of acquiring resistance to routinely used antibiotics (Souza, et al., 2016). The toxic shock syndrome triggered by S. aureus is an acute and multisystemic toxin-mediated disease (TSST - Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin). Symptoms involve fever, skin infections (redness/rush), hypotension and diarrhea, and may be potentially fatal (Suga, Shiraishi, Takushima, & Harii, 2016).

E. coli is associated with infectious diseases involving all human tissues and organ systems. This species is one of the microorganisms commonly involved in Gram-negative septicemia and endotoxin-induced shock. Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) is a pathogenic E. coli line capable of causing disease in humans and is responsible for a large number of food-borne diseases associated with outbreaks of bloody diarrhea, which may be complicated by the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) (Jost, Bidet, Carrère, Kurkdjian, & Bonacorsi, 2016). Antimicrobial therapy is not recommended during EHEC infection because of the risk of developing HUS through the induction and/or production of Shiga toxin, the main virulence factor of EHEC (Licznerska, et al., 2016).

The objective of this work was to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of honeys produced by Apis mellifera bees in the north of Minas Gerais against pathogenic microorganisms of clinical importance S. aureus TSST and E. coli (EHEC) cause of hemorrhagic diarrhea.

Material and methods

Honey samples

Ten honey samples were collected in apiaries located at “Fazenda Coqueiros” (43º 18' 31" W and 15^o 48' 09" S). Honeys were identified and stored in plastic bottles sheltered from light and colling temperature (5 +/- 2°C). For the antimicrobial assays, the honey samples were diluted in sterile Mueller-Hinton broth in a ratio of 1: 1 and filtered on polyethersulfone membrane Millipore (0.22 μM). This solution was immediately used.

Target microorganisms

The following microorganisms were used for antimicrobial assays: S. aureus TSST (clinical isolate - Department of Food Microbiology and Toxicology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin) and E. coli (ATCC 43895). The microorganisms were grown in Petri dishes containing Mueller-Hinton agar (MHA) and incubated at 37°C for 18 to 20 hours before to antimicrobial inhibition assays for purity and viability observation.

Spectrophotometric assay for MIC determination

The MIC of the honeys was determined by the plate microdilution technique in CLSI (former NCCLS) guidelines (National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards [NCCLS] 2003), with slight adaptations. The plates were incubated at 37°C for 16 to 20 hours. The triphenyltetrazolium chloride dye 2, 3, 5 was used as an indicator of cell viability. The inhibition of microbial growth was measured on a microplate reader at 620 nm. MIC was defined as the lowest concentration of the sample capable of reducing 70% of microbial growth in natural products (Hughes, Lima, Lucchese, Góes Neto, & Uetanabaro, 2013). The assays were done in triplicate.

Results and discussion

Table 1 shows that honey samples inhibited the microbial growth of pathogenic bacteria of clinical importance.

Table 1
Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Aroeira honeys against S. aureus TSST and E. coli (EHEC) in different concentrations.

For the two target species tested was observed at all concentrations tested the reduction of bacterial growth. Inhibition values were distinct among the samples analyzed for the inhibition established percentage (≥ 70%). The antimicrobial activity of dark honeys was also observed for E. coli (Tenore et al., 2012) and for S. aureus (Anthimidou & Mossialos, 2013). The presence of different components of honey are responsible for the antimicrobial activity of honey, related to its acidity, high osmolarity and hydrogen peroxide. Non-peroxide factors such as lysozyme, phenolic acids and flavonoids also contribute for antibacterial properties (Anthimidou & Mossialos, 2013). The Aroeira honey shows a high level of phenolic compounds produced and provided by flowers to bees for honey production (Bastos et al., 2016).

The results of the microbial growth inhibition frequency for each target microorganisms are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1
Frequency (%) of inhibition of Aroeira honey against S. aureus TSST and E. coli (EHEC) in different concentrations.

The MIC for S. aureus was 6.25 and 12.5% (w/v) respectively in 20% of the samples, followed by MIC from 3.12 to 60% of the honeys tested. In contrast to E. coli, the highest inhibition potential was found in 50% of honey samples analyzed with MIC (3.125%) (w/v). For the other samples, the MIC of 6.25% (w/v) was observed in 20% of the analyzed honeys followed by 12.5 in 30% of the samples. The antimicrobial potential will be directly related to the botanical source and geographical location of each honey (Sherlock et al., 2010). In our study Aroeira honey showed high antimicrobial activity. The strong presence of the phenolic compounds detected in the idioblasts canals and other parts of Aroeira inflorescence may be related to the defense of the plant against the attack of herbivores and the growth of fungi, as well as in protection against water loss and temperature increase (Bruneton, 1999). These phenolic compounds are also present in different percentages according to the kind of honey and its origins (Tenore et al., 2012; Pita-Calvo & Vázquez, 2017). Therefore, it is one of the main components which grant antimicrobial activity in Aroeira honey. This observation is in agreement with previous studies with Manuka honey against E. coli and S. aureus (Inoue, Muryama, Seshimo, Takeba, & Yoshimur, 2005; Kwakman & Zaat, 2012) and Tualang honey (Boateng & Diunase, 2015), both dark honeys with strong antimicrobial potential.

Conclusion

Aroeira honey has few studies and its activity against bacteria, especially Gram-negative bacteria such as E. coli, is little known. Considering the results, the ideal concentration for inhibition of S. aureus and E. coli was 3.125% (w/v). The use of honeys as antimicrobials has shown to be advantageous for reducing the microbial load, since it was able to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the honeys observed in this work reinforces the potential for therapeutic use of Aroeira honey produced in the north of Minas Gerais, thus contributing to the aggregation value of this honey.

Acknowledgements

To Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Banco do Nordeste do Brasil S/A, Companhia de Desenvolvimento dos Vales do São Francisco e do Parnaíba (CODEVASF) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) for financial support.

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