APIMEDICA Presentation: Honey and Helicobacter Pylori

APIMEDICA 2006, October 13, 2006, Athens, Greece
Presenter: Professor Bernard Descottes, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Limoges, France

Summary Points:

* Studies have shown honey to have significant inhibitory activity against a number of bacterial agents such as Streptococcus, Bacteroides, Staphylococcus, and Enterobacter.
* Antibacterial substances in or produced by honey include hydrogen peroxide and flavonoides.
* Honey varieties higher in hydrogen peroxide content are more effective in killing Helicobacter pylori as compared to honey varieties with lower levels of hydrogen peroxide.
* Thyme honey, with its low pH and high osmolarity, is most effective in eliminating in vitro Helicobacter pylori.
* Ulcers can be treated at a low cost by thyme honey, but it is difficult to maintain a high concentration of honey at the gastric mucosa for extended periods.