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Study on the antimicrobial activity of honey products and some Saudi Folkloric substances
Abstract
Alcoholic and aqueous extracts from 17 Saudi Arabia folkloric substances were screened for antimicrobial against some tested pathogenic microorganisms by zone of inhibition assay and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Compared to honey and bee wax, ethanolic extract of propolis showed the highest zone of inhibition (23mm) against S. aureus ATCC255923. Aqueous extract of alum (Ming Fan) was highly effective against all tested strains with inhibition zones ranging from 25 to 29 mm followed by Juglans regia (28mm) with S. epidermis ATCC12228, Rhazya stricta (24mm) with Str. pyogenes ATCC19615, and Commiphora myrrha (24mm) with S. aureus ATCC255923. The combined effect of equimixture of ethanolic extracts of propolis and bee wax was more effective than a single extract showing 1.5 fold increase of inhibition zone against S. aureus ATCC255923 and C. albicans NCTC2708. Substances with the most consistent action against microorganisms were tested to determine their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Alum (Ming Fan) was found to have the greatest activity with MIC mean value of 0.29% (w/v) followed by Rhazya stricta, Juglans regia and propolis with mean MIC values of 0.4, 2.66 and 3.75 respectively.
... Only a few studies reported on beeswax's antimicrobial https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2019.04.004 Received 3 November 2017; Received in revised form 5 April 2019; Accepted 5 April 2019 activities (Abdulrhman, Samir Elbarbary, Ahmed Amin, & Saeid Ebrahim, 2012;Al-Waili, 2005; EL Sakka, Abdulrhman, & Shehata, 2013;Ghanem, 2011;Kacániová et al., 2012). Ghanem (2011) reported that both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus pyogenes) and Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli) bacteria are affected by exposure to beeswax. ...
... Received 3 November 2017; Received in revised form 5 April 2019; Accepted 5 April 2019 activities (Abdulrhman, Samir Elbarbary, Ahmed Amin, & Saeid Ebrahim, 2012;Al-Waili, 2005; EL Sakka, Abdulrhman, & Shehata, 2013;Ghanem, 2011;Kacániová et al., 2012). Ghanem (2011) reported that both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus pyogenes) and Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli) bacteria are affected by exposure to beeswax. Kacániová et al. (2012) showed a high inhibitory activity of methanol and ethanol beeswax extracts with several bacterial strains (S. aureus, Strep. ...
... The antibacterial activity of beeswax against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, especially E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, described in this investigation, is consistent with Ghanem (2011) and Kacániová et al. (2012). ...
Apis mellifera beeswax is synthesized from honey sugars and secreted by specialized glands situated in the ventral side of the abdomen of worker bees from 12 to 18 days old. It is also characterized by several therapeutic properties of great interest for human health with applications for healing bruises, inflammation, burns and with antimicrobial activity. The aims of this investigation were to assess the antibacterial activity of three organic beeswax samples from different locations and to evaluate their volatile composition with HS-SPME/GC-MS analysis. The beeswax's volatile organic compounds (VOC) included 82 molecules belonging to different chemical classes, such as aldehydes, hydrocarbons, alcohols, esters, ketones, organic acids, and terpenes. The total VOC contents was 35 ± 5 and 40 ± 2 ppm for samples A and B, respectively. Aldehydes were the main class of VOC in the beeswax ethanol extracts, particularly linear aldehydes such as octanal, nonanal and decanal. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) showed that Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes were inhibited by all beeswax samples. Salmonella Typhimurium was the most resistant bacterial strain. Against the 13 Staphylococcus aureus wild strains tested, beeswax samples A was the most effective, followed by sample B and C.
... The most important of these products include natural bee honey,propolis,honey bee pollen and honey bee wax [15]. Beewax is from honey bee products which is secreted by the wax glands of honey bee workers.It is a mixture of esters , fatty acids , alcohols and hydrocarbons as well as unsaturated aromatic materials and dyes [16].Because of the medical importance of honey beewax and the antimicrobial effectiveness ,few studies on this material proposed research which aim to assess the efficiency ofethanolic and methanolicextracts of honey bee wax in the viability of theprotoscolices of the E. granulosusparasiteIn vitro. ...
... The current study was conducted for the period from 1/9/2015 until 1/3/2016 at the Department of Biology -College of Education Girls-University of Kufa, where the bee wax was collected from beekeeping Apiaries, located in groves in Kufa -Najaf province -Iraq and bee wax cut into small pieces.In this study, two types of solvents, namely 99.9% methanol and 96% ethyl alcohol, as the blending 70 ml of each of the solvents with 30 grams of beeswax in flasks 250 ml were used.So, the total volume of 100 ml each were covered and the flasks were left in the laboratory in a dark place for a period of 48 hours with stir the mixture by using a Shaker for exposing the material to alcohol [16]. Extracts werefiltrated by filtration papers (Whatman no.1) for three consecutive times, and then they were dried by rotary evaporator at 40 ° C [17].Dry extracts were preserved in dark containers at 4° C until use [18]. ...
... such as Salmonella pullorum,Salmonella dublin,Escherichia coli and Bacillus larvae.He also found that beewax is effective against some types of pathogenic bacteria, especially Bacillus alvei,Proteus vulgaris,Salmonella gallinarum and Bacillus subtilis.Moreover [25] studied the impact of mixing of natural honey , beewax and olive oil on the growth of the yeast Candida albicans and the bacteriaStaphylococcus aureus and found that it does not have growth in the bacteriaS. aureus and the yeast C. albicans on the medium containing the natural honey, while light to moderate growth over the medium containing a beewax.A study conducted by [16]showed that the bees wax samples were effective against the gram negative and gram positive bacteria, and showed aclearly inhibitory effect against one kind of yeast that is Candida albicans. In a study by [18], it was found that the bee wax extracts were effective against some types of pathogenic bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes ,Psedomonasaeruginasa,Staphylococcus aureus,Salmonella enteric and Escherichia coli and against some types of microscopic fungus such as Aspergillusfumigatus ,Aspergillusflavus and Aspergillusniger, and detrimental for some of the different strains of yeasts such as Candida krusei,Candida albicans,Candida glabrata,Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis,Geotrichumcandidum and Rhodotorulamucilaginosa.The results of the current study indicate that the methanolic extract of the Iraqi honey bee wax is effective in the destruction of the protoscolicesof the Echinococcusgranulosus parasite for a period of time less than that required for ethanolic extract used for the same purpose . ...
The current study was conducted for the period from 1/9/2015 up to 1/3/2016 at the Department of Biology-College of Education for Girls-Kufa University.It aims to study the effectiveness of ethanolic and methanolic extracts for Iraqi honey beewax in the viability of protoscolices of Echinococcusgranulosus parasite In vitro.The results showed that the ethanolic and methanolic extracts for Iraqi honey beewax are very effective in the destruction of the protoscolices, and that the mortality percentage increases with concentration and duration of exposure to both extracts .The results indicated that the methanolic extract for honey beeswax was more effective than the ethanolic extract in the mortality of protoscolices, where the LC50 for the mortality of the protoscolices was 3.5 mg / ml and 4.9 mg / ml, respectively, after 15 minutes of exposure to the extracts, while the LC50 for the mortality of the protoscolices 1.7 mg / ml and 2.0 mg / ml respectively, after 60 minutes of exposure to the extracts. The results also showed that the LT50 was 39.8 minutes when exposed to the concentration of 2 mg / ml of the methanolic and ethanolic extracts, whilemethanolic extract led to the decimation of theprotoscolices in less time than the ethanolic extract, when exposed to the concentration of 8 mg / ml,where the LT50 of the protoscolices of 11.2 minutes and 20.9 minutes, respectively. We conclude that the methanolic extract of the Iraqi honey bee wax was effective in the destruction of the protoscolicesof the Echinococcusgranulosus parasite and for a period of time less than it is of ethanolic extract. We recommend the use of methanolic extract of Iraqi honey bee wax as fatal agent to protoscolices before a surgical procedure to remove the hydatid cysts .
