THE INHIBITORY EFFECT OF HONEY BEE VENOM AGAINST SOME DIFFERENT MICROOGANISMS

Abstract

Venom collected from honey bee (Apis meilifera L.) workers of Egyptian, Carniolian and Carnionlian hybrid races were microbiologically examined for their inhibitory effect against different microorganisms by using disc diffusion technique. There was a clear inhibitory effect (IE) for all bee venom types and this (1E) was strongly dependent on venom type and the type of test microorganism. Bee venom from the Egyptian race showed the strongest inhibitory effect (133-23.? mm) against microorganisms while, the venom obtained from Carniolian race gave the lowest effect (10.3-15.3 mm). Bee venom from Camiolian hybrid race revealed a moderate inhibitory action (11.7490 mm). Gram—positive bacten'a as well as yeast and moulds demonstrated the most susceptible cells for venom type while, in contrary Gram- negative bacteria manifested quite tolerance for the antimicrobial action of bee venom. Antimicrobial activity of bee venom proved to be concentration—dependent and it had a bacteriostatic effect at low concentrations while. at higher concentrations it considered as bactericidal. The incorporation of bee venom in growth medium negatively affected the progress in growth behavior of microorganisms and this effect increased with increasing venom concentration. Viability of Listeria monocytogenes and E.coii cells in their growth media had been lost and completely died-off after 24 and 48 hrs of incubation in the presence of high venom concentration (1000 pgfml) respectively. The presence of a moderate venom concentration (400 pgiml) in the medium delayed the bacterial growth and finally cells disappeared after five days of exposure. Providing growth media with low venom concentrations considerably suppressed the growth of the two bacterial strains. This phenomenon can be used in medical purposes and drug preparations or by some modifications in food preservation.