Abstract

Potency of 5-hydroxymethylfurfuraldehyde (HMF) against Bacillus cereus and Proteus mirabilis

Author(s): Chidi Edbert Duru, Ijeoma Akunna Duru, Nkechi Kelechi Nwagbara

The dehydration of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfuraldehyde (HMF) in H2SO4 catalysed by CrCl2 was carried out at 100 oC and the product extracted with 2-butanol. UV/Vis and FTIR spectrophotometric studies suggested that the extracted compound is HMF. The antibacterial properties of the extracted HMF on Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) showed that the extract was highly potent against Bacillus cereus and Proteus mirabilis. This activity against these two organisms which are stomach bacteria support the assertion that the antibacterial properties of honey is as a result of its HMF content.