1
|
Luca L, Pauliuc D, Oroian M. Honey microbiota, methods for determining the microbiological composition and the antimicrobial effect of honey - A review. Food Chem X 2024; 23:101524. [PMID: 38947342 PMCID: PMC11214184 DOI: 10.1016/j.fochx.2024.101524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Honey is a natural product used since ancient times due to its taste, aroma, and therapeutic properties (antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activity). The purpose of this review is to present the species of microorganisms that can survive in honey and the effect they can have on bees and consumers. The techniques for identifying the microorganisms present in honey are also described in this study. Honey contains bacteria, yeasts, molds, and viruses, and some of them may present beneficial properties for humans. The antimicrobial effect of honey is due to its acidity and high viscosity, high sugar concentration, low water content, the presence of hydrogen peroxide and non-peroxidase components, particularly methylglyoxal (MGO), phenolic acids, flavonoids, proteins, peptides, and non-peroxidase glycopeptides. Honey has antibacterial action (it has effectiveness against bacteria, e.g. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acinetobacter, etc.), antifungal (effectiveness against Candida spp., Aspergillus spp., Fusarium spp., Rhizopus spp., and Penicillium spp.), antiviral (effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2, Herpes simplex virus type 1, Influenza virus A and B, Varicella zoster virus), and antiparasitic action (effectiveness against Plasmodium berghei, Giardia and Trichomonas, Toxoplasma gondii) demonstrated by numerous studies that are comprised and discussed in this review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Luca
- Suceava-Botoșani Regional Innovative Bioeconomy Cluster Association, 720229 Suceava, Romania
| | - Daniela Pauliuc
- Faculty of Food Engineering, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
| | - Mircea Oroian
- Faculty of Food Engineering, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, 720229 Suceava, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Martinengo E, Micarelli P, Reinero FR, Bertelloni F, Fratini F. Antibacterial activity in egg samples from small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula and nursehound Scyliorhinus stellaris: A preliminary investigation. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2024; 104:1638-1644. [PMID: 38387880 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The study aims to identify antibacterial properties in unfertilized eggs of Scyliorhinus canicula and Scyliorhinus stellaris. Despite challenging marine conditions, these eggs retain their integrity for extended periods and remain unaffected by pathogens. The antibacterial activity was measured using minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentration analysis. The eggs of S. stellaris exhibited a slight inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes, whereas both species' eggs showed no activity against gram-negative microorganisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Martinengo
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Primo Micarelli
- Sharks Studies Center-Scientific Institute, Massa Marittima, Italy
- Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | | | | | - Filippo Fratini
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Russo N, Di Rosa AR, Pino A, Mazzeo G, Liotta L, Caggia C, Randazzo CL. Assessment of sensory properties and in vitro antimicrobial activity of monofloral Sicilian honey. FOOD BIOSCI 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2023.102449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
|
4
|
CHETTOUM A, FEKNOUS N, BOUMENDJEL M, MEKHANCHA DE, BOUDIDA Y, SEDARI A, BERREDJEM A, ATI H, ZAIDI K, BOUMENDJEL A, MESSARAH M. Biological, physicochemical and antibacterial properties of pure honey harvested at the municipality of Seraïdi (Annaba, north east of Algeria). FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1590/fst.41022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Djamel-Eddine MEKHANCHA
- Brothers Mentouri Constantine 1 University, Algeria; Salah Boubnider Constantine 3 University, Algeria
| | | | | | | | - Hanène ATI
- Chadli Bendjedid El-Tarf University, Algeria
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wu J, Han B, Zhao S, Zhong Y, Han W, Gao J, Wang S. Bioactive characterization of multifloral honeys from Apis cerana cerana, Apis dorsata, and Lepidotrigona flavibasis. Food Res Int 2022; 161:111808. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.111808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
|
6
|
Hossain ML, Lim LY, Hammer K, Hettiarachchi D, Locher C. A Review of Commonly Used Methodologies for Assessing the Antibacterial Activity of Honey and Honey Products. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11070975. [PMID: 35884229 PMCID: PMC9312033 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11070975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey, a naturally sweet and viscous substance is mainly produced by honeybees (Apis mellifera) from flower nectar. Honey exerts a plethora of biological and pharmacological activities, namely, antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity, because of the presence of an extensive variety of bioactive compounds. The antibacterial activity is one of the most reported biological properties, with many studies demonstrating that honey is active against clinically important pathogens. As a result, beside honey’s widespread utilization as a common food and flavouring agent, honey is an attractive natural antimicrobial agent. However, the use of neat honey for therapeutic purposes poses some problems, for instance, its stickiness may hamper its appeal to consumers and health care professionals, and the maintenance of an adequate therapeutic concentration over a sufficient timeframe may be challenging due to honey liquidity and leakage. It has motivated researchers to integrate honey into diverse formulations, for example, hydrogels, dressings, ointments, pastes and lozenges. The antibacterial activity of these formulations should be scientifically determined to underscore claims of effectiveness. Some researchers have made efforts to adapt the disc carrier and suspension test to assess the antimicrobial activity of topical products (e.g., silver-based wound dressings). However, there is currently no established and validated method for determining the in vitro antimicrobial potential of natural product-based formulations, including those containing honey as the active principle. Against the backdrop of a brief discussion of the parameters that contribute to its antibacterial activity, this review provides an outline of the methods currently used for investigating the antibacterial activity of neat honey and discusses their limitations for application to honey-based formulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md Lokman Hossain
- Division of Pharmacy, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (M.L.H.); (L.Y.L.); (D.H.)
