In the previous blog, I briefly touched on the idea that maintaining good health involves keeping the gut flora—the ecosystem of  microorganisms in the gut—in an optimal state. Simply put, how we can increase the population of beneficial bacteria in  the gut, which yield favorable outcomes for humans. The gut is home to an extraordinary variety and number of microorganisms. These can be categorized into beneficial bacteria,  harmful bacteria, and opportunistic bacteria. Among these, opportunistic bacteria are the most abundant and tend to side with whichever group— beneficial or harmful—is dominant. When beneficial bacteria prevail, opportunistic bacteria collaborate to support the host’s well-being. Conversely,  when harmful bacteria dominate, they contribute to adverse effects on health.

It may seem like a straightforward approach: eliminate harmful bacteria, and the opportunistic bacteria will naturally work in a beneficial way.  However, unfortunately, pharmaceutical drugs have not been able to achieve this specific goal effectively. While antibiotics are toxic to certain  bacteria, it is impossible for them to target specific harmful bacteria without affecting others. High-activity Manuka honey products exhibit exceptionally potent antibacterial properties, yet the source of these effects remained a mystery for  a long time. Researchers in New Zealand dedicated 25 years to uncovering the active compound but were unable to identify it. Interestingly,  it was German researchers who recently discovered that the active ingredient is methylglyoxal (hereafter referred to as MGO).

MGO is a toxic substance that denatures proteins. Since bacteria are composed of proteins formed by chains of amino acids,  and viruses consist of DNA made from amino acid-based nucleotide sequences, MGO exhibits toxicity against these as well. However, many  beneficial bacteria possess enzymes that neutralize MGO’s toxicity, and normal cells, unlike cancer cells, are also equipped with enzymes to break down this substance. This raises the question: just how potent is the antibacterial activity of Manuka honey? Our company offers two types of Strong Manuka Honey with activity levels of 31+ and 39+. These activity levels are measured as a comparison  to diluted phenol solutions used as disinfectants. For instance, activity strength 31+ (MGO 860+) is equivalent to a 31% or more phenol solution. Activity Strength 39+ (MGO 1100+) is equivalent to a 39% or more phenol solution.

Incidentally, phenol disinfectant solutions are typically used at concentrations of 2–3% for disinfecting hospital rooms, and the highest concentration,  around 8%, is used for sanitizing excreta. In contrast, our strongest product boasts an activity level equivalent to 39% or more, showing an extraordinarily potent antibacterial activity. Consuming a phenol solution of 31% or 39% would be catastrophic, but for the reasons outlined earlier, the high-activity Manuka honey exhibits  selective toxicity. This means it targets harmful bacteria, viruses, pathogens, and abnormal cells, while sparing normal cells and beneficial  bacteria. Even today, despite advances in drug development, antibiotics like these are virtually nonexistent. In this regard, effectively utilizing natural substances with antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer properties is of great importance.