Stonebrood and chalkbrood in Apis mellifera causing fungi: in vitro sensitivity to some essential oils.
Aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro antimycotic activity of 17 chemically defined essential oils (EOs) both alone and as a mixture, against agents responsible for stonebrood caused by Aspergillus flavus, and chalkbrood caused by Ascosphaera apis in European honeybees. Cinnamomum zeylanicum yielded the lowest MIC value against A. flavus, but was not effective against A. apis, while Litsea cubeba and Pelargonium graveolens appeared to be effective against all checked fungi. Aspergillus niger showed the lower sensitivity. Two mixtures composed by L. cubeba, C. zeylanicum and Cymbopogon flexuosus (M1) and by L. cubeba, C. zeylanicum, P. graveolens and C. flexuosus (M2), respectively, were tested, both resulting effective. The components of M1 showed a synergistic effect. The use of mixtures allowed to decrease the total amount of EOs. The use of these products could be of interest for an alternative natural approach in honeybee disease management.
a Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie , Università degli Studi di Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
Simona
S
Nardoni
a Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie , Università degli Studi di Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
Carlo
C
D'Ascenzi
a Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie , Università degli Studi di Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
Guido
G
Rocchigiani
a Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie , Università degli Studi di Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
Roberto Amerigo
RA
Papini
b Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche , Università degli Studi di Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
Luisa
L
Pistelli
c Beekeeping Laboratory , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana "Mariano Aleandri" , Roma , Italy.
Giovanni
G
Formato
b Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche , Università degli Studi di Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
Basma
B
Najar
a Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie , Università degli Studi di Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
Francesca
F
Mancianti
D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000187:drug effects; D001516:Bees / Q000382:microbiology*; D002935:Cinnamomum zeylanicum / Q000737:chemistry; D031743:Cymbopogon / Q000737:chemistry; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D032862:Litsea / Q000737:chemistry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D031316:Pelargonium / Q000737:chemistry
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile
Ascosphaera apis; Aspergillus flavus; Aspergillus niger; antimycotic activity; essential oils mixture