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MicrobiologyOpen - 2026 - Fernandes - Diverse Forage Enhances the Antimicrobial Potency of Australian Honey4.31 MB
Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Diverse Forage Enhances the Antimicrobial Potency of Australian Honey
MicrobiologyOpen, Vol.15(1), pp.1-13
2026
PMCID: PMC12929673
PMID: 41731922
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a critical global health crisis, driving renewed interest in natural alternatives like honey. Australia's diverse native flora offers unique opportunities for producing bioactive honeys, yet their antimicrobial potential remains underexplored. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of Australian honeys from post-bushfire New South Wales landscapes and to identify key drivers of bioactivity and their therapeutic potential. Antimicrobial activity was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli using broth microdilution methods, measuring both total activity and non-peroxide activity. Comprehensive chemical profiling included bioactive compounds, quality parameters, sugars, organic acids, amino acids, volatiles, and secondary metabolites, assessed using standardized methodologies and ¹H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy. Statistical analyses included correlation analysis, LASSO regression modeling, and principal component analysis. Most honeys exhibited strong antimicrobial activity, with 77% achieving MICs of ≤ 10% (w/w) against both pathogens, and 25% achieving ≤ 5% (w/w) against at least one pathogen. Honeys produced from mixed flora had consistently high levels of antibacterial activity, while monofloral honeys were much more variable. H2O2 was the strongest single factor associated with antibacterial potency, explaining 45%–46% of the variability in MIC values among samples. Including additional chemical parameters in multivariate models improved the ability to predict antibacterial strength, explaining up to 59% of the variation for S. aureus, and 73% for E. coli. The superior performance of mixed-flora samples challenges conventional assumptions favoring monofloral products and supports biodiversity-focused beekeeping practices, providing a foundation for developing Australian honeys as therapeutic alternatives while supporting sustainable industry recovery.
Details
- Title
- Diverse Forage Enhances the Antimicrobial Potency of Australian Honey
- Authors
- Kenya E Fernandes (Corresponding Author) - The University of SydneyAndrew Dong - The University of SydneyJamie Ayton - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesLeanne Groves - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesKerrie Graham - New South Wales Department of Primary IndustriesPeter Brooks - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringNural Cokcetin - The University of SydneyDee A Carter - The University of Sydney
- Publication details
- MicrobiologyOpen, Vol.15(1), pp.1-13
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1002/mbo3.70238
- ISSN
- 2045-8827
- PMID
- 41731922; PMC12929673
- Copyright note
- © 2026 The Author(s). MicrobiologyOpen published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
- Data Availability
- The data that supports the findings of this study are available in the supporting material of this article.
- Grant note
- BIP-SDG-135 / New South Wales Bushfire Industry Recovery Package Sector Development
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991212664402621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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