The Effectiveness of the Combination of Chamomile Extract and Manuka Honey on Inhibition of Micrococcus luteus

Contemporary bacterial treatments are constantly being discovered due to recent medicinal findings. The best treatment possible is consistently desired to keep up with new infections. Chronic wounds and bacterial infections have become an increasingly prevalent issue for individuals throughout the world. As this increase occurs, bacterial resistance has risen in many traditionally used medications like methicillin and penicillin, leading to the need for new antibacterial treatments. Micrococcus luteus, an opportunistic pathogen can lead to repercussions like septic arthritis, prosthetic valve endocarditis, or recurrent bacteremia. This experiment aimed to test the synergistic properties of Manuka Honey and Chamomile extract in inhibiting M. luteus. It was hypothesized that the combination of Manuka honey and chamomile oil would have the greatest inhibition due to its high methylglyoxal and apigenin concentration. This was tested using the streak plate method to apply the bacteria to agar plates, and then infusing sterile discs with the solutions and placing them on the agar to test the zone of inhibition after 48 hours. A one-way ANOVA revealed significant treatment effectiveness, F(3,124) = 22.84, p < 0.001 which suggested strong antibacterial activity of Manuka honey and the combination of materials, despite the lack of supportive chamomile data. Manuka honey offered stronger antibacterial effects than the combination and the chamomile extract had no inhibition. With future research, there is potential for the use of Manuka honey with other antibacterial solutions, due to its effectiveness. However a Manuka honey and chamomile extract combination will not be ultimately effective.