Antimicrobial activity of apitoxin, melittin and phospholipase A(2) of honey bee (Apis mellifera) venom against oral pathogens

作者：Leandro Luis F; Mendes Carlos A; Casemiro Luciana A; Vinholis Adriana H C; Cunha Wilson R; De Almeida Rosana; Martins Carlos H G^*

来源：ANAIS DA ACADEMIA BRASILEIRA DE CIENCIAS, 2015, 87(1): 147-155.

DOI：10.1590/0001-3765201520130511

• antibacterial activity
• apitoxin
• Melittin
• Phospholipase A(2)
• tooth decay
• oral pathogens

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 A(2), 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 mu g/mL, which indicated good antibacterial activity. Melittin was the most active component in apitoxin; it displayed very promising MIC values, from 4 to 40 mu g/mL. Phospholipase A(2) presented MIC values higher than 400 mu g/mL. Association of mellitin with phospholipase A(2) yielded MIC values ranging between 6 and 80 mu g/mL. Considering that tooth decay affects people's health, apitoxin and its component melittin have potential application against oral pathogens.

• 出版日期2015-3