KMID : 1161420110140101284
|
|
Journal of Medicinal Food 2011 Volume.14 No. 10 p.1284 ~ p.1288
|
|
A Survey of the In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Heather (Erica Sp.) Organic Honey
|
|
Feas Xesus
Estevinho Maria L.
|
|
Abstract
|
|
|
Monofloral heather (Erica sp.) honey samples (n=89), harvested in Portugal according to European organic beekeeping rules, were analyzed to test their antifungal effect against Candida albicans, Candida krusei, and Cryptococcus neoformans. A synthetic honey solution was also tested to determine antifungal activity attributable to sugars. The specific growth rate (¥ì) values showed that growth of all the yeasts was reduced in the presence of honey. The honey concentration (% wt/vol) that inhibited 10% of the yeast growth (Xmin) was 13.5% for C. albicans, 20.5% for C. krusei, and 17.1% for C. neoformans. The respective concentrations of heather honey and synthetic honey in the C. krusei culture medium above 60% (wt/vol) that inhibited 90% of the yeast growth (Xmax) and Xmin, respectively, were established, whereas C. albicans and C. neoformans were more resistant because Xmax values were not reached over the range tested (10?60%, wt/vol). Heather honey might be tapped as a natural resource to look for new medicines for the treatment of mycotic infections. Further studies are now required to demonstrate if this antifungal activity has any clinical application.
|
|
KEYWORD
|
|
antifungal effects, Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Cryptococcus neoformans, Erica species, honey
|
|
FullTexts / Linksout information
|
|
|
|
Listed journal information
|
|
|
|