Abstract

Antimicrobial activity of crude venom extracts from different honeybee species was tested against selected pathogens. Toxicity of bee venom is known to man since ages, which varies from mild inflammations to death. Bee venom is synthesized in the venom glands of worker bees and queen and is stored in the venom sac. In the present study the toxic potentialities of honeybee venom pertaining to different honeybee species Apis cerana, Apis dorsata and Apis florea was carried out in vitro on selected species of bacteria and fungi. The selected bacteria and fungal species were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Xanthomonas subtilis, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella typhimurium and Candida albicans. They were collected from St. John Medical College, Bangalore. The antimicrobial activity of different species of Apis bee venom (ABV) was studied by Disc Diffusion Assay. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using Broth dilution method at lowest dilution (0.5 mg/ml). Bacterial growth was assessed by the measurement of inhibitory zone. The order of susceptibility of the pathogens against the ABV recorded was: A. cerana > Apis dorsata> Apis florea.The results showed that, ABV has significant antimicrobial effects and could be a potential alternative antibiotic.

Key words: Bee venom, Apis species, broth dilution, inhibitory zone, bacteria, fungi.