Native bee honey stops every antibiotic-resistant bacterium tested
Australian researchers tested native stingless bee honey. It killed all 16 types of disease-causing bacteria and fungi they tested.
Australian researchers tested honey and propolis from a tiny native stingless bee called Tetragonula carbonaria against 16 types of disease-causing bacteria and fungi. The honey stopped every bacterium they tried.
Indigenous Australians have used this honey, called sugarbag, for thousands of years as medicine. Native bee honey makes germ-fighting peroxide for up to a week.
Honeybee honey only makes it for hours. Propolis was more selective but worked well on fungi like ringworm and athlete's foot.
The researchers say more testing is needed before using it in medical products. Supply is limited since stingless bee colonies produce relatively small amounts of honey.
- 16 types of bacteria and fungi
- Pathogens tested
- thousands of years
- Indigenous use history
- up to a week
- Peroxide duration in native bee honey
- 11 of roughly 550 worldwide
- Stingless bee species found in Australia
Why it mattersAs antibiotic-resistant infections rise, new germ-fighting sources could help stop wounds from becoming deadly.
AustraliaCould lead to Australian-developed medical products and create opportunities to expand stingless bee keeping as a sustainable industry.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