| | - Lee Yong Lim
- Division of Pharmacy, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (M.L.H.); (L.Y.L.); (D.H.)
| | - Katherine Hammer
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia;
- CRC for Honey Bee Products, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia
| | - Dhanushka Hettiarachchi
- Division of Pharmacy, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (M.L.H.); (L.Y.L.); (D.H.)
| | - Cornelia Locher
- Division of Pharmacy, School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia; (M.L.H.); (L.Y.L.); (D.H.)
- CRC for Honey Bee Products, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Some Types of Honey from Banat Region, Romania. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27134179. [PMID: 35807424 PMCID: PMC9268046 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27134179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey is a natural product with multiple health benefits. The paper presents the chemical characterization and the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of ten types of honey (knotweed, linden, wild cherry, acacia, honeydew, oilseed rape, sunflower, phacelia, plain polyflora and hill polyflora) from the Banat region, Romania. We studied the water content, dry matter, impurities, acidity and pH of honey. We also determined the content of reducing sugar, minerals and flavonoids and the total phenolic content. All honey samples analysed showed good nutritional characteristics according to the standard codex for honey. From the analysis of the mineral content of the honey samples, we observed a variability in the macro and microminerals, influenced by the botanical origin, ranging between 0.25% (wild cherry honey) and 0.54% (honeydew). The toxic metals’ (Cd and Pb) levels met the standard for almost all samples analysed except for knotweed. The flavonoid content of the samples ranged from 9.29 mg QE/100 g for wild cherry honey to 263.86 mg QE/100 g for linden honey, and for polyphenols between 177.6 mgGAE/100 g for acacia honey and 1159.3 mgGAE/100 g for honeydew. The best antioxidant capacity was registered in the case of linden honey (79.89%) and honeydew (79.20%) and the weakest in acacia (41.88%) and wild cherries (50.4%). All studied honey samples showed antimicrobial activity, depending on the type of honey, concentration and strain analysed. The novelty of this study is given by the complex approach of the study of honey quality, both from the perspective of chemical attributes and the evaluation of the antimicrobial potential on specific strains in correlation with the botanical and geographical origin of the analyzed area.
Collapse
|
8
|
Ben Amor S, Mekious S, Allal Benfekih L, Abdellattif MH, Boussebaa W, Almalki FA, Ben Hadda T, Kawsar SMA. Phytochemical Characterization and Bioactivity of Different Honey Samples Collected in the Pre-Saharan Region in Algeria. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12070927. [PMID: 35888017 PMCID: PMC9321394 DOI: 10.3390/life12070927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Despite the challenging conditions in the pre-Saharan areas of Algeria, such as weak plant cover and a harsh climate, beekeeping is being developed and spread. In the present work, honey samples collected from ten locations in the El Oued region were examined during the spring of 2021. A melissopalynological analysis was carried out, followed by a floristic investigation. The 10 honey samples were also investigated for their physicochemical properties and antioxidant and antibacterial activity against five strains: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilus, Listeria innocua, and Micrococcus luteus. The floristic analysis found 65 species belonging to 33 botanical families, with a dominance of the Asteraceae family accounting for 18.461% of the total. The melissopalynological study revealed only one monofloral honey (Ziziphus lotus), whereas the nine others were multi-floral. The honey’s color changed from light to dark amber, and most tested honey was of high quality, fulfilling international criteria. The total phenol and flavonoid contents varied considerably amongst the various honey samples. Furthermore, LC-MS-MS phenolic profile analysis identified the presence of 20 chemicals, of which only three phenols were found in all honey types. Antioxidant capacity analyzed with FRAP test and antiradical activities against DPPH differed from one honey sample to another. Moreover, a significant correlation was recorded between the antioxidant activity, honey’s color, polyphenol, and flavonoid contents. The S. aureus strain was the most sensitive regarding honey antibacterial activity, while M. luteus and B. subtilis strains were only moderately sensitive.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Safia Ben Amor
- Laboratory for Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Faculty of Nature Sciences and Life, Saad Dahlab University, Blida 1, Route de Soumâa, Blida 09000, Algeria; (S.M.); (L.A.B.)
