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News
Vegan honey alternatives could pack the same antimicrobial punch as mānuka honey, new research from Aston University suggests. Scientists engineered sugar-syrup-based formulations with key compounds — methylglyoxal (MGO) and hydrogen peroxide — that successfully killed Mycobacterium abscessus, a highly drug-resistant bacterium. The findings open the door to sustainable, bee-free antimicrobial products for wound care and beyond.
Researchers at Aston University have found that vegan honey alternatives — made from sugar syrup without any bee-derived ingredients — can be engineered to replicate the powerful antimicrobial properties of mānuka honey. The study, published in PLOS One, tested these formulations against Mycobacterium abscessus, a notoriously drug-resistant bacterium responsible for hard-to-treat lung, skin, and soft tissue infections.
The secret sauce? Two key components of mānuka honey: methylglyoxal (MGO) and hydrogen peroxide. The most effective vegan formulations combined MGO with enzyme-based systems that generate hydrogen peroxide, and the best of these could outright kill M. abscessus — a significant finding given the urgent need for new treatment options against this pathogen.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Mānuka honey is expensive, variable between batches, and dependent on declining bee populations. A reproducible, sustainable synthetic alternative could advance wound care and topical antimicrobial therapies — without the supply chain limitations of natural honey.