... E. coli and B. subtillis showed effect in the form of zone of inhibition is 14.9 and 14.8 mm respectively while in L. sporogens and P. auriginosa it vary as 10.4 and 9.4 respectively. These observations also supported by earlier workers (Cavanagh et al., 1968;Sheikh et al, 1995;Levy and Marshall, 2004;Basualdo et al., 2007;Chauhan et al., 2010;Ghanem, 2011). ...
... A. terrens form 7.2 mm zone of inhibition while in A. fumigense forms 4.8 mm, it shows that A. terrens is more susceptible than other two. These results also supported by many workers (Haffeejee and Moosa, 1985;Jeddar et al.,1985;Kim et al.,1995;Sheikh et al, 1995;Hasanain, 1997;Levy and Marshall, 2004;Chauhanet al.,2010;Ghanem, 2011). ...
The present research work was carried out to study the antimicrobial activity of honey sample collected from chalisgaon region during 2012 to 2015. During study, four crude honey samples were applied to evaluate the antifungal and antibacterial study on the basis of zone of inhibition. It was concluded that Escherechia coli and Bacillus subtillis are more susceptible than other experimental bacteria. In the antifungal activity, the Aspergillus terrens had shown more susceptibility than other experimented fungi.
Keywords: Crude honey, Antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, Zone of inhibition.
... Beeswax has only lately been investigated, in contrast to other bee products, and the antibacterial action of natural materials, particularly products of the hive, has gained prominence in recent years. The yeast Candida albicans and various bacterial strains were both resistant to crude beeswax's antibacterial properties (Ghanem, 2011). The sample of beeswax was found to be effective against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC12228, S. aureus ATCC25923, Bacillus subtilis ATCC27853 and S. pyogenes ATCC19615, and also effective against the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853, Escherichia coli ATCC25922, and a complete F o r P e r s o n a l U s e O n l y inhibitory effect was found against C. albicans NCTC2708; no effect was found against Salmonella typhimurium ATCC14028 and Proteus mirabilis ATCC14153 (Ghanem, 2011). ...
... The yeast Candida albicans and various bacterial strains were both resistant to crude beeswax's antibacterial properties (Ghanem, 2011). The sample of beeswax was found to be effective against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC12228, S. aureus ATCC25923, Bacillus subtilis ATCC27853 and S. pyogenes ATCC19615, and also effective against the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853, Escherichia coli ATCC25922, and a complete F o r P e r s o n a l U s e O n l y inhibitory effect was found against C. albicans NCTC2708; no effect was found against Salmonella typhimurium ATCC14028 and Proteus mirabilis ATCC14153 (Ghanem, 2011). Beeswax methanol and ethanol extracts generated a great deal of curiosity. ...
Beeswax is a naturally occurring substance produced by the wax glands of the species Apis mellifera and Apis cerana, while the upper part of the digestive tract of the honey bee and blossom nectar are the sources of honey. Beeswax is a component that makes up a honeycomb's structure, which bees produce in order to construct the structures in which they store their honey. Long-chained alcohols and fatty acids are abundant in it. Beeswax and honey were initially employed in medicine in the 14th century, but after that, they were exclusively utilized in the food and cosmetics sectors. Beeswax use is prevalent in beauty and body care products because of its strong hydrophobic protective characteristics. Beeswax and honey have regained popularity in the medical community due to the growing need for employing natural resources as a remedy for various illnesses. Beeswax is further utilized in the food business as an ingredient (E901) to add gloss to foodstuffs or as a wrapping film for cheese maturation. Beeswax has a number of medicinal qualities that are of considerable importance to humans, just like honey. It is believed to be very beneficial in treating burns, inflammation, and bruising. Despite the fact that there are currently few studies in the literature focusing solely on the action of beeswax, research interests have recently expanded to include the antibacterial capabilities of beeswax. Beeswax has been shown in a few trials to be beneficial against a variety of microorganisms, including Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger. These inhibitory effects are strengthened when combined with other organic products like honey or olive oil.
... Utilizing measurements including the zone of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration, Ghanem (2011) analyzed the effect of crude beeswax on both gram-positive and negative bacteria. 9 Although bee propolis was shown to have greater antimicrobial effects, crude beeswax is easier to obtain and still depicted efficacy against studied bacteria. ...
... Utilizing measurements including the zone of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentration, Ghanem (2011) analyzed the effect of crude beeswax on both gram-positive and negative bacteria. 9 Although bee propolis was shown to have greater antimicrobial effects, crude beeswax is easier to obtain and still depicted efficacy against studied bacteria. However, assessment of growth with separate media of (1) honey, ...
Background:
Beeswax is a naturally occurring product secreted from worker bees that has varied uses in modern day. In skincare, its function ranges from its role as an occlusive, helping to create a semi-occlusive skin barrier that minimizes transepidermal water loss; as a humectant, locking in hydration; and an emollient to soften and soothe the skin. As a natural substance, its use has been shown to help alleviate symptoms associated with common cutaneous conditions like dermatitis, psoriasis, and overgrowth of normal skin flora.
Aims:
In this narrative review, we aim to describe current uses of beeswax in skincare that has been published in the literature.
Materials and methods:
A review of beeswax related publications was performed by searching the PubMed database studies.
Results:
A total of five clinical studies were included with three studies on animals and two studies in humans.
Discussion:
Several studies show the benefits of topical beeswax in supporting the skin barrier.
Conclusion:
Beeswax can be a low-cost, natural ingredient for use in products. Further studies with topical beeswax are warranted.
... Beeswax in its natural state shown antibacterial action against a variety of bacterial strains including the yeast C. albicans. Beeswax has been demonstrated to be specifically effective against Brevibacterium [23]. A combination of honey, beeswax, and olive oil when mixed in equal concentrations is effective at inhibiting the growth of S. aureus and C. albicans isolated from infected people [24]. ...
... Honey, beeswax, and olive oil were also evaluated in vivo for antifungal effectiveness against Pityriasis versicolor, Tinea cruris, T. corporis, and T. faciei [24]. A crude extract of beeswax inhibited S. aureus, S. enterica, C. albicans, and Aspergillus niger [23]. Whereas methanol and ethanol extracts inhibited pathogenic bacteria and microscopic fungus [25]. ...
Bees produce beeswax, which is used to make honeycombs is biodegradable, sustainable, compostable, eco-friendly. In addition to honey and pollen, honey bees use comb to store nectar and rear their young. More than 300 things are made with beeswax, such as candles, shoe polish and vehicle and floor polishes. Beeswax can also be used in the food processing and packaging, wax crayons, metal casting and modelling, food processing, and cosmetics industries. In addition to these, embalming, papyrus preservation, and artwork conservation are all possible uses for honey beeswax. Beeswax has numerous industrial, pharmacological, and medical uses that demand an understanding of its chemical makeup. Similar to honey, beeswax is considered effective in the treatment of bruising, inflammation and burns. Beeswax’s antibacterial properties have recently been the subject of inquiry, despite the fact that there are currently few studies on the subject. For example, beeswax has been proven to significantly reduce affectivity of disease casing bacteria like: Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Salmonella enterica . This study discusses the characteristics, composition, and adulteration of beeswax, as well as its medicinal effects as an antibiotic and in skin therapy.
... The beeswax fractions, especially the DMSO and methanol fractions used in the study were found effective against most of the test microorganisms and showed a pronounced inhibitory effect on Candida albicans. The finding was also reported by [17]. In accordance with the present results, previous studies have demonstrated that beeswax extracts had antimicrobial activities against S. aureus, C. albicans, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus epidermidis( [17], [18]). ...
... The finding was also reported by [17]. In accordance with the present results, previous studies have demonstrated that beeswax extracts had antimicrobial activities against S. aureus, C. albicans, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Streptococcus epidermidis( [17], [18]). According to [19], the effectiveness of beeswax extracts against pathogenic microorganisms suggests a potential future use of beeswax extracts in food processing as a preservative agent. ...
