Comparative effect of manuka honey on anaerobic parasitic protozoans with standard drug therapy under conditions: A preliminary study.

Background: From the past five decades, metronidazole and tinidazole have been used for treating nonresistant and resistant giardiasis and trichomoniasis. However, due to the occurrence of drug resistance to standard therapy idealizes us to explore some additional therapies which is cost-effective, easy accessibility, and natural which has least side effects. Manuka honey obtained from is well known for its antibacterial and wound healing properties and is thought to be a better option as an additional therapy.

Objective: The present study was conducted to find out the effect of manuka honey on anaerobic protozoans that includes and under conditions in comparison to metronidazole and tinidazole.

Materials And Methods: Axenic culture of strain Portland 1 and strain 413 was used for drug sensitivity assay to tinidazole, metronidazole, and manuka honey with the highest concentration of 17.1 μg/ml, 24.7 μg/ml, and 50%v/v by using (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, a tetrazole). For this, head-to-head comparison has been done and IC of the standard drug as well as manuka honey was calculated.

Results: The result showed that percentage inhibition on the growth of both the parasites is dependent on concentration as well as exposure time of the drug. The calculated IC was found to be 5.6%v/v and 1.5%v/v for manuka honey with respect to and .

Conclusion: The present study suggests that manuka honey can be used as an additional therapy for the patient with giardiasis or trichomoniasis. However, study in the near future will elucidate more about the effectiveness of honey in treating parasitic infections.