Ancient Egyptians used moldy bread as a primitive antibiotic to treat infected wounds.

Medical practices in Ancient Egypt were documented in historical texts like the Ebers Papyrus, which dates back to approximately 1550 BCE. This document contains over 800 remedies and specifically mentions the use of moldy bread and soil to treat skin ailments. While the Egyptians did not understand the concept of bacteria, they observed that specific types of mold could stop the spread of infection.The effectiveness of this treatment is linked to the Penicillium mold, which naturally grows on decaying organic matter like bread. In 1928, Alexander Fleming famously discovered that this same mold produced a substance he named penicillin, the world's first true antibiotic. By applying mold directly to a wound, the Egyptians were inadvertently utilizing the antibacterial properties of these fungal secretions.Furthermore, Egyptian medical practitioners often combined moldy bread with honey and grease. Modern science has confirmed that honey has a low pH and high sugar content that dehydrates bacteria, while its enzyme glucose oxidase produces hydrogen peroxide. This combination created a powerful antimicrobial barrier that promoted healing long before the germ theory of disease was established.Research conducted by the University of Manchester has highlighted that many ancient remedies were surprisingly effective. By analyzing the Edwin Smith Papyrus, researchers found that Egyptian wound care was highly systematic and focused on preventing sepsis. Their use of moldy bread represents one of the earliest recorded examples of empirical pharmacology in human history.