Relationship between physicochemical parameters and antimicrobial activity of Moldavian honey

Abstract

Six samples of Moldavian honey from different regions were analyzed, physical and chemical parameters, the content of macro-, microelements, and aminoacids were determined, as well as antibacterial and antifungal activity. The antibacterial and antifungal properties were determined using the double serial dilution method. It was established that all of the samples of acacia, linden, and sunflower honey possess high antibacterial activity. The bioactivity of the samples of honey was proven to be dependent on the type and origin of honey. Sunflower honey has higher antibacterial potency than linden, but linden honey is more active than acacia. Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species proved to be susceptible to Moldavian honey. Acacia, linden, and sunflower honey, possess high antibacterial potency against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa even at a dilution of 1:16 (2.5%). The studied samples showed weak antifungal activity against Candida albicans, with the MIC determined at 1:2 dilution (20%). For linden and sunflower honey, the antifungal activity was higher than for acacia honey. The samples with the best bioactivity (sunflower honey) contain a higher amount of free acids, had lower pH values of the honey solution, and these samples also have the highest content of OMF.