Atividade antimicrobiana de méis produzidos por meliponíneos nativos do Paraná (Brasil)

Abstract

The aim of this paper was to study the antibacterial and antifungal activity of pure honeys provided by stingless bees and phenolic extracts (HPES) obtained from these samples. A total of 21 honey samples were collected in Paraná (Brazil). The antimicrobial activity was assessed by broth microdilution. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined against Escherichia coli ATCC10530, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The honey samples presented higher antimicrobial activity against E. coli (MIC90 ≥3.12%) and S. aureus (MIC90 ≥1.56%) as compared to C. albicans (MIC90 ≥12.5%). A lower antimicrobial activity was verifi ed for HPES in relation to pure honeys. Only nine samples of HPE inhibited the growth of S. aureus at 10 mg.mL-1. Thus it is possible to suggest that stingless bee honey is a food with a health claim and has therapeutic potential against infections.