Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 3.0

Microbiological Characterization and Physicochemical Properties of Sudanese Honeys

Mohammed Y. Musa, Ahmed E. Elfaki, Seif Eldin. A. Mohammed

Microbiology Research Journal International · pp. 715–722 · Published 17 Mar 2014

10.9734/BMRJ/2014/5330

Abstract

Aim:  Honey is not always a safe product and in some instances it is spoiled by the growth of micro-organisms. The aim of the study was to characterize honey on biological and physicochemical basis. Study Design: Determination of the microbial loads in the Sudanese honey brands and characterization of their physicochemical properties. Methodologies: Several microbiological tests were employed for the determination of the microbial loads. The methods of Association of the Official Analytical Chemists were employed for the physicochemical properties. Results: The microbiological tests were negative for Escherichia coli, and total coliforms (mpn/ml). Few honey brands contained Clostridium botulinum, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, yeasts and moulds. The maximum total viable bacteria count was > 3.77 log. cfu/ml. The results of the physical parameters tested were as follows: pH 3.6, specific gravity 1.2, viscosity 120.7 Poise, and refractive index 1.4.,  moisture 18.2%, acidity 54.2 (meq/kg), total sugars 70.5%, fructose 32.1%, glucose 32.8%, and sucrose 5.5%. Conclusion: The physicochemical properties of the investigated samples comply with the Codex Alimintarius Standards for honey. However, some honey brands contained yeasts, moulds, as well as some pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium botulinum. Thus the study justified the importance of the proper processing condition of the honey such as the hygiene of beekeepers and beekeeping tools, pasteurization or irradiation of the honey  

Honey composition Clostridium botulinum Staphylococcus aureus Salmonell spp

References (17)

  1. 1 Plant Products as Antimicrobial Agents [DOI]
  2. 2 Laboratory Methods in Food Microbiology
  3. 3 Honey, a comprehensive survey
  4. 4 Identification and quantification of methylglyoxal as the dominant antibacterial constituent of Manuka ( Leptospermum scoparium) honeys from New Zealand [DOI]
  5. 5 The identification of inhibine, the antibacterial factor in honey, as hydrogen peroxide and its origin in a honey glucose-oxidase system [DOI]
  6. 6 Microorganisms in honey [DOI]
  7. 7 The sensitivity to honey of Gram-positive cocci of clinical significance isolated from wounds [DOI]
  8. 8 Value-added products from beekeeping
  9. 9 The Effect of Gamma-irradiation on the Antibacterial Activity of Honey [DOI]
  10. 10 Characterization of honey from different floral sources. Its functional properties and effects of honey species on storage of meat [DOI]
  11. 11 Manuka Honey Used to Heal a Recalcitrant Surgical Wound [DOI]
  12. 12 Medical uses of honey
  13. 13 Studies on Sudanese Bee Honey: Laboratory and Clinical Evaluation [DOI]
  14. 14 Characterisation of natural honey proteins: implications for the floral and geographical origin of honey [DOI]
  15. 15 HONEY FOR NECROTIC BREAST ULCERS [DOI]
  16. 16 Official Methods of Analysis [DOI]
  17. 17 Methods in Food Analysis [DOI]

Cited by 10

Physicochemical and antioxidant characterization of commercially available honey sample from Addis Ababa market, Ethiopia

Teferi Damto, Tarekegn Birhanu, A. Zewdu · Heliyon · 2023

Review on physico-chemical properties of honey in Eastern Africa

Tsegay Lijalem Mesele · 2021

Chemical Composition, Nutritional Functions, and Antioxidant Activities of Honeys in Africa

H. Tahir, ABDALBASIT ADAM MARIOD, G. Mahunu · 2019

Comparing effects of gamma irradiation and thermal process on unavoidable toxic substances of Egyptian honey

Islam Tork, Serag Zaied, sayed rashad · Egyptian Journal of Chemistry · 2023

Microbial Analysis in Honey Quality Assurance

Mehtap Usta · Pure Honey: Assurance & Authentication · 2025

Showing 5 of 10 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

49

Page views

0

PDF downloads

24

Outbound clicks

10

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.