... Crude beeswax showed antibacterial activity against several bacterial strains and against the Candida albicans (C. albicans) yeast [18]. The sample of beeswax was effective against both Gram-positive bacteria, in particular S. aureus ATCC25923 (S. aureus ATCC25923) (7 mm), Streptococcus epidermidis ATCC12228 (6.5 mm) and Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC19615 (6.5 mm), and against Gram-negative bacteria, in particular Bacillus subtilis ATCC27853 (B. ...
... The sample of beeswax was effective against both Gram-positive bacteria, in particular S. aureus ATCC25923 (S. aureus ATCC25923) (7 mm), Streptococcus epidermidis ATCC12228 (6.5 mm) and Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC19615 (6.5 mm), and against Gram-negative bacteria, in particular Bacillus subtilis ATCC27853 (B. subtilis ATCC27853) (7 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853 (4 mm), Escherichia coli ATCC25922 (E. coli ATCC25922), and a particular inhibitory effect was found against C. albicans NCTC2708 (20 mm); no effect was found instead against Salmonella typhimurium ATCC14028 and Proteus mirabilis ATCC14153 [18]. ...
Beeswax is the substance that forms the structure of a honeycomb; the bees secrete wax to build the honeycombs where to store honey. Thanks to its rich hydrophobic protective properties, the beeswax is in fact present within cosmetics and body products. Also beeswax is used in the food industry: as a film to wrap cheese for maturing or as a food additive (E901) to give shine to the products. Exactly as the honey which it contains, beeswax is also characterized by several therapeutic properties of great interest to us; it is thought to be particularly effective in healing bruises, inflammation and burns. Recently the interest of researchers has moved even on antimicrobial properties of beeswax although there are still few studies in the literature focused only on the action of beeswax. The few studies showed an anitimicrobic effectiveness of beeswax against overall Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Salmonella enterica (S. enterica), Candida albicans and Aspergillus nuger (A. niger); these inhibitory effects are enhanced synergistically with other natural products such as honey or olive oil. This little review aims to be a collection of major scientific works that have considered the antimicrobial activity of beeswax alone or in combination with other natural products in recent years.
... In contrast, beeswax is composed of fatty acids, esters, diesters, and hydrocarbons. This lipid has shown antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, especially Streptococcus epidermitis and Streptococcus pyogenes [42]. In addition to possessing antimicrobial activities, processing solid and liquid lipids as structural and bioactive matrices of NLC masks organoleptic properties, optimizes their solubility and stability, and decreases photodegradation and volatility, which facilitates their further use in campylobacteriosis treatment. ...
Campylobacter is a virulent Gram-negative bacterial genus mainly found in the intestines of poultry. The indiscriminate use of traditional antibiotics has led to drug resistance in these pathogens, necessitating the development of more efficient and less toxic therapies. Despite their complex biologically active structures, the clinical applications of essential oils (EOs) remain limited. Therefore, this study aimed to increase the bioavailability, stability, and biocompatibility and decrease the photodegradation and toxicity of EO using nanotechnology. The diffusion disk test revealed the potent anti-Campylobacter activity of cinnamon, lemongrass, clove, geranium, and oregano EOs (>50 mm). These were subsequently used to prepare nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). Formulations containing these EOs inhibited Campylobacter spp. growth at low concentrations (0.2 mg/mL). The particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential of these systems were monitored, confirming its physicochemical stability for 210 days at 25 °C. FTIR-ATR and DSC analyses confirmed excellent miscibility among the excipients, and FE-SEM elucidated a spherical shape with well-delimited contours of nanoparticles. The best NLCs were tested regarding nanotoxicity in a chicken embryo model. These results indicate that the NLC-based geranium EO is the most promising and safe system for the control and treatment of multidrug-resistant strains of Campylobacter spp.
... Honey bee products and its components were used as antimicrobial (Bogdanov, 2011), several authors have reported the antimicrobial activity of propolis on fungi (Lindenfelser, 1967). Honey bee products i.e. pollen, propolis, bee venom and royal jelly are the promising materials that have antagonistic and medicinal properties against bacterial pathogens (Ghanem, 2011). Meloidogyne occurs in 23 of 43 crops listed as having plant-parasitic nematodes of major importance ranging from field crops, through pasture and grasses, to horticultural, ornamental and vegetable crops (Stirling et al. 1992). ...
Propolis is a red or brown resinous substance collected by honeybees from tree buds with a broad spectrum of biological properties. It was formulated as an emulsifiable concentrate (EC); the new formulation was subjected to all tests specified by pesticides specialized organizations like WHO and FAO. It passed successfully all tests and evaluated biologically against second stage larvae of Root-Knot nematode Meloidogyne Spp. under greenhouse conditions. The new formula inhibited markedly the ability of the 2 nd stage larvae of Root-Knot nematode Meloidogyne Spp. to penetrate eggplant roots in addition to the marked decrease in the number of galls obtained from the calculations of root gall index (RGI). The obtained results showed that it could be possible to use propolis emulsifiable concentrate formulation in the field of nematode control after carrying out the complementary experiments in the future.
... Melittin, the most abundant component in bee venom, has been investigated extensively for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anticancer activities (Lotfy, 2006) [10] . Propolis, pollen, bee venom and royal jelly all are products were applied against bacterial pathogens as promising materials that have therapeutic properties (Ghanem, 2011) [11] . Antimicrobial and antibiotic activities for honey bees and its constituents were thoroughly investigated (Esin Basim et al., 2006) [12] . ...
Land snails in general, and the glass clover snail Monacha cartusiana (M. cartusiana) in particular, are pests that cause widespread crop damage. This research paper is an attempt to find effective biological alternatives to be applied within snail control operations. Propolis and honey bee venom, as well as Biossiana (Beauveria bassiana) fungicide, were applied using two laboratory application techniques, against the glassy clover snail M. cartusiana with different concentrations under laboratory and field conditions. Propolis showed the most toxicity with (1591.2) and (813.4) ppm LC50 values, followed by B. bassiana, while bee venom had the lowest potency effect with (2476.9) and (1480.1) ppm using leaf dipping and contact methods, respectively. The field experiment showed a considerable population diminution using propolis with (43.42%), followed by B. bassiana with (34.18%), while bee venom was only (20.09%) when compared with the recommended Agrinate (62.68%).
... Melittin, the most abundant component in bee venom, has been investigated extensively for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anticancer activities (Lotfy, 2006) [10] . Propolis, pollen, bee venom and royal jelly all are products were applied against bacterial pathogens as promising materials that have therapeutic properties (Ghanem, 2011) [11] . Antimicrobial and antibiotic activities for honey bees and its constituents were thoroughly investigated (Esin Basim et al., 2006) [12] . ...
Land snails in general, and the glass clover snail Monacha cartusiana (M. cartusiana) in particular, are pests that cause widespread crop damage. This research paper is an attempt to find effective biological alternatives to be applied within snail control operations. Propolis and honey bee venom, as well as Biossiana (Beauveria bassiana) fungicide, were applied using two laboratory application techniques, against the glassy clover snail M. cartusiana with different concentrations under laboratory and field conditions. Propolis showed the most toxicity with (1591.2) and (813.4) ppm LC50 values, followed by B. bassiana, while bee venom had the lowest potency effect with (2476.9) and (1480.1) ppm using leaf dipping and contact methods, respectively. The field experiment showed a considerable population diminution using propolis with (43.42%), followed by B. bassiana with (34.18%), while bee venom was only (20.09%) when compared with the recommended Agrinate (62.68%).
