Improved Antibacterial Properties of Fermented and Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Bee Pollen and Its Combined Effect with Antibiotics

<b>Background/Objectives:</b> A variety of phytochemicals from different plants are collected by bees into bee pollen granules. This research focused on evaluating the effects of lactic acid fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis on the antibacterial activity of bee pollen and its interac...

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Main Authors: Vaida Damulienė, Vilma Kaškonienė, Paulius Kaškonas, Rūta Mickienė, Audrius Maruška
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Pharmaceuticals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/1/15
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author Vaida Damulienė
Vilma Kaškonienė
Paulius Kaškonas
Rūta Mickienė
Audrius Maruška
author_facet Vaida Damulienė
Vilma Kaškonienė
Paulius Kaškonas
Rūta Mickienė
Audrius Maruška
author_sort Vaida Damulienė
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives:</b> A variety of phytochemicals from different plants are collected by bees into bee pollen granules. This research focused on evaluating the effects of lactic acid fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis on the antibacterial activity of bee pollen and its interaction with antibiotics. There is limited knowledge regarding the interactions between treated bee pollen extracts and antibiotics, and this study contributes to the field by providing new insights into the antibacterial activity of pollen subjected to eight distinct treatment methods. <b>Methods</b>: Bee pollen’s bacterial fermentation using a <i>Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus</i> culture and spontaneous fermentation were performed. Bee pollen hydrolysis was performed using commercial enzymes, including enzyme mixtures as well as pure enzymes. The agar well diffusion assay was employed to assess the antibacterial activity against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>, and <i>Salmonella enterica</i> serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium, as well as their interaction with antibiotics (ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline dihydrate, and erythromycin). <b>Results</b>: This study showed an enhancement in bee pollen’s antibacterial activity after both fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis. The increase varied with the pollen’s origin, treatment type, and culture used for antimicrobial tests. More than 77% of bee pollen extracts demonstrated a synergistic effect with antibiotics across all tested bacterial strains, while antagonistic interactions were comparatively rare. <b>Conclusions</b>: The applied treatment methods can improve the antibacterial properties of bee pollen. Bee pollen extracts, in combination with antibiotics, can enhance their effectiveness. These findings provide new insights into the potential use of bee pollen in combating bacterial infections.
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spelling doaj-art-f297e54618234f8e93b450ac8f1ef9092025-01-24T13:45:00ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472024-12-011811510.3390/ph18010015Improved Antibacterial Properties of Fermented and Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Bee Pollen and Its Combined Effect with AntibioticsVaida Damulienė0Vilma Kaškonienė1Paulius Kaškonas2Rūta Mickienė3Audrius Maruška4Instrumental Analysis Open Access Centre, Vytautas Magnus University, LT-44404 Kaunas, LithuaniaInstrumental Analysis Open Access Centre, Vytautas Magnus University, LT-44404 Kaunas, LithuaniaInstitute of Metrology, Kaunas University of Technology, LT-51368 Kaunas, LithuaniaInstrumental Analysis Open Access Centre, Vytautas Magnus University, LT-44404 Kaunas, LithuaniaInstrumental Analysis Open Access Centre, Vytautas Magnus University, LT-44404 Kaunas, Lithuania<b>Background/Objectives:</b> A variety of phytochemicals from different plants are collected by bees into bee pollen granules. This research focused on evaluating the effects of lactic acid fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis on the antibacterial activity of bee pollen and its interaction with antibiotics. There is limited knowledge regarding the interactions between treated bee pollen extracts and antibiotics, and this study contributes to the field by providing new insights into the antibacterial activity of pollen subjected to eight distinct treatment methods. <b>Methods</b>: Bee pollen’s bacterial fermentation using a <i>Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus</i> culture and spontaneous fermentation were performed. Bee pollen hydrolysis was performed using commercial enzymes, including enzyme mixtures as well as pure enzymes. The agar well diffusion assay was employed to assess the antibacterial activity against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>, and <i>Salmonella enterica</i> serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium