The Magic Ingredient: Honey Can Save Lives

Scientists have discovered a powerful link between a medicinal type of honey and the destruction of a fungus that can cause blindness or even death. In the first-of-its-kind study, Zain Habib Alhindi, from University of Manchester in UK used different concentrations of Surgihoney, a biologically engineered honey that produces chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen, to test how effective it could be in destroying the fungus Fusarium.

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Fusarium is found on plants and in soil and can cause devastating infections in vulnerable people. Alhindi discovered even the lowest concentrations had a significant effect in breaking down the cell wall of the fungus, demonstrating its potential as a future treatment for patients."Chronic infections, such as those found in long-lasting wounds comprise about 60-80 per cent of infectious diseases in humans and the way fungi invade wounds is associated with the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics," Alhindi said.

"However, we know that biofilms - thin layers of microorganisms, which group together - contribute to the severity and delayed healing of chronic wounds," she said."Through my research I wanted to show the potential for honey as a healing agent to break through these biofilms and in doing so increase the process of healing. What I found amazing is that honey actually works better than some antifungals," she added."Honey has been used since ancient times for the treatment of several diseases. Only a limited number of investigations have looked at its effect on pathogenic fungi," said Malcolm Richardson from the University of Manchester.