... Regarding its antimicrobial activities, a crude extract of beeswax has shown inhibitory effects against S. aureus, Salmonella enterica, C. albicans and Aspergillus niger. Such effects could be at least partially dependent on the plant-derived compounds of beeswax[2] [57].A mixture of beeswax, honey and olive oil can be used successfully against dermatitis, psoriasis, against fissures variegated, against fissures of the anus and hemorrhoids and against burns. This mixture also containing propolis has been used successfully against oral mucositis[58] [59][60].Oral administration of a mixture of six beeswax alcohols called D-002(50 to ...
Abstract
The chemical composition of each of the eight total products of beekeeping,
which are honey, bee venom, propolis, royal jelly, drone brood, bee pollen,
bee bread and beeswax, is analyzed. Each beekeeping product has its own
chemical composition which varies from producer to producer. Some of these
bee products have been used for centuries in traditional medicine, but to date
research has demonstrated many other medicinal properties of these products
that were not known. Therapeutic properties of bee products have been discovered
even against various types of cancer and scientists are continuing
their research to discover other secrets behind the therapeutic properties of
bee products. In addition, therapeutic effects of bee products have also been
discovered against COVID-19 disease which has significantly affected global
health. Finally, it is concluded that bee products are proven to be one of the
most valuable medicines that nature can offer showing the great value of the
science of beekeeping.
... In the case of Salmonella, the essential oils showed no inhibitory effects at any of the concentrations (9). Alum (Ming Fan) was found to have the greatest activity with the mean MIC value of 0.29% (w/v) followed by R. stricta, Juglans regia, and propolis with the mean MIC values of 0.4, 2.66, and 3.75, respectively (26). In this study, the micro-dilution (10). ...
Background: The use of plant extracts prepared from medicinal plants is common in the developing countries. Meanwhile, due to the resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics, researchers are looking to discover new antimicrobials. Medicinal plants play an essential role in this regard. Objectives: This study was aimed at investigating the antimicrobial properties of various extracts of Rhazya stricta plant against Salmonella typhimurium. Methods: Methanolic, aqueous, ethanolic, hydroalcoholic, and ethyl acetate extracts of R. stricta were prepared. S. typhimurium strains were isolated from poultry feces. The microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of this plant. The diameter of the growth inhibition zone using was determined using Whatman paper. Results: The lowest MIC against S. typhimurium was obtained from the hydroalcoholic solvent with 3.1 ppm. The most effective extraction solvent to inhibit the growth of S. typhimurium was the hydroalcoholic type with an average growth inhibition zone diameter of 12.25 mm, followed by the ethanolic extract with a growth inhibition zone diameter of 12.12 mm. Conclusions: According to the results of research and increasing resistance to synthetic antibacterial substances, it seems that R. stricta plant with the help of hydroalcoholic solvent, can be considered an effective plant in eliminating some bacteria, including S. typhimurium.
... Sidr honey from the Najran region has high in vitro antimicrobial activity (40% w/v) against E. coli (zone of inhibition 30 mm) compared to P. aeruginosa (zone of inhibition 18mm) and A. baumannii (zone of inhibition 19 mm) ( Table 1) [33]. By contrast, Sidr honey from the Al-Hasa region showed no in vitro activity (50% w/v) against a wide range of Gram-positive (e.g., S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. pyogenes, and B. subtilis) and Gramnegative (e.g., E. coli, P. aeruginosa, P. mirabilis, and S. enterica Typhimurium) bacteria [34]. Therefore, a different or even a single variety of honey can have variable activity profiles while the observed potency of active products can be relatively similar to commonly used broad-spectrum antibiotics [31]. ...
Treatment of wounds, especially chronic ones, is a major challenge in healthcare, with serious clinical and economic burdens. Multiple treatment approaches, including the usage of silver and iodine, have dramatically improved wound healing and reduced the incidence of infection. However, once infected by drug-resistant bacteria, treatment of wounds becomes a serious complication, with limited availability of effective antibiotic drugs, leading to high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, alternative therapeutic agents are required to address this gap in wound management. The introduction of manuka honey as a therapeutic agent against infected wounds was the result of extensive research about its activity against both planktonic and biofilm bacterial growth. Likewise, several types of Saudi honey (e.g., Sidr and Talh) showed promising in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity against wound pathogens. This short review summarizes literature that investigated the activity of common types of Saudi honey in relation to wound infections and explores their clinical utility.
... Beeswax as another traditional medicine has been used as the main ingredient in many recipes for the preparation of ointments and creams for the treatment of burns and wounds as well as to soothe joint pain (Fratini et al., 2016;Szulc et al., 2020). A few studies showed that beeswax in synergy with other natural products possesses antimicrobic effectiveness against staphylococcus aureus, salmonella enterica, candida albicans and aspergillus niger (Carpes et al., 2007;Ghanem Nevine, 2011;Hromiš et al., 2015;Ngamekaue and Chitprasert, 2019;Voidarou et al., 2011). ...
In this study, an antimicrobial mumio-based hydrogel dressing was developed for wound healing application. The mechanism of gel formation was achieved via a double crosslink network formation between gelatin (GT) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) using polyethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (PEGDE) and borax as crosslinking agents. To enhance the mechanical integrity of the hydrogel matrix, bacterial cellulose (BC) was integrated into the GT-PVA hydrogel to produce a composite gel dressing. The obtained hydrogel was characterized by FTIR, SEM, TGA, and XRD. Gel fraction, in vitro swelling and degradation as well as compressive modulus properties of the gel dressing were investigated as a function of change in PVA and BC ratios. By increasing the ratios of PVA and BC, the composite dressing showed lower swelling but higher mechanical strength. Comparing to other formulations, the gel with 4%w/v PVA and 1%w/v BC demonstrated to be most suitable in terms of stability and mechanical properties. In vitro cell cytotoxicity by MTT assay on human alveolar basal epithelial (A549) cell lines validated the gels as non-toxic. In addition, the mumio-based gel was compared to other formulations containing different bioactive agents of beeswax and cinnamon oil, which were tested for microbial growth inhibition effects against different bacteria (S. aureus and K. pneumoniae) and fungi (C. albicans and A. niger) strains. Results suggested that the gel dressing containing combinations of mumio, beeswax and cinnamon oil possess promising future in the inhibition of microbial infection supporting its application as a suitable dressing for wound healing.
... The beeswax could be an advanced mixture (more than three hundred components) of hydrocarbons, free fatty acids, esters of fatty acids and fatty alcohol, di-esters and exogenous substances (Tulloch, 1980). Crude beeswax showed antifungal (Al-Waili, 2004) and antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Nevine, 2011). Also, Fagundes et al. (2015) recorded that edible composite coating of sodium benzoate based on either hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or beeswax was the most effective than sodium methyl paraben and sodium ethyl paraben against Alternaria alternata black spot on artificially inoculated cherry tomatoes. ...
Maize is the one of important crops in Egypt. Aflatoxins (AFs) are the foremost cancer present compounds by Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) and cause health risks to human and animals. This study aimed to suppression of aflatoxins production by A. flavus by using different concentrations of natural substances (carnation oil, lemongrass oil, propolis and beewax) and chemical substances (salicylic acid and potassium sorbate) on maize grains. The strains of A. flavus were isolated from local maize grains on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and detect its ability of aflatoxins production on coconut agar media. Samples (100g) of sterilized maize grains were treated individually with different concentration of carnation oil, lemongrass oil, salicylic acid and potassium sorbate (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 and 6.0%) and at concentration 1% and 4% for propolis and beeswax each, then inoculated with A. flavus and stored for 30 days at 28±2˚C. AFs reduction was determined by using High Performance liquid Chromatography (HPLC). All the tested substances had active effect in inhibition of AFs production by A. flavus in stored maize grains. The production of Aflatoxin B1 and B2 (AFB1 and AFB2) was decreased to about 93% and 99% at concentration of 0.25% carnation oil. Lemongrass oil almost completely inhibited AFB1and AFB2 production (99.12% - 99.98% and 99.98% -99.99%, respectively) at concentration of 2% - 6%. Potassium sorbate and salicylic acid (0.25%- 6%) that were significantly effective controlling aflatoxins production on maize grains compared with control. While, the propolis and beewax found to be the most active to protect maize grains against fungi. Natural substances, carnation oil, lemongrass oil, beewax and propolis had higher active effect at low concentration on aflatoxin production more than salicylic acid and more safe for human used.
