CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction

Infections and other health related problems have been of great

concern to human beings and chemotherapy is the main approach in

the treatment of such conditions. Investigation into the microbial

flora of wound began in the late 19

th

century and since then;

improvements in techniques have facilitated the recovery

identification and enumeration of a wide variety of microbial species.

Most wounds support relatively stable polymicrobial communities

(Bowkler et.al; 2001) often without signs of clinical infection

(Hanssonet al; 1993).

However potential pathogens may be present and the delicate

balance between colonized wound and an infected wound depends on

the interplay of complex host and microbial influences (Emmerson

1998). The development of wound infection has deleterious effect on

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patients by causing increased pain discomfort inconveniences and

can lead to life threatening conditions or even death.

Major challenges encountered with antibiotics in clinical use are

resistance to antibiotics which leads eventually to failure of the

treatment (Blair 2004). Infectious diseases are known to be treated

with herbal remedies throughout the history of mankind; even today

natural substances continue to play a major role in primary health

care as therapeutic remedies in many developing countries (Jonathan

et.al; 2007). Over the years there have been reports of the production

of more potent antibiotics e.g. third and fourth generation of

cephalosporin by pharmaceutical companies which are not readily

available and expensive. Problems of various antibiotics include low

efficacy side effect which has lead investigations into natural and

potent antibacterial seeming to be the right step to take. The invasion

of pathogenic organism is on the rise as a result effects are been

made to develop antibacterial agent from natural sources for better

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therapeutic effect (Gills 1992). The therapies have drawn the interest

of both public and medicinal communities. Current research has been

focused on herbal and aromatherapy product. However a number of

their product such as honey has shown therapeutic promise.

The presence in honey of various inhibins as described by (Doid and

Dzaio 1937) has been reported by several investigators. Honey was

used to treat infected wound as long as 2000 years ago before

bacterial were discovered to be the cause of infection in c.50 AD

Dioscorides described honey as been “good for all rotten and hollow

ulcers” (Gunther 1959). More recently honey has been reported to

have an inhibitory effect to around 60 species of bacterial including

aerobes and anaerobes Gram positive and Gram negative (Molan

1992). The current prevalence of the therapeutic use of ancient

remedies include honey committee on science and technology.

1.1 Aims and objectives.

1. To determine antibacterial potential of honey.

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2. To investigate the mechanism of antibacterial action of honey.

3. To determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of honey on

bacterial isolates from wounds of human beings.

4. To yield additional knowledge such as the possible dilution of

honey sample and activity of the honey sample in bacterial

infection.

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