Effect of Stingless-Bee (Trigona Itama) Honey Against Selected Gram-Positive Oral Pathogens

Rizwan Mahmood
Jun 10, 2024
Original Article

Rizwan Mahmood
School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia

Wan Nazatul Shima Shahidana*
School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia

*Corresponding address: School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
Email: shima@usm.my

https://doi.org/10.63137/jsteam.256955
Keywords: Community; Data; Health; Patient; Public; Vaccines

ABSTRACT

Objective

Honey is a naturally occurring resource with a long history of being utilized as complementary medicine. The generation of hydrogen peroxide by enzymes in most kinds of honey provides antibacterial action. However, another species of honey has significant antibacterial properties against some microorganisms. Therefore, this study aims to assess the antimicrobial effect of stingless bee (trigona itama) honey (kelulut) on S. aureus, E. faecalis, S. mutans and E. coli.

Methods

The honey was sourced locally in raw form and sent for decontamination by gamma irradiation which was achieved by exposing it to a dose of 25 kGy. The antimicrobial screening was carried out using the agar well diffusion technique, and concentrations of honey selected for this purpose were 1%, 5%, 10%, and 20%.

Results

The results demonstrated that Kelulut honey did not show any antimicrobial effect against the tested pathogens, which disagrees with numerous studies reported earlier. This preliminary data provides valuable insights as specific Gram-positive oral pathogens are resistant to the antimicrobial capability of Kelulut honey.

Conclusion

Kelulut honey was not able to demonstrate antimicrobial properties on disc diffusion method. Further research needs to be conducted to determine the accurate concentration of KH needed to inhibit virulent bacteria. Further research should be conducted to evaluate KH at different manuka levels and different temperatures.