... Several authors have reported on the antimicrobial activity of propolis on fungi (Lindenfelser, 1967;Brumfit et al., 1990 andTosi et al., 1996). Honey bee products i.e. pollen, propolis, bee venom and royal jelly are the promising materials that have antagonistic and medicinal properties against pathogens (Ghanem Nevine, 2011). Several researchers have been reported antimicrobial and antibiotic activities for honey bees and its constituents (Esin Basim et al., 2006). ...
... The western honey bee or European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is the most common of the 7 -12 species of honey bees worldwide [6,7]. Honey is the natural sweet substance produced by bees from nectar or the secretions of plants [8]. The medicinal properties of honey have been known since ancient times and have been described as the nectar of life [9]. ...
Background: The present study was carried out to assess the antimicrobial effect of honey on bacterial isolates from sachet water sold within Eligbolo Community in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Methodology: Five brands of sachet water commonly consumed by the people living in Eligbolo Community of Port Harcourt, Nigeria were purchased from different Vendors in the community. Nutrient and MacConkey agar plates were used for culturing of water samples using spread plate method. Ten-fold serial dilution and Most Probable Number (MPN) were among the methods used and the samples analyzed were according to standard procedures. Natural honey purchased from Ogbokolo in Benue State, Nigeria was used for susceptibility testing. Quality control, ant inhibition and water test methods were performed using the honey to confirm its originality before use. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing was done using the agar well diffusion method. Results: Results obtained showed the bacterial isolated from the 5 sachet brands of water. These include Bacillus species 5 (62.5%), Enterococcus faecalis 1 (12.5%), Staphylococcus epidermidis 1 (12.5%), and Escherichia coli 1 (12.5%). All of the 5 sachet water samples analyzed failed to meet the WHO drinking water standard of zero coliform per 100 ml making them unsuitable for human consumption. Faecal coliform was isolated from sample C indicating faecal contamination of the drinking water. The sensitivity of the isolates to the honey sample showed higher zone of inhibition compared to the standard antibiotic used as control. Staphylococcus epidermidis showed the highest zone of inhibition (39 mm), followed by Escherichia coli (37 mm), Bacillus species (35 mm) and Enterococcus faecalis (32 mm) respectively. Conclusion: The results revealed that honey has a broad antimicrobial spectrum against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and could provide alternative agent to overcome the problem of increasingly bacteria resistance to synthetic antimicrobial agents. It is therefore, recommended that further work should be encouraged for the extraction of the crude components of honey and their use for antibiotic production.
... Such species rarely occur in the natural environment (as we and others showed). Moreover, authors of published reports proposed the inclusion of microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Bacillus subtilis into studies [30][31][32][33][34]. For this reason, based on present results when researching the antimicrobial activity of textile products, broadening of analysis by including 17 bacterial and 14 fugal strains, occurring as natural foot microorganisms should be considered (Table 5). ...
The aim of the study was to analyze the microbiological biodiversity of human foot skin with respect to factors such as age, gender, frequency of foot washing and physical activity, and to select indicator species to be considered when designing textile materials with antimicrobial properties used for sock and insole production. The experiment was carried out on a group of 40 people. The number of microorganisms was determined using culture-dependent methods. Biodiversity was determined using culture followed by genetic identification based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing (bacteria), ITS region (fungi), or using Illumina next-generation sequencing (in a group of eight selected individuals). The total bacterial number on women’s feet was on average 1.0 × 106 CFU/cm2, and was not statistically significantly different than that of men’s feet (mean 1.2 × 105 CFU/cm2). The number of bacteria, in most cases, decreased with age and with increased frequency of physical activity. The number of bacteria increased with diminishing feet-washing frequency; however, statistically significant differences were found between groups. The number of fungi was not significantly different amongst groups. Bacteria belonging to the phyla Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria constituted the main microorganisms of the foot skin. Ascomycota and Basidiomycota predominated amongst the fungi. The presence of specific species varied in groups depending on the factors mentioned above. Two of the species identified were classified as pathogens (Neisseria flavescens and Aspergillus fumigatus). These findings suggest that it is necessary to extend the list of microorganisms tested on textiles with respect to hygienic properties.
... Los extractos no fueron activos contra Salmonella typhimurium y Proteus mirabilis. (47,48) La combinación de miel, aceite de oliva y cera de abeja ha resultado en un remedio tópico para tratar la dermatitis en infantes. Estudios mostraron que la aplicación de esta mezcla redujo significativamente las lesiones eritematosas moderadas con presencia del hongo Candida albicans. ...
La apicultura tiene como producto protagonista a la miel, sin embargo, también permite la obtención de una serie de subproductos de alto valor agregado que hacen rentable y exitosa esta actividad. Entre los subproductos, el propóleo, el polen, la cera y la jalea real, son los más consumidos y utilizados, esto debido a las propiedades biológicas que se les confiere, como la actividad antimicrobiana, antioxidante y desinflamante.
Recientemente, el uso del veneno de las abejas o apiterapia, ha permitido el tratamiento complementario o alternativo del reumatismo y otras afecciones articulares, por sus propiedades antiinflamatorias, al ser eficaz supresor del dolor, debido a que actúa sobre el sistema inmunológico corrigiendo ataques de anticuerpos hacia las articulaciones. Asimismo, el veneno de abeja es útil en el tratamiento de esclerosis múltiple, síndrome de fatiga crónica, psoriasis, herpes y depresión.
... This bee product is also present in cosmetics and it is used in the food industry as a wrapping material for cheese during the maturing process or as a food additive (E901) giving a gloss to various products [13]. Beeswax has recently been widely studied and used for human medicine owing to its antimicrobial and therapeutic properties, having proven to be an effective treatment for burns, bruises and inflammation [14]. Therefore, the residues of antibiotics are a significant risk for the quality of bee products and for human health. ...
Beeswax is a valuable honeybee product, which finds applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries, as well as in cosmetics production. However, some substances used in apiculture, like tetracyclines, can be delivered to hives where they cause contamination of honeybee products such as beeswax. Tetracyclines are commonly used for the treatment of American and European foulbrood diseases, but in the European Union their usage by beekeepers is forbidden. Thus, a sensitive method for the analysis of tetracyclines in beeswax is an important analytical tool. A new liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry method for the analysis of tetracyclines including oxytetracycline, 4‐epioxytetracycline, tetracycline, 4‐epitetracycline, chlorotetracycline, 4‐epichlorotetracycline, and doxycycline in beeswax was developed. The method involved dilution of beeswax in n‐hexane after a melting step, liquid‐liquid extraction with oxalic acid and clean‐up using a weak cation exchange phase. Satisfactory separation was performed on an octadecyl column with 0.1 % formic acid and acetonitrile in a total run time of 5 min. The application of this method was evaluated by the analysis of real beeswax samples. The presence of oxytetracycline was confirmed in 5 out of 48 tested beeswax samples, which shows the method can be successfully used to determine the tetracyclines in beeswax.
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... Salmonella Gallinarum And Bacillus Subtilis. In A Study Conducted By Ghanem Et Al., (2011) 8 ...
Comparative Study on the Antibacterial Activities of Bee Product
(Propolis, Pollen, Bee Wax and Honey)
... Salmonella Gallinarum And Bacillus Subtilis. In A Study Conducted By Ghanem Et Al., (2011) 8 ...
