ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ROYAL JELLY AND RAPE HONEY AGAINST METHICILLIN-RESISTANT Staphylococcus aureus STRAINS

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance of pathogenic bacteria is a growing public health problem. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) represents a significant burden on healthcare services because it is involved in severe difficult to treat infections in humans. Several non-antibiotic approaches regarding the treatment of infections caused by MRSA as well as of other resistant bacteria have been studied. Since ancient times royal jelly and honey have been considered both as foods and medicines, and recently have been identified as potential alternative medicines to treat bacterial infections, especially of the skin and soft tissue. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antibacterial effect of honey, royal jelly and their mixtures against MRSA in vitro. At least 3 decimal reductions of MRSA count were observed in Tryptone Soy broth with concentrations of 40% rape honey (RP), 20% and 30% royal jelly (RJ), 30% RJ:RH (1:100). In general, honey and royal jelly, individually or in combination, appeared to have a potential as alternative therapeutic