Composition and Efficacy of a Natural Phytotherapeutic Blend against Nosemosis in Honey Bees

Romeo Teodor Cristina, Zorana Kovačević, Marko Cincović, Eugenia Dumitrescu, Florin Muselin, Kalman Imre, Dumitru Militaru, Narcisa Mederle, Isidora Radulov, Nicoleta Hădărugă and Nikola Puvača
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Romeo Teodor Cristina: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Toxicology, Parasitology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania” from Timișoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Zorana Kovačević: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Marko Cincović: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Eugenia Dumitrescu: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Toxicology, Parasitology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania” from Timișoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Florin Muselin: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Toxicology, Parasitology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania” from Timișoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Kalman Imre: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Toxicology, Parasitology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania” from Timișoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Dumitru Militaru: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Narcisa Mederle: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Toxicology, Parasitology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania” from Timișoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Isidora Radulov: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Toxicology, Parasitology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania” from Timișoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Nicoleta Hădărugă: Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Toxicology, Parasitology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “King Michael I of Romania” from Timișoara, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Nikola Puvača: Department of Engineering Management in Biotechnology, Faculty of Economics and Engineering Management in Novi Sad, University Business Academy in Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 14, 1-16

Abstract: Honey bees are essential to sustaining ecosystems, contributing to the stability of biodiversity through pollination. Today, it is known that the failure of pollination leads irremediably to the loss of plant cultures and, as a consequence, inducing food security issues. Bees can be affected by various factors, one of these being Nosema spp. which are protozoans specifically affecting adult honey bees and a threat to bee populations around the world. The composition of the phytotherapeutic product ( Protofil ® ) for treating nosemosis was analyzed from a biochemical point of view. The most concentrated soluble parts in the phytotherapeutic association were the flavonoids, most frequently rutin, but quercetin was also detected. Additionally, the main volatile compounds identified were eucalyptol (1.8-cineol) and chavicol-methyl-ether. To evaluate the samples’ similarity–dissimilarity, the PCA multivariate statistical analysis, of the gas-chromatographic data (centered relative percentages of the volatile compounds), was applied. Statistical analysis revealed a significant similarity of Protofil ® with the Achillea millefolium (Yarrow) samples and more limited with Thymus vulgaris (Thyme) and Ocimum basilicum (Basil) , and, respectively, a meaningful dissimilarity with Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion). The results have shown a high and beneficial active compounds concentration in the analyzed herbs. High similarity with investigated product recommending the Protofil ® , as the treatment compatible with producing organic honey.

Keywords: Apis mellifera; Nosema spp.; Protofil ®; biochemical analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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