Review Article

Honey: A Potential Therapeutic Agent for Managing Diabetic Wounds

Table 2

The effectiveness of honey against microorganisms that are usually found in diabetic wounds.

Microorganisms found in diabetic wounds and referencesMicroorganisms found to have sensitivity to honeyHoney origin and type with reference

Gram-positive aerobes
Staphylococcus species [14, 145153], including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus epidermidis Staphylococcus aureus Nigeria, unprocessed raw honey [154]
New Zealand, Pasture and Manuka honey [60]
United Arab Emirates, Manuka honey [155]
Saudi Arabia, commercial honey [156]
USA, commercial honey [157]
MRSA ATCC 43300,
MRSA 00791 and 28965
Rio San Pedro Ltd. Chile, Ulmo 90 honey [158]
Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923Australia, Medihoney [159]
-Hemolytic streptococci [145, 146, 148, 151, 152], including Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae Streptococcus pyogenes Nigeria, unprocessed raw honey [154]
United Arab Emirates, Manuka honey [155]
Bacillus species [145]Bacillus cereus,
Bacillus subtilis
India, raw local honey [160]
Corynebacterium sp. [14]Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Egypt, various monofloral honeys [161]

Gram-negative aerobes
Escherichia coli [146150]Escherichia coli Nigeria, unprocessed raw honey [154]
United Arab Emirates, Manuka honey [155]
India, raw and processed local honey [160]
Rio San Pedro Ltd. Chile, Ulmo 90 honey [158]
Australia, Medihoney [159]
Saudi Arabia, commercial honey [156]
Proteus species [14, 146, 147, 149, 150, 153, 162]Proteus mirabilis (indole positive)Nigeria, unprocessed raw honey [154]
Klebsiella species [146, 162]Klebsiella pneumoniae Nigeria, unprocessed raw honey [154]
Australia, Medihoney [159]
Turkey; Anzer, Bayburt and Chest nut honey [163]
Pseudomonas aeruginosa [14, 148150, 153, 162]Pseudomonas aeruginosa Ethiopia, Raw honey [164]
India, raw and processed local honey [160]
Rio San Pedro Ltd. Chile, Ulmo 90 honey [158]
India, local marketed honey [165]
Australia, Medihoney [159]
Saudi Arabia, commercial honey [156]

Anaerobes
Bacteroides species [14, 146148, 153]Bacteroides fragilis Nigeria, unprocessed raw honey [154]
Clostridium species [146, 147]Clostridium welchii, Clostridium tetani Nigeria, unprocessed raw honey [154]
Peptostreptococcus species [146, 148]Peptostreptococcus Thailand, commercial honey [108]
Enterococci [14, 147, 148]Enterococcus faecalis Nigeria, unprocessed raw honey [154]
Australia, Medihoney [159]
Prevotella species [148]Prevotella intermedia, Prevotella nigrescens Brazil, propolis [166]
Porphyromonas species [148]Porphyromonas gingivalis New Zealand, Manuka honey [167]

Fungus
Candida tropicalis [149, 150]Candida tropicalis Iran, local honey [168]
Candida albicans [150]Candida albicans Nigeria, unprocessed raw honey [154]
United Arab Emirates, Manuka honey [155]
Iran, local honey [168]