Polysaccharide hydrolyzing enzyme activity of bacteria, native to Apis florea gut

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Apis florea commonly known as “dwarf honey bee” harbors enormous gut bacteria that can digest complex carbohydrates and other food components. In this regard, the present investigation was focused on analyzing the polysaccharide degrading ability of bacteria isolated from the gut of honeybee, for their possible application in nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. Materials and Methods: Nine bacterial isolates were screened for carbohydrate degrading enzymes viz., amylase, pectinase, cellulase, tannase and laccase, using respective substrate by plate assay method. Further activities of amylase and pectinase were measured quantitatively by dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) method. Results: All the nine selected isolates exhibited amylase and pectinase activities. However, only two isolates exhibited lignolytic and cellulolytic activity. None of the isolates showed tannin degradation. Maximum amylase activity (4.95 U/mg) was observed in Bacillus halotolerans af-M9 followed by Klebsiella oxytoca af-G4 (4.62 U/mg). With respect to pectinase activity Klebsiella pneumoniae af-E17 displayed higher activity (0.24 U/mg) followed by Klebsiella oxytoca af-G4 (0.20 U/mg). Conclusion: Habitat-specific innovations are being explored for novel compounds for therapeutic applications. This study throws a light on selection of carbohydrate degrading bacteria from a new source i.e., GUT of honeybee.