Historically, the nectar collected by Australian stingless bees, often termed sugarbag bees, has been a vital foodstuff. Indigenous Australian populations have also traditionally employed this honey as a medicinal agent, treating conditions such as pruritic skin and cutaneous lesions. Recent scientific investigations have focused on the antimicrobial efficacy and compositional analysis of honey derived from the Australian stingless bee species, namely Tetragonula carbonaria, Tetragonula hockingsi, and Austroplebeia australis. The outcomes of this research indicate a substantial antimicrobial potential in these honeys against a spectrum of human pathogens, demonstrating an activity level that is either comparable to or surpasses that found in the majority of honeys produced by European honey bees (Apis mellifera).
Tetragonula carbonaria combs. Image credit: Tobias Smith.
The escalating global health threat posed by antimicrobial resistance is a critical concern.
A variety of naturally occurring substances have evolved as protective mechanisms against microbial invasion and possess the potential to be harnessed as novel therapeutic agents.
While honey produced by the European honey bee has been extensively researched, the therapeutic possibilities of honey from Australian stingless bees remain largely unexplored.
“Considering the escalating medical challenge of antimicrobial resistance, our findings suggest that honey from stingless bees could serve as a valuable adjunct or alternative to conventional synthetic antibiotics,” stated Kenya Fernandes, a researcher at the University of Sydney.
“Unlike honey from European honeybees, which primarily relies on hydrogen peroxide for its antimicrobial effects, honey from Australian stingless bees exhibits significant levels of both hydrogen peroxide and non-peroxide activity – rendering it a robust and adaptable candidate for therapeutic applications.”
The investigators observed that even when hydrogen peroxide was eliminated, the honey retained its antimicrobial properties, indicating that this activity is inherent to the honey itself.
“New Zealand’s Manuka honey, produced by honeybees, is recognized for its potent non-peroxide antimicrobial activity, contributing significantly to its commercial success,” mentioned Dr. Fernandes.
“However, this efficacy is largely dependent on the nectar sourced from particular myrtle varieties (Leptospermum).”
“Conversely, the enduring antimicrobial effectiveness of heat-treated, non-peroxide honey from Australian stingless bees, observed across varied geographical locations and nectar sources, suggests a unique characteristic inherent to these bees, rather than solely the nectar, plays a pivotal role in this phenomenon.”
“We identified that the antimicrobial activity is consistently present in all tested sugarbag samples, a stark contrast to honeybee honey, which can exhibit considerable variability influenced by seasonal shifts and floral availability,” commented Professor Dee Carter from the University of Sydney.
The research team anticipates that this inherent consistency could bolster its potential for commercial medical applications.
Nevertheless, hurdles concerning production scalability persist. Each stingless beehive yields approximately half a liter of honey annually, posing a significant challenge for mass production.
“While the output is modest, these hives necessitate less intensive management compared to conventional beehives, enabling beekeepers to oversee a larger population of hives,” explained Dr. Ros Gloag of the University of Sydney.
“With appropriate incentives, such as recognizing the commercial value of the honey, it is feasible to expand the number of hives, thereby establishing a viable path toward commercial scalability.”
“Encouragingly, honey from native stingless bees received approval from Food Standards Australia New Zealand last year, clearing the way for both national and international commercial ventures.”
“This regulatory endorsement offers promising prospects for the establishment of a specialized market focusing on high-value, low-volume products.”
The research findings were officially published on May 21 in the esteemed journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.
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Kenya E. Fernandes et al. 2025. Potent antimicrobial activity and distinctive physicochemical attributes in honey from Australian stingless bees Tetragonula carbonaria, Tetragonula hockingsi, and Austroplebeia australis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 91 (6); doi: 10.1128/aem.02523-24
