DISCUSSION

The efficacy of the prepared filter paper discs of Honey alone and Honey in combination with

liquid Ceftazidime were studied by comparing them with the control and commercially available

antibiotic disc, Ceftazidime. They were compared by their zone of inhibition values. Based on

research, when honey is undiluted, glucose oxidase is inactive (White JW, Subers MH, Schepartz

AI, 1963) that is why we have come up on putting different concentrations on this study. It

characterizes honey’s interactions with ceftazidime in different concentrations to systematically

examine the impact of honey alone and in combination with ceftazidime against Pseudomonas

aeruginosa. Based on the result of the study, both 60% concentration of European honey and

European honey plus ceftazidime inhibited the visible growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa after

18 hours of its incubation; it has shown an average zone of inhibition measuring 9.07 mm and

25.82 respectively. A strong evidence against null hypothesis was noted on all the trials that

proved that they are significant especially with the 60% concentration that gives the lowest p-

values averaging 0.0001036631. Higher concentrations showed minimal zone of inhibition

against the organism used in this study. Based on the experiment performed, the

concentrations of European Honey and European Honey plus Ceftazidime, 80% and 100%

concentrations showed minimal zone of inhibition against Pseudomonas aeruginosa after 18

hours of incubation. On the other hand 20% and 40% concentrations of European Honey alone

are resistant against the organism while 20% concentration of the European honey combined

with Ceftazidime is the only one considered to be resistant among the other concentrations.
The result of the 60% concentration of European honey and European honey plus ceftazidime

having the highest average zone of inhibition may be supported by a study that the production

of hydrogen peroxide vastly decreases when the level of glucose is lowered, as would happen

when diluting the honey. (Molan, 1992) As there are two necessary enzymes known to

contribute to the major biological activities of honey; the floral-origin catalase and the bee-

origin glucose oxidase (White JW, Subers MH, Schepartz AI: 1963). In determining the level of

peroxide activity in honey which underlies several biological functions, including antibacterial

potency, these enzymes are pivotal. A high amount of active glucose oxidase will hydrolyze

glucose to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) resulting in oxidative stress which is valuable in

managing bacterial colonization. In contrast, a high catalase level together with high antioxidant

capacity will destroy hydrogen peroxide and it will serve as the principle guarding mechanism in

order to conserve the nutritional value of honey. Once honey is diluted into definite extents,

glucose oxidase will be activated and it will start to harness glucose to produce hydrogen

peroxide. On the other hand, with the assistance from various antioxidant constituents,

hydrogen peroxide level in undiluted honey is said to be minimized. Very high osmotic pressures

coupled with high acidity are the two main factors contributing to the antibacterial properties

of honey at this stage (Molan PC, 1992).

The aforementioned results were analysed with the guide of the disk diffusion quality control

ranges for non-fastidious organisms published by the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute

in 2015 (Appendix 5), which states that the zone diameter for interpretative criteria in nearest

whole mm that will show susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa against Ceftazidime should

be more than or equal to 18mm.