A biofilm is a complex system of germs that can connect tightly to surface areas, like flesh in a wound infection. Bacteria that are protected in a biofilm are tough to eliminate, and treatments today are not constantly effective at eliminating them.
By comparing the use of vinegar and acetic acid alone, then in mix with medical-grade honey, the scientists discovered that it was particularly the combination of the 2 substances that was best. “We applied a low dose of honey, that alone didnt kill the bacteria, and a low dosage of acetic acid that also might not eliminate the germs alone,” according to Dr Harrison. The burden of injury care and infections is increasing year by year, with causative conditions such as diabetes on the increase.
Previous research study has revealed how efficient some natural solutions can be at treating infections. Manuka honey has actually been proven to possess antimicrobial properties and aid injury recovery and vinegar is likewise shown to be a helpful antiseptic.
Medical professionals have used this info in medication today. While they use manuka honey to treat antibiotic-resistant infections they only utilize acetic acid, the active component of vinegar, and do not presently integrate the two.
A video summary of the research. Credit: Microbiology Society Fourth image adapted from Garcia Maset et al. 2023 Figure Fig. 4D
Dr. Erin Connelly, Dr. Freya Harrison, and their group from the University of Warwick are the first to explore what takes place when both honey and vinegar are combined and applied to biofilms of germs grown in the laboratory.
Having recognized the gap, scientists started by examining the results of combinations of two medical-grade honey lotions with natural vinegar or acetic acid. They wished to learn how effective the treatment is at eliminating microorganisms, and which mix worked best.
If whole vinegar is more antibacterial than simply acetic acid, they were likewise curious to know. Dr Erin Connelly, a researcher on the study, said, “In our survey of premodern dishes we saw a pattern of combining honey and vinegar to clean or dress wounds and swellings, and this influenced us to concentrate on that combination in our analysis.”
By comparing the use of vinegar and acetic acid alone, then in mix with medical-grade honey, the researchers found that it was specifically the mix of the two compounds that was best. “We used a low dose of honey, that alone didnt eliminate the bacteria, and a low dose of acetic acid that also might not kill the germs alone,” according to Dr Harrison.
The researchers also discovered that some natural vinegar had a higher capability to eliminate bacteria than an equivalent dose of pure acetic acid. In particular, pomegranate vinegars are fascinating prospects for additional research study; these had strong antibacterial activity and, like acetic acid, had activity when integrated with honey.
Whilst more research needs to occur to comprehend the system and best dose mixes of the combined honey and vinegar, these promising results have shown exciting enough that the researchers now propose to take a modern-day version of oxymel into the clinical trial stage.
Professor Joseph Hardwicke, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire discusses “This is an interesting area of research to utilize traditional treatments in the contemporary NHS. The problem of injury care and infections is increasing year by year, with causative conditions such as diabetes rising. Perhaps the knowledge of our forefathers can be utilized to enhance the existing care we can offer to our clients, at a lower cost.”
Referral: “Sweet and sour synergy: exploring the antibiofilm and anti-bacterial activity of acetic acid and vinegar combined with medical-grade honeys” by Freya Harrison, Anisa Blower1, Christopher de Wolf and Erin Connelly, 12 July 2023, Microbiology.DOI: 10.1099/ mic.0.001351.
Researchers have discovered that a mix of honey and vinegar, understood historically as oxymel, displays significant anti-bacterial properties against biofilm-protected bacteria, providing a possibly reliable and cost-effective service for treating wound infections. The team is now preparing to advance this promising treatment into scientific trials to additional examine its effectiveness and check out the maximum dosages and formulas.
Could a blend of honey and vinegar serve as a traditional yet ingenious method to addressing relentless infections?
The mix of honey and vinegar, also called oxymel, has actually been used as a medical treatment throughout history. Now, modern science is acknowledging its potential utility in injury care applications.
A research study recently released in the journal Microbiology, is the initially detailed expedition of how the ancient mix could be applied to contemporary medicine and improve treatments for infections.
Bacterial infections can be difficult to deal with, particularly when they are secured within a biofilm. A biofilm is a complicated system of germs that can attach securely to surface areas, like flesh in a wound infection. Bacteria that are secured in a biofilm are hard to kill, and treatments today are not always efficient at eliminating them.
