Oral and contact toxicity of the extract obtained with hexane from Achyrocline satureioides on larvae and adult honey bees.

PIMENTEL BETANCURT, DIANA; TONELO, NATALIA; PALLETI ROVEY, MA. FERNANDA; PADILLA ALVAREZ, F; OLIVA, MA. DE LAS MERCEDES; MARIOLI JM.

SPANISH JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH

SPANISH NATL INST AGRICULTURAL & FOOD RESEARCH & TECHNOLO

Lugar: Madrid; Año: 2021

1695-971X

2. AbstractApis mellifera is worldwide distributed and is considered one of the most important pollinators. However, it is affected by various diseases that decrease the honey yielding, the productivity and the well-being. Paenibacillus larvae is a Gram-positive spore-forming bacillus that affects the larval stage and causes American Foulbrood (AFB). Currently, no effective treatment for AFB exists; antibiotics generate bacterial resistance and the burning of hives is not environmentally friendly. In this way, plant extracts represent a promising alternative for the control of pathogens. In this research, the hexanic extract (HE) of Achyrocline satureioides presented a significant antibacterial activity against P. larvae. However, in vitro confirmation of toxicity or side effects on bee health is a prerequisite for considering the practical usefulness of these compounds. For this purpose, the HE minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by a microdilution method; the MIC obtained was 0.4 μg/mL. In the toxicity tests of the MIC in adult bees and larvae, survival percentages were observed to be around 95%. The results showed that this extract could be used for the development of an alternative product for a safe and effective treatment of AFB.