People with cystic fibrosis develop lung infections that are difficult to treat and can lead to severe consequences that may progress to the death of the patient.
However, a team of scientists from Britain’s Aston University is holding out hope that a new treatment based on antibacterial honey may be successful, according to what was published by the New Atlas website, citing the journal Microbiology.
The researchers considered that manuka honey, which is made by a species of European bee that feeds on the flowers of the tea tree, Leptospermum scoparium, could be particularly effective.
In addition to the hydrogen peroxide-producing chemicals found in all types of honey, manuka honey also contains an antibacterial compound known as methylglyoxal.
Laboratory model of the lungs
In addition, the researchers took samples of the Mycobacterium abscess bacteria from 16 infected patients, and placed them in a laboratory model of the lungs.
Then they used aerosols that produce a fine mist of inhalable liquid containing a mixture of manuka honey and a commonly used antibiotic called amikacin.
Manuka honey (Shutterstock)
Indeed, the combination completely eliminated the bacteria, requiring a dose of amikacin of 2 micrograms per milliliter, while the usual effective dose is not less than 16 micrograms per milliliter when the drug is administered by conventional means.
Human experiments
In turn, the researchers said that “by combining an all-natural ingredient such as manuka honey with amikacin, one of the most important drugs used in the treatment of the toxic Mycobacterium abscess, a possible way was found to kill this bacteria with eight times less drug than before.”
Lung Two Lungs – iStock
Researcher Dr. Jonathan Cox added that the results demonstrated “the ability to significantly reduce hearing loss, one of the serious side effects associated with the use of amikacin in large doses for long periods and improve the quality of life of many patients, especially those with cystic fibrosis.”
He noted that clinical trials in humans are scheduled to begin soon.