- Correspondence: (S.B.A.); (S.M.A.K.)
| | - Scherazad Mekious
- Laboratory for Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Faculty of Nature Sciences and Life, Saad Dahlab University, Blida 1, Route de Soumâa, Blida 09000, Algeria; (S.M.); (L.A.B.)
- Faculty of Nature Sciences and Life, Ziane Achour University, Djelfa 17000, Algeria
| | - Leila Allal Benfekih
- Laboratory for Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Faculty of Nature Sciences and Life, Saad Dahlab University, Blida 1, Route de Soumâa, Blida 09000, Algeria; (S.M.); (L.A.B.)
| | - Magda H. Abdellattif
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Taif University, Al-Haweiah, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Walid Boussebaa
- Scientific and Technical Research Center in Physico-Chemical Analysis, Headquarters Ex-Pasna Industrial Zone, Bou-Ismail CP, Tipaza 42004, Algeria;
| | - Faisal A. Almalki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia; (F.A.A.); (T.B.H.)
| | - Taibi Ben Hadda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia; (F.A.A.); (T.B.H.)
- Laboratory of Bioresources, Biotechnology, Ethnopharmacology and Health, Faculty of Sciences, Université Mohamed Premier, BV Mohammed VI, BP 717, Oujda 60000, Morocco
| | - Sarkar M. A. Kawsar
- Laboratory of Carbohydrate and Nucleoside Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh
- Correspondence: (S.B.A.); (S.M.A.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Sidashova S, Adamchuk L, Yasko V, Kirovich N, Lisohurska D, Postoienko H, Lisohurska O, Furman S, Bezditko L. The inhibitory effect of Ukrainian honey on probiotic bacteria. POTRAVINARSTVO 2022. [DOI: 10.5219/1721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey is used in the food industry as a natural sweetener and has therapeutic effects on the human body. Obtaining quality honey involves using organic preventive and treatment agents in beekeeping. The most common of these agents are probiotic supplements. This research aimed to study honey’s interaction with an inhibitory effect on the growth of microorganisms from the probiotic supplement Immunobacterin-D under laboratory and experimental field conditions. At the first stage of the research, we assessed the effects of ten honey varieties (buckwheat, sunflower, meadow and forest plants, linden) on B. subtilis and B. licheniformis from the dry probiotic supplement. The honey-containing nutrient media had an inhibitory effect on the growth of B. subtilis colonies. After 24 hours of cultivation under aerobic conditions, the concentration of B. subtilis decreased, on average, from 5×1012 colony-forming units in 1 g to 3.2×104 and 2.1×105 CFU/g in samples with monofloral and polyfloral honey, respectively. These results emphasize the need for further research on the symbiotic role of microflora in the stability of the microbiota of the hive and bee colony ecosystem. The next stage of the study investigated the probiotic effect on bee colonies in the field. Observations were made on the sanitary conditions of the hives and the behaviour of bees at the Petrodolyna demo apiary. No differences were found at the macro hive-bee colony ecosystem level between control bee colonies (n = 5) and the experimental ones (n = 5) that had received carbohydrate feeding with added probiotics. This confirms the inhibitory effect of honey on the development of bacteria, which eliminates the risk of uncontrolled growth of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis strain colonies inside the hive and the bacteria getting into bee products. The probiotic had positive effects, increasing the live weight of worker bees by 9.15% by the end of the apiary season compared to the control. This can improve the viability of the bees during wintering. At the last stage of the research, the honey obtained from the experimental colonies was checked for the spores of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis using melissopalynology.
