"The in vitro antibacterial activity of ""tazma mar"" honey produced by the stingless bee"

ABSTRACT

"In 1993 the antibacterial effect of tazma mar was evaluated on Salmonella typhimurium; Salmonella enteritidis; Escherichia coli; Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus at concentrations of 10; 15 and 20 percent in Brain Heart Infusion Broth. In the absence of ""tazma mar""; the Gram negative test strains reached counts greater than 10 the power of 8 cfu/ml within 12 hours and maintained the count until 48 hours. At 10 percent concentration; S. typhimurium; S. enteritidis and E. coli were not inhibited until 12 hours; but thereafter their number declined faster and complete inhibition was observed at 48 hours. Retarded growth and inhibition was noted at 15 percent and 20 percent concentrations. A more marked growth retardation and inhibition at all concentrations was noted on B. cereus and Staph. aureus. ""Tazma mar"" may be effective to treat food-borne infections at low concentrations."