Comparative Study On The Antibacterial Activities Of Bee Products (Propolis, Pollen, Bee Wax And Honey) Was Studied To Determine The Antibacterial Efficacy Of These Products Against Pathogenic GramPositive Bacteria. (B. Subtilis, S. Aureus, S. Faecalis) And Gram Negative Bacteria (P. Multocida, S Typhi, And E.Coli). Ditch Diffusion Method, Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (Mic) And Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (Mbc) Were Employed To Evaluate The Antibacterial Activities Of These Products. The Result
Obtained Were Analyzed Using One Way Analysis Of Variance (Anova). Among The Bee Products, Pollen Was Discovered To Be More Active Against All The Pathogenic Gram-Positive And Gram-Negative Bacteria Used. The Result For The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (Mic) Of The Bee Products Against All The Pathogenic Gram-Positive And Gram-Negative Bacteria Ranges Between 125 And 250mg/Ml. The Result Of Minimum
Bactericidal Concentration (Mbc) Of The Bee Products (Propolis, Pollen Wax And Honey) Shows At Varying Concentrations Used, The Effect Of The Products Were Static On The Growth Of The Test Organism And Recorded Highest Mic Against S. Faecalis (Gram-Positive) And P. Multocida (Gram-Negative). It Is Therefore Recommended That Higher Concentration Of These Products Against Other/Same Test Organism Should Be
Done To Assess Their Activities.
... A beeswax crude extract has shown inhibitory effects against S. aureus, Salmonella enterica, C. albicans and Aspergillus niger (Ghanem, 2011), while effects against pathogenic bacteria and microscopic fungi have been reported for methanol and ethanol extracts (Kacániová et al., 2012). This kind of effects could depend at least in part on beeswax compounds of plant origin (Puleo and Keunen, 1991). ...
Honeybees produce honey, royal jelly, propolis, bee venom, bee pollen, and beeswax, which potentially benefit to humans due to the bioactives in them. Clinical standardization of these products is hindered by chemical variability depending on honeybee and botanical sources, but different molecules have been isolated and pharmacologically characterized. Major honey bioactives include phenolics, methylglyoxal, royal jelly proteins (MRJPs), and oligosaccharides. In royal jelly there are antimicrobial jelleins and royalisin peptides, MRJPs, and hydroxy-decenoic acid derivatives, notably 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, neuromodulatory, metabolic syndrome preventing, and anti-aging activities. Propolis contains caffeic acid phenethyl ester and artepillin C, specific of Brazilian propolis, with antiviral, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. Bee venom consists of toxic peptides like pain-inducing melittin, SK channel blocking apamin, and allergenic phospholipase A2. Bee pollen is vitaminic, contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory plant phenolics, as well as antiatherosclerotic, antidiabetic, and hypoglycemic flavonoids, unsaturated fatty acids, and sterols. Beeswax is widely used in cosmetics and makeup. Given the importance of drug discovery from natural sources, this review is aimed at providing an exhaustive screening of the bioactive compounds detected in honeybee products and of their curative or adverse biological effects.
... Bee wax is also a product of bees, secreted from the wax gland of bee workers. It is a mixture of esters, fatty acids, higher alcohols and saturated hydrocarbons in addition to aromatic substances and pigments [50].The antimicrobial character of beeswax has been documented in European and Asian holistic remedies for centuries. It was found to be particularly active against Bacillus alvei, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella gallinarum and Bacillus subtilis. ...
... Volatile products have also been detected at low levels [65]. Oxygenated compounds produced by the bees are also present, amongst which decanal (50% of the oxygenated volatiles), 1-decanol, nonanal, octanal, furfural, and benzaldehyde are responsible for the bouquet of the wax [66]. Research has also discovered that beeswax contains small amounts of natural antibacterial agents. ...
Infectious diseases represent an important cause of mortality which motivated the pharmaceutical companies to develop new antimicrobial drugs in recent constant years, especially due to the constant emergence of microorganisms resistant to conventional antimicrobials. Nature has provided many things for humankind over the years, including the tools for the first attempts at therapeutic intervention. Api-products, recognized in traditional and modern medicine as active agents in some biological processes, have been used since ancient times. Their botanical origin is matters of great interest worldwide since the floral source of bee products plays an important role on their biological properties, as it could determine their antimicrobial activities.
This book was written to fill the gap in biochemistry courses taught in associate and undergraduate programs. The topics of pollen, bee bread, beeswax and bee venom in this book can be used as a resource in associate and undergraduate programs. I hope this book will be a resource for instructors and students.
Beeswax is used in medicine from ancient times treatment od oral candidacies is possible by formulation of chewable gum sticks consisting natural hydrophobic wax with anti-fungal drug clotrimazole. Gum sticks are smooth and compatible in oral cavity. Develop safe stable and instant release dosage form offers opportunity for treating immune compromised patients and maintaining their good oral health.
Honey is deeply rooted in Saudi Arabian culture, religion, and trade, and The Holy Quran refers to its medicinal and healing properties several times. Honey is a highly symbolic and well-regarded product in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and it is widely used for its medicinal value in addition to its nutritional uses. Saudi Arabia is home to an estimated 2,200 flowering plants, and monofloral honey from local plants and trees such as Ziziphus (Sidr honey), Acacia (Talha and Sumra), Lavendula (Seyfi and Dharm), and Hypoestes forskaolii (Majra) fetch high prices and are more expensive than imported honey. Natural honey is used in the treatment of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and skin lesions in addition to having a high nutritional value. It was given Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as a potent antimicrobial agent for the topical treatment of wounds in 2007. In this review, we explore and highlight the therapeutic roles of different types of Saudi Arabian honey in modern medicine. We propose that natural honey should not be viewed as an “alternative” treatment and that it deserves more attention from scientists for research into its therapeutic potential for clinical applications.
Suspensions of vinegar, honey, black pepper and
ginger were examined for antibacterial activity
against Salmonella sp., Pseudomonas sp. and
E.coli by agar well diffusion technique. The
prepared suspensions were applied on Agaricus
bisporus to evaluate suspensions effect for
increasing the shelf life of it. Vinegar suspension
showed better antibacterial effect and good result
on Agaricus bisporus to increase its shelf life as
compared to honey suspension. Enzymatic
spoilage of Agaricus bisporus were studied by
applying vinegar suspension on both blanched and
unblanched Agaricus bisporus at 4oC and 27oC.
Treated blanched Agaricus bisporus which were
stored at 4oC showed least microbial load as
compared to other blanched and unblanched
Agaricus bisporus kept at 4oC and 27oC. Based on
survey analysis minimal change was observed in
sensory quality, color and texture on Agaricus
bisporus due to applied suspension.
Garlic and onion belonging to family Alliaceae are well known for having antibacterial effects. The antibacterial effects of six native Allium spp. were examined. Aqueous extracts were prepared from different parts of plants and six different bacterial isolates comprising of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms were used. All extracts exhibited antimicrobial activities at a concentration 10 mg mL -1 . The highest zones of inhibition were exhibited by Allium atroviolaceum extract ranging from 6.4 to 42.6 mm. Inhibition zones of the other species were: A. eriophyllum 3.5 -45 mm, A. scabriscapum 0.8 -25.3 mm, A. stamineum 7.2 -39.7 mm, A. iranicum 0 -30 mm and A. shelkovnikovii 0-27.8 mm. In bulbous plants, the bulb extracts had stronger antimicrobial activity and in others, flower extracts were more effective. Among the tested organisms Klebsilla pneamoniae was the most resistant and Bacillus subtilis and B. cereus were more sensitive than others. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in A. atroviolaceum was nearest to that of Streptomycine, while MIC of A. shelkovnikovii was farther from it.
The physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of honey from the sudano-guinean zone of West Cameroon were determined. The indices obtained were within their respective ranges recorded for honey in temperate countries, except for calcium content whose value was on the upper side of its reference range. A bacterial type and eight fungi species contamination were found to have contaminated the honey from the local markets. However, there were no microbes present in honey harvested from the Bee Research Farm of the University of Dschang. This indicated contamination from secondary sources, during handling and or adulterations of honey from our local markets. Honey used in this study showed medium crystallisation tendency and granulation was faster when stored under dark than light at similar conditions. The mixed floral or nectar sources, fluctuating environmental conditions and processing procedures played major roles in the physicochemical differences observed between the local and temperate honeys.
