title: Antibacterial synergic effect of honey from two stingless bees: Scaptotrigona bipunctata Lepeletier, 1836, and S. postica Latreille, 1807.
abstract: Several studies have tested antimicrobial activity of combinations of honey and various substances. In this study, we tested a combination of two stingless bee honeys against various bacterial strains. In particular: the antibacterial activity of honeys produced by Scaptotrigona bipunctata (SB) and Scaptotrigona postica (SP) was evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains by agar well diffusion assays, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assessment, construction of growth and viability curves and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The interaction of the two honeys was also evaluated by the checkerboard assay. Inhibition zones ranged from 8 to 22 mm. The MIC values of the individual honeys ranged from 0.62 to 10% (v v(-1)) and decreased to 1/4 to 1/32 when the honeys were combined. SEM images showed division inhibition and cell wall disruption for the SB and SP honeys, respectively, and these alterations were observed in same field when the SB and SP honeys were combined. This study demonstrated that the natural honeys possess in vitro antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains. Combination of the SB and SP honeys could lead to the development of new broad-spectrum antimicrobials that have the potential to prevent the emergence of resistant bacterial strains.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, CP 6001.
authors: E K
authors: EK
authors: Nishio
authors: Department of Microbiology, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, CP 6001.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Ribeiro
authors: Department of Microbiology, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, CP 6001.
authors: A G
authors: AG
authors: Oliveira
authors: Department of General Biology, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, CP 6001.
authors: C G T J
authors: CG
authors: Andrade
authors: Department of Animal and Vegetal Biology, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, CP 6001.
authors: E A
authors: EA
authors: Proni
authors: Department of Microbiology, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, CP 6001.
authors: R K T
authors: RK
authors: Kobayashi
authors: Department of Microbiology, Center of Biological Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, CP 6001.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Nakazato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001516:Bees; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006722:Honey; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents