🍯 Manuka honey can counteract cystic fibrosis
Researchers have found that manuka honey can kill a number of drug-resistant bacteria that cause infections. One example is Mycobacterium abcessus which commonly affects patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) or bronchiectasis. The researchers also found that adding honey reduced the harmful side effects of the medication used. Honey also reduces the dose needed for treatment.
Manuka honey comes from New Zealand and Australia and is created by bees that collect pollen and nectar from a specific type of tree, Leptospermum scoparium. This type of honey has long been known for its extensive medicinal properties, but it has now been shown to also have a wide range of antimicrobial properties.
Bacteria that cause cystic fibrosis were taken from 16 infected patients. Then they mixed amikacin (an antibiotic) with honey and used a lung model and spray. A nebulizer is a device that produces a fine mist of the liquid you inhale. Thanks to this spray of honey and amikacin, a lower dose of the antibiotic was needed.
According to the dose of amikacin needed to kill the infection is 16 micrograms per milliliter. When mixed with Manuka honey, only a dose of 2 micrograms per milliliter of amikacin was needed.
🍯 Manuka honey can counteract cystic fibrosis
“By combining an all-natural ingredient, such as manuka honey, with amikacin, one of the most important medications used to treat toxic Mycobacterium abscess, we’ve therefore found a potential way to kill this bacteria with eight times less drug than Dr. Jonathan Cox, lecturer and co-author from Aston University,” said Dr.
“This has the potential to significantly reduce amikacin-related hearing loss and significantly improve quality of life for many patients – especially those with cystic fibrosis,” Cox continues.
“I am excited about the results of this research as it paves the way for future trials and we hope that with the funding we can move forward with clinical trials, which could lead to a change in the strategy for treating this debilitating infection,” he explains.