Total phenolic contents, antioxidant activity and chemical composition of propolis samples from three localities of Minas Gerais state (southeast Brazil) were determined. Total phenolic contents were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteau method, antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, using BHT as reference, and chemical composition was analyzed by GC/MS. Propolis from Itapecerica and Paula Cândido municipalities were found to have high phenolic contents and pronounced antioxidant activity. From these extracts, 40 substances were identified, among them were simple phenylpropanoids, prenylated phenylpropanoids, sesqui- and diterpenoids. Quantitatively, the main constituent of both samples was allyl-3-prenylcinnamic acid. A sample from Virginópolis municipality had no detectable phenolic substances and contained mainly triterpenoids, the main constituents being α- and β-amyrins. Methanolic extracts from Itapecerica and Paula Cândido exhibited pronounced scavenging activity towards DPPH, indistinguishable from BHT activity. However, extracts from Virginópolis sample exhibited no antioxidant activity. Total phenolic substances, GC/MS analyses and antioxidant activity of samples from Itapecerica collected monthly over a period of 1 year revealed considerable variation. No correlation was observed between antioxidant activity and either total phenolic contents or contents of artepillin C and other phenolic substances, as assayed by CG/MS analysis.
Myrrh (from the stem of the Commiphora molmol tree) is an oleo gum resin that may prove efficacious for the treatment of fascioliasis. We studied 7 patients who were passing Fasciola eggs in their stools and treated them with myrrh. The drug (a formulation consisting of 8 parts of resin and 3.5 parts of volatile oils, all extracted from myrrh) was given in a dose of 12 mg/kg per day for 6 consecutive days in the morning on an empty stomach. Patients were followed for 3 months. The therapy proved to be effective, with pronounced improvement of the general condition and amelioration of all symptoms and signs. A dramatic drop in the egg count was detected at the end of treatment. Eggs were no longer detectable in the feces 3 weeks after treatment and after a follow-up period of 3 months. High eosinophilic counts, elevated liver enzymes, and Fasciola antibody titers returned to nearly normal. No signs of toxicity or adverse effects were observed. We conclude that the formulation of myrrh is safe, well tolerated, and effective for treating fascioliasis.
In the present study, antimicrobial activity of the ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP), collected at different periods (June, August, and October-November) from various regions (Taipei, Mingchien, and Fanglia) in Taiwan, against Staphylococcus aureus was investigated. The effects of cell age, incubation temperature, and pH in response to EEP were also investigated. Depending on concentration, collecting area, and time, EEP exerted various degrees of antibacterial activity against S. aureus. The minimum inhibitory concentration of EEP tested ranged from <3.75 to 60 microg/ml, while the minimum bactericidal concentration ranged between 7.5 and 120 microg/ml against S. aureus. In general, a higher antibacterial activity was noted with EEP collected in August than other months. EEP of Mingchien-6 showed the most profound antibacterial activity among the EEP samples tested. The age of a bacterial culture affected its susceptibility to EEP. Cells in the late-exponential phase were most susceptible to EEP. Higher temperature (37 degrees C) and acidic pH enhanced the antibacterial activity of EEP.
The ethanolic extracts of two Brazilian propolis samples were submitted to a fractionation procedure based on the pKa values of their components. The fractions obtained were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus as well as for their antioxidant properties (reduction of DPPH radical). Their phenolic and flavonoid contents were measured spectrophotometrically, in order to establish the correlations between these contents and the measured activities. Further, the most active fractions of both extracts were analyzed by HRGC-MS and about twenty compounds could be characterized. Among them were 3-prenyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (drupanin) and 3,5-diprenyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (artepillin C), which seem to be the major antioxidant components of the bioactive fractions.
Antibacterial and anticandidal activities of essential oils obtained from of dill (Anethum graveolens) and fennel (Feoniculum vulgare) were studied by agar dilution technique. Test organisms were inoculated by radial streaking onto agar plates and incubated for 16-20 hours at 35°C. Antibacterial activity of dill and fennel was evaluated against Mycobacterium spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. Our results showed that the volatile oils extracted by steam distillation method from roots, stem and leaves of dill and fennel plants did not show antibacterial or anticandidal activities. However, seed extracts from both dill and fennel exhibited varying degrees of growth inhibition of C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C.glabrata. Extracts of dill and fennel seeds prepared by simple solvent extraction method, using acetone, petroleum ether, methanol and chloroform, did not show any antimicrobial activity against common bacterial or fungal pathogens. On the other hand, growth of some Mycobacterium species was inhibited by the seed extracts of both fennel and dill. Our results suggest that the anticandidal and antimycobacterial properties of these two herbs may be further investigated to explore the possibility of using them in the treatment of candidal or mycobacterial infections.
The quality and quantity of flavonoids from two types of propolis collected by two different varieties of Apis mellifera bee in the same region were investigated. There was found a remarkable quantitative and qualitative difference of flavonoids in propolis. These results indicate that the chemical composition of propolis was dependent on the variety of the bee.
Abstract The spasmolytic effects of an ethanol extract and the volatile oil of Nigella sativa seeds were tested in vitro using isolated segments of rabbit jejunum. The ethanol extract and volatile oil inhibited spontaneous movements of the rabbit jejunum. Also, the volatile oil inhibited contractions of the rabbit jejunum which were induced by high potasium (K+) solution or acetylcholine. This inhibition was dose-dependent, reversible and not affected by the addition of calcium to the organ bath. These data suggest that the plant seed has an antispasmodic effect, possibly due to a calcium antagonistic activity.
Degree of microbiological decontamination, organoleptic and physico-chemical properties of natural honeys were investigated after radiation treatment. Seven kinds of honeys were irradiated with the beams of 10 MeV electrons from a 10 kW linear accelerator “Elektronika 10-10” at the dose 10 kGy.It was shown, that after irradiation, the total count of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and moulds decrease by 99%. The antibiotic value in investigated honeys increased in turn from 1.67 to 2.67 after irradiation. Such factors and parameters of investigated honeys as their consistency, content of water and saccharose, acidity, the diastase and 5-HMF values were not changed significantly after irradiation.Decontamination by irradiation is a process which allows us to obtain high microbiological purity of honeys. It is especially needed, when honeys are used in surgical treatment of injuries and in nutrition of babies with food deficiency.
Antibacterial activity of 11 essential oil constituents against Escherichia coli, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, and Vibrio vulnificus was tested at 5, 10, 15, and 20% in 1% Tween 20 using a paper disk method. Eight constituents were then tested in liquid medium to determine minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC, respectively). V. vulnificus was most susceptible using disk assay. Carvacrol showed strong bactericidal activity against all tester strains, while limonene, nerolidol, and β-ionone were mostly inactive. Carvacrol was highly bactericidal against S. typhimurium and V. vulnificus in liquid medium (MBC 250 μg/mL). Citral and perillaldehyde had MBCs of 100 and 250 μg/mL against V. vulnificus. Terpineol and linalool were least potent against tester strains, with MBCs of 1000 μg/ mL. Citral, geraniol, and perillaldehyde at 500 μg/mL completely killed E. coli, E. coli O157:H7, and S. typhimurium, while citronellal at 250 μg/mL killed V. vulnificus. Therefore, these compounds could serve as potential antibacterial agents to inhibit pathogen growth in food.
The plant sources and chemical composition of propolis are reviewed. The chemical constituents that may be relevant to its biological and therapeutic activity are discussed. The cytotoxic activity and antimicrobial and pharmacological properties of propolis are presented. Propolis components, which cause allergy and are responsible for anticancer activity, eg, caffeic acid derivatives, are reported. The therapeutic efficacy of propolis in treating diseases caused by microorganisms is described. Some recent concepts about propolis and its use in medicine are presented.