Collapse
|
10
|
Antibacterial properties of Apis dorsata honey against some bacterial pathogens. Saudi J Biol Sci 2022; 29:730-734. [PMID: 35197738 PMCID: PMC8847928 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.09.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Now-a-days, different bioproducts are being used extensively for the welfare of mankind. However, for proper utility of any bioproduct, the exact biotechnological potential of that product should be explored. Honey is produced in almost every country on the planet. It has long been used as a medicinal agent in addition to its broader use as a popular food throughout the human history. It can be used to treat various diseases without causing any negative side effects. In the present study, the antibacterial potential of honey produced by A. dorsata was investigated at its variable concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100 %) against four pathogenic bacterial species. The highest antimicrobial action was seen against E. coli at 100 % concentration of the honey while showing zone of inhibition of 37.5 ± 3.5 mm. However, the lowest antibacterial action was observed against E. faecalis. The overall order of growth inhibition by the honey at its 100 % concentration for the implicated bacterial species appeared as: E. coli ˃ P. aeruginosa ˃ S. aureus ˃ E. faecalis. The honey couldn’t show antibacterial action at its 25 % concentration. Our findings of the present study will be helpful for utility of the honey as an alternative medicine for curing different complications caused by microbial pathogens.
Collapse
|
11
|
Cilia G, Bortolotti L, Albertazzi S, Ghini S, Nanetti A. Honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies as bioindicators of environmental SARS-CoV-2 occurrence. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 805:150327. [PMID: 34543793 PMCID: PMC8438869 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Airflows sustain the infection spread, and in densely urbanized areas airborne particulate matters (PMs) are deemed to aggravate the viral transmission. Apis mellifera colonies are used as bioindicators as they allow environmental sampling of different nature, PMs included. This experiment demonstrates for the first time the possible use of honey bee colonies in the SARS-CoV-2 monitoring. The trial was conducted in Bologna on 18 March 2021, when the third wave of the Italian pandemic was at its peak and environmental conditions allowed high PM concentrations in the air. Sterile swabs were lined up at the hive entrance to sample the dusty material on the body of returning foragers. All of them resulted positive for the target genes of viral SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Likewise, internal samples were taken, but they resulted in no amplification of the target sequences. This experiment does not support speculations about the role of honey bees or their products in SARS-CoV-2 transmission. However, it indicates a novel use of A. mellifera colonies in the environmental detection of airborne human pathogens, at least in a densely urbanized area, deserving better understanding and possible integration with data from automatic air samplers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Cilia
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Saliceto 80, 40128 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Laura Bortolotti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Saliceto 80, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Sergio Albertazzi
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Saliceto 80, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Severino Ghini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnologies, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonio Nanetti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Saliceto 80, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kryvyi M, Yushchenko О, Dikhtiar О, Lisohurska D, Stepanenko V. QUALITY OF HELIANTHUS ANNUUS HONEY OBTAINED IN THE CONDITIONS OF RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION. FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.15673/fst.v15i2.2110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Natural honey is a source of vital amino acids, easily digestible carbohydrates, macro, microelements, biologically active substances that determine nutritional, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. In the conditions of man-caused pollution of Polissya of Ukraine due to the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, systematic control of the quality and safety of beekeeping products is important. To conduct such research, we created a group of twelve bee families - analogs of the Ukrainian breed, medium strength. Families were kept in unified multifunctional hives. At the beginning of the honey harvest, the bee families were transported to the sunflower fields, where they stayed during the blossoming of the plants. The density of radioactive contamination of 137Cs soils where sunflower was grown was 47.0 kBq / m2. We used organoleptic, physicochemical, microscopic, microbiological, and radiological methods in the study. According to standard methods, we studied the species composition of pollen grains, physicochemical parameters of centrifugal, honeycomb, and «zabrus» sunflower honey.(zabrus honey was obtained from wax caps, which we cut with an apiary knife from honeycombs filled with nectar and sealed by bees). The content of lead (Pb) in honey from sunflower obtained in the conditions of Polissya is 1.8 - 2.1 times higher than the State sanitary norms. The largest amount of it is in the centrifugal honey. In acceptable amounts, the heavy metals cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and 137Cs were present in honey. Pesticides, dichlorodiphenyltrichloromethylmethane, and hexachlorane were not detected in the samples. We investigated the bactericidal action against bacterial growth of typical cultures of Proteus vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus. Zubrus sunflower honey showed the highest antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. We found that the value of antioxidant activity (AOA) of sunflower honey depends on the method of its production, duration of storage, and solutions of extracts (alcohol, aqueous) used in research. Laboratory control of transgenic organisms in flowers and sunflower pollen did not reveal the target sequences of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter and the NOS terminator (nopaline synthase) of the plasmid Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
