Inhibition effect of honey on the adherence of Salmonella to intestinal epithelial cells in vitro.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect and the ability of honey to prevent Salmonella interitidis adhering to intestinal epithelial cells in vitro. Antimicrobial activity was demonstrated. Bacterial adherence was assayed using S. interitidis cells that had been incubated first with honey and then with the intestinal epithelial cells. Results showed that honey at dilutions of up to 1:8 reduced bacterial adherence from 25.6+/-6.5 (control) to 6.7+/-3.3 bacteria per epithelial cell (P<0.001).