Seeking to create the world's next great natural antibiotic with Chilean honey

Chilean researcher Gloria Montenegro is pioneering a method to transform regional honeys into potent natural antibiotics capable of eliminating harmful bacteria. The project focuses on honey from Chile's Coquimbo and Atacama regions, fortifying it with bioactive extracts derived from desert flowers.

Montenegro, an emeritus researcher at Universidad Católica, explained that this process significantly boosts the honey's natural bactericidal power. The goal is to create a product that can compete in the global functional food market, potentially at price points similar to New Zealand's well-known Manuka honey. "I have proven that some honeys can control the pathogenic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and we are also working on Salmonella typhi, which are three common and pathogenic human bacteria," she stated.

The key innovation lies in the fortification technique itself. Instead of synthetic compounds, Montenegro's team extracts bioactive compounds, phenols and polyphenols, directly from the honey and reintroduces them at a higher concentration. This approach leverages the honey's natural properties, enhanced by compounds from native desert flora that have not been extensively studied before.

"We are finding honeys that originate from desert flowers, and that excites us because these honeys have very interesting antibacterial properties. This is new to the world; honey fortification with its own bioactive extract has never been done before," Montenegro added. The unique botanical origin of these compounds makes the resulting product difficult to replicate elsewhere, offering a distinct advantage in the international market.