The in vitro activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 of the major flavonoids identified in propolis was investigated. Flavonols were found to be more active than flavones, the order of importance being galangin, kaempferol, and quercetin. The efficacy against HSV-1 of binary flavone-flavonol combinations has been also investigated. The synergy demonstrated by all combinations could explain why propolis is more active than its individual compounds.
The antiviral activity of six synthetic substances, esters of substituted cinnamic acids, identical with or analogous to some of the constituents of the Et2O fraction of propolis was studied in vitro. One of them, isopentyl ferulate, inhibited significantly the infectious activity of influenza virus A/Hong Kong (H3N2) in vitro and the production of hemagglutinins in ovo. By the use of diverse experimental patterns, it was found that the maximal inhibition of viral reproduction was observed when test substances were present in the medium during the whole infectious process.
In this paper we present an original product for burns. It is an ointment with bacteriostatic, bactericidal and epithelializing action and it is make up in accordance with technology of sunflower oil, beeswax, sintopholin, chloramphenicol, procaine, and vitamin E. An experimental study on burnt animals in order to prove the efficiency of the product was carried out. For histological investigation tegument was collected from the burnt area. A rapid evolution of epithelialization was found in case of treated animals as distinguished from control sample, where the infected crust was far from being healed. We also present some photos in account with the upper fact.
The reported antibacterial effect of pure honey was evaluated by an in vitro study testing the growth of various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in media containing varying concentrations of honey. It was found that most pathogenic bacteria failed to grow in honey at a concentration of 40% and above. The possible mechanisms of this effect are briefly outlined.
Numbers of micro-organisms in sewage, soil, air and tap-water counted on media containing honey were lower than those counted on the same media containing equivalent concentrations of the sugars known to occur in honey. Similar experiments achieved with specific micro-organisms showed that honey had more pronounced inhibitory effects than the equivalent sugar solutions on Salmonella sp., Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum, but not on Bacillus subtilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These results are understood in view of the occurrence in honey of specific compounds active mainly against Gram negative bacteria and higher fungi.
The anti-ulcer effects of a natural mixture of higher aliphatic primary alcohols, designated D-002, isolated from beeswax, were compared with those of cimetidine on indomethacin-, ethanol-, water-immersion-induced ulcers and on gastric secretion in rats.
D-002 (25–50 mg kg−1 p.o.) was similar to cimetidine in dose-dependently reducing the duration of indomethacin-induced ulcers while also being effective in preventing ethanol-induced ulcers, which are not affected by cimetidine. On the other hand, D-002 (100 mg kg−1) moderately decreased the volume of gastric basal secretion in pylorus-ligated rats, but not the acidity. Nevertheless, it inhibited gastric ulcer induced by pylorus-ligation at doses (50mg kg−1) that were ineffective in decreasing the volume. In addition, 100 mg kg−1 of D-002 prevented the formation of acute gastric ulcers induced in rats by water-immersion stress.
The results demonstrate the anti-ulcer activity of the preparation in different experimental models suggesting its potential value for ulcer therapy.
Knowledge of the moisture and temperature conditions influencing growth of microorganisms in honey has long been used to control the spoilage of honey. However, the need for additional microbiological data on honey will increase as new technologies for, and uses of honey develop. Microorganisms in honey may influence quality or safety. Due to the natural properties of honey and control measures in the honey industry, honey is a product with minimal types and levels of microbes. Microbes of concern in post-harvest handling are those that are commonly found in honey (i.e., yeasts and spore-forming bacteria), those that indicate the sanitary or commercial quality of honey (i.e., coliforms and yeasts), and those that under certain conditions could cause human illness. Primary sources of microbial contamination are likely to include pollen, the digestive tracts of honey bees, dust, air, earth and nectar, sources which are very difficult to control. The same secondary (after-harvest) sources that influence any food product are also sources of contamination for honey. These include air, food handlers, cross-contamination, equipment and buildings. Secondary sources of contamination are controlled by good manufacturing practices. The microbes of concern in honey are primarily yeasts and spore-forming bacteria. Total plate counts from honey samples can vary from zero to tens of thousands per gram for no apparent reason. Most samples of honey contain detectable levels of yeasts. Although yeast counts in many honey samples are below 100 colony forming units per gram (cfu/g), yeasts can grow in honey to very high numbers. Standard industry practices control yeast growth. Bacterial spores, particularly those in the Bacillus genus, are regularly found in honey. The spores of C. botulinum are found in a fraction of the honey samples tested-normally at low levels. No vegetative forms of disease-causing bacterial species have been found in honey. Bacteria do not replicate in honey and as such high numbers of vegetative bacteria could indicate recent contamination from a secondary source. Certain vegetative microbes can survive in honey, at cool temperatures, for several years. However, honey has anti-microbial properties that discourage the growth or persistence of many microorganisms. Typically, honey can be expected to contain low numbers and a limited variety of microbes. A routine microbiological examination of honey might include several different assays. A standard plate count provides general information. Specialized tests, such as a count of yeasts and an assay for bacterial spore-formers, may also be useful. An indicator of sanitary quality as provided by coliform counts might be included. Additional tests, to explain unusually high counts or address a certain problem, may be needed. The use of honey in products that receive no or limited heat treatment may require additional tests. More information on the source and control of microbes in honey is needed to answer the concerns currently facing the industry.
Formation of dental caries is caused by the colonization and accumulation of oral microorganisms and extracellular polysaccharides that are synthesized from sucrose by glucosyltransferase of Streptococcus mutans. The production of glucosyltransferase from oral microorganisms was attempted, and it was found that Streptococcus mutans produced highest activity of the enzyme. Ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEP) were examined whether EEP inhibit the enzyme activity and growth of the bacteria or not. All EEP from various regions in Brazil inhibited both glucosyltransferase activity and growth of S. mutans, but one of the propolis from Rio Grande do Sul (RS2) demonstrated the highest inhibition of the enzyme activity and growth of the bacteria. It was also found that propolis (RS2) contained the highest concentrations of pinocembrin and galangin.
Propolis is a multifunctional material used by bees in the construction and maintenance of their hives. Use of propolis by humans has a long history, predated only by the discovery of honey. Use of products containing propolis have resulted in extensive dermal contact and it is now increasingly being used a dietary supplement. Unlike many 'natural' remedies, there is a substantive database on the biological activity and toxicity of propolis indicating it may have many antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral and antitumour properties, among other attributes. Although reports of allergic reactions are not uncommon, propolis is relatively non-toxic, with a no-effect level (NOEL) in a 90-mouse study of 1400 mg/kg body weight/day.
The antinociceptive effect of the aqueous extract of Zizyphus spina-christi root bark was investigated in mice and rats. Acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin and thermal (hot plate) tests were used. The extract (50 and 100 mg/kg, i.p.) showed a dose-dependent analgesic effect in all the tests used. Its i.p. LD50 in mice was 2236.07 mg/kg.
Three aqueous extracts of dietary materials of Chinese leek (leek flower stem, soft leek and green leek) and two other reference extracts of Allium plants were used to investigate the antibacterial effects against Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. All the tested strains of Campylobacter species were isolated from chickens. The minimum concentration of aqueous leek extracts (ALEs) required to inhibit the bacterial growth was 2.0 mg/ml. Among the plant extracts tested, ALEs shared the lowest value of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and soft leek significantly demonstrated the strongest inhibitory activities (P < 0.05). All the Allium plants tested shared similar characteristics of heat and pH susceptibility. Heat treatment (>75 degrees C) of the extracts reduced the inhibitory activity. The boiled ALEs revealed significant loss of inhibition (P < 0.05), but they retained some inhibitory effect. The antibacterial activities of the ALEs were stable between pH 2.0 and 8.0, while the effects were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) when pH of the ALEs were adjusted to 1.0 or 9.0 above. The results indicated that the antibacterial activities of the ALEs against Campylobacter species were more effective than that of aqueous garlic extract.