Abstract
ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to isolate sporogenic bacteria from the honey of stingless bees Melipona sp., in dry forest, and to evaluate their antagonistic potential for medicinal employment purposes and animal production. The honey samples were collected in Serra Talhada-PE, where honey was taken from four different hives (in triplicate), totaling 12 samples. The samples were diluted and subjected to 80 ºC for 20 minutes to eliminate vegetative cells. The dilutions were plated onto nutrient agar and incubated at 30 ºC for 72 hours. Then the colony forming units (CFU) were quantified. The samples were also plated onto malt agar and Sabouraud agar, and incubated at 30 ºC for 14 days for the growth of yeast and molds. Total and fecal coliforms were quantified by the most probable number method (MPN). Seven isolates (I) of sporogenic bacteria (Bacillus) were obtained, however only four showed probiotic potential. Isolate I-5 showed the greatest probiotic potential and inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella sp., and Staphylococcus aureus. The growth of the Sarcina sp. was not inhibited by any isolate. No yeast, molds or coliforms were found. The Melipona sp. honey is a source of spore-forming bacteria and is antagonistic to microorganisms that contaminate honey. It has good microbiological quality.
Highlights
In Brazil, honey from native bees has commonly been used to heal many bacterial and fungal diseases, as well as being a scar promoter and antioxidant (GONÇALVES et al, 2005)
In vitro assays showed that honey from Nannotrigona testaceicornis and Tetragonisca angustula bees inhibited the development of Bacillus sp., Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes, coagulasepositive Staphylococcus spp. and yeasts (GONÇALVES; ALVES FILHO; MENEZES, 2005; BOBANY et al, 2010)
Several microorganism species can be found in the nests of stingless bees, especially bacteria, such as Bacillus, and filamentous fungi and yeast, which might contaminate honey, and pollen, larvae food, and the intestines of the worker bees
Summary
In Brazil, honey from native bees has commonly been used to heal many bacterial and fungal diseases, as well as being a scar promoter and antioxidant (GONÇALVES et al, 2005). In vitro assays showed that honey from Nannotrigona testaceicornis and Tetragonisca angustula bees inhibited the development of Bacillus sp., Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pyogenes, coagulasepositive Staphylococcus spp. and yeasts (GONÇALVES; ALVES FILHO; MENEZES, 2005; BOBANY et al, 2010). Several microorganism species can be found in the nests of stingless bees, especially bacteria, such as Bacillus, and filamentous fungi and yeast, which might contaminate honey, and pollen, larvae food, and the intestines of the worker bees. Due to the large number of bacteria that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics, those responsible for hospital infections, many researchers are seeking new natural biologically active substances that play roles in the control of infectious diseases (GUIMARÃES; MOMESSO; PUPO, 2010)
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