title: Antimicrobial activity of apitoxin, melittin and phospholipase A₂ of honey bee (Apis mellifera) venom against oral pathogens.
abstract: In this work, we used the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) technique to evaluate the antibacterial potential of the apitoxin produced by Apis mellifera bees against the causative agents of tooth decay. Apitoxin was assayed in natura and in the commercially available form. The antibacterial actions of the main components of this apitoxin, phospholipase A2, and melittin were also assessed, alone and in combination. The following bacteria were tested: Streptococcus salivarius, S. sobrinus, S. mutans, S. mitis, S. sanguinis, Lactobacillus casei, and Enterococcus faecalis. The MIC results obtained for the commercially available apitoxin and for the apitoxin in natura were close and lay between 20 and 40 µg / mL, which indicated good antibacterial activity. Melittin was the most active component in apitoxin; it displayed very promising MIC values, from 4 to 40 µg / mL. Phospholipase A2 presented MIC values higher than 400 µg / mL. Association of mellitin with phospholipase A2 yielded MIC values ranging between 6 and 80 µg / mL. Considering that tooth decay affects people's health, apitoxin and its component melittin have potential application against oral pathogens.
authors: Universidade de Franca, Franca, SP, Brasil.
authors: Luís F
authors: LF
authors: Leandro
authors: Universidade de Franca, Franca, SP, Brasil.
authors: Carlos A
authors: CA
authors: Mendes
authors: Universidade de Franca, Franca, SP, Brasil.
authors: Luciana A
authors: LA
authors: Casemiro
authors: Universidade de Franca, Franca, SP, Brasil.
authors: Adriana H C
authors: AH
authors: Vinholis
authors: Universidade de Franca, Franca, SP, Brasil.
authors: Wilson R
authors: WR
authors: Cunha
authors: Universidade de Franca, Franca, SP, Brasil.
authors: Rosana
authors: R
authors: de Almeida
authors: Universidade de Franca, Franca, SP, Brasil.
authors: Carlos H G
authors: CH
authors: Martins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001514:Bee Venoms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects*; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000187:drug effects*; D008555:Melitten / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001514:Bee Venoms; D008555:Melitten; D054467:Phospholipases A2