Scientists develop vegan ‘honey’ with antimicrobial potential similar to mānuka honey
What Happened
Researchers at Aston University, led by Dr Jonathan Cox, developed bee-free, sugar-based honey formulations and tested them against Mycobacterium abscessus, a highly drug-resistant bacterium. Formulations containing methylglyoxal (MGO) and enzyme systems that generate hydrogen peroxide showed the strongest antimicrobial effects, with the best formulations able to kill the bacterium in laboratory tests.
Key Takeaways
The findings suggest that some antimicrobial properties associated with medical mānuka honey could potentially be reproduced without bee-derived ingredients. Researchers say further work is needed to optimise the formulations, understand how the antimicrobial components interact and test them against other clinically important bacteria.