Antifungal Activity of Iranian Honeybees Against Candida, Aspergillus Species and Trichophyton Rubrum

Due to limited available antifungal agents, searching for new antifungal agents stimulated research on new chemotherapeutic agents in natural products. The current study was carried out to assess the antifungal activity of different Iranian honeys with different botanical origin against some important fungi, such as azoles‐resistant Candida species. Seven types of honey samples including Thymus vulgaris, Alfalfa, Citrus, Zizyphus, Astragalus, Chamaemelum nobile and multiflora honey were collected. Minimum inhibitory concentrations microdilution broth method was used for assessing antifungal activity of honeys. The results revealed variations in the antifungal activity of the examined honey samples. Alfalfa and Thymus honeys were significantly more effective than other honeys and Zizyphus and Chamaemelum honeys exhibited lowest antifungal activity. Trichophyton rubrum and C. krusei had the highest and lowest sensitivity to the honey's antifungal activity among fungal species, respectively. No statistically significant differences in susceptibility to honey samples were determined among fluconazole resistance and susceptible Candida species. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In the present study, the antifungal properties of honeys with different botanical origin against pathogenic fungal species were examined. Furthermore, the inhibitory properties of the honeys against fungal strains resistant to existing antifungal drugs were assessed. Antimicrobial properties of plants which were the origin of honeys in this study were also investigated. Results showed a direct correlation between the type of nectar for honeys and antifungal properties. More importantly, inhibitory effects of honeys against several fungal species and Trichophyton rubrum, particularly resistant Candida species was shown. It seems that appropriate concentrations of honey can be used for controlling and treating of dermatophytosis and dermatomycosis.