Collapse
|
13
|
Šedík P, Predanócyová K, Horská E, Kačániová M. The antimicrobial activity of polyfloral honey and its awareness among urban consumers in Slovakia. POTRAVINARSTVO 2021. [DOI: 10.5219/1621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The current interdisciplinary research studies the antimicrobial activity of selected polyfloral kinds of honey (n = 30) against three microorganisms (gram-positive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis, gram-negative bacteria Salmonella enterica, and one yeast Candida krusei) as well as investigates consumer behavior and awareness towards honey healing properties. Consumer research involved 617 honey consumers living in urban areas. T-test for Equality of means, non-parametric tests, and descriptive statistics were applied. Results showed that antimicrobial activity was found in all honey samples with a concentration of 50%. Nevertheless, better activity was obtained in honey samples from urban beekeepers compared to samples from retail stores. Results of consumer research showed that honey is mostly used as food (sweetener in beverages, ingredient in the recipe, or direct consumption) and as medicine mainly during the winter period. The consumer awareness towards honey healing effects was very high (97%), however, 1/3 of respondents were not able to list any specific examples, and only 11 % mentioned antibacterial activity. Furthermore, more than 70% of respondents did not know to explain the term “medical honey” and more than 50% of respondents are not aware of the maximum temperature used for heating honey without decreasing its biologically active compounds.
Collapse
|
14
|
Didaras NA, Kafantaris I, Dimitriou TG, Mitsagga C, Karatasou K, Giavasis I, Stagos D, Amoutzias GD, Hatjina F, Mossialos D. Biological Properties of Bee Bread Collected from Apiaries Located across Greece. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10050555. [PMID: 34068740 PMCID: PMC8151309 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10050555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Bee bread is the only fermented product of the beehive. It constitutes the main source of proteins, lipids, vitamins, and macro- and microelements in honeybee nutrition and it exerts antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, though research on these aspects has been limited so far. In this study 18 samples of Greek bee bread, two of which were monofloral, were collected during different seasons from diverse locations such as Crete and Mount Athos and were tested for their bioactivity. Samples were analyzed for their antibacterial properties, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC). The antimicrobial activity of each sample was tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella typhimurium. Our data demonstrate that all samples exert inhibitory and most of them bactericidal activity against at least two pathogens. Furthermore, all samples exert significant antioxidant activity, where the monofloral Castanea Sativa sample demonstrated superior antioxidant activity. Nevertheless, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity were not strongly correlated. Furthermore, machine learning methods demonstrated that the palynological composition of the samples is a good predictor of their TPC and ABTS activity. This is the first study that focuses on the biological properties of Greek bee bread and demonstrates that bee bread can be considered a functional food and a possible source of novel antimicrobial compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikos Asoutis Didaras
- Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Molecular Bacteriology, Virology, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece; (N.A.D.); (I.K.); (T.G.D.)
| | - Ioannis Kafantaris
- Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Molecular Bacteriology, Virology, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece; (N.A.D.); (I.K.); (T.G.D.)
| | - Tilemachos G. Dimitriou
- Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Molecular Bacteriology, Virology, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece; (N.A.D.); (I.K.); (T.G.D.)
| | - Chrysanthi Mitsagga
- Laboratory of Food Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece; (C.M.); (I.G.)
| | - Katerina Karatasou
- Apicultural Centre of Larissa, Federation of Greek Beekeepers Associations, 41222 Larissa, Greece;
| | - Ioannis Giavasis
- Laboratory of Food Microbiology and Biotechnology, Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece; (C.M.); (I.G.)
| | - Dimitris Stagos
- Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece;
| | - Grigoris D. Amoutzias
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece;
| | - Fani Hatjina
- Department of Apiculture, Institute of Animal Science, Hellenic Agricultural Organisation DEMETER, 63200 Nea Moudania, Greece;
| | - Dimitris Mossialos
- Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Molecular Bacteriology, Virology, Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, 41500 Larissa, Greece; (N.A.D.); (I.K.); (T.G.D.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-241-056-5270
| |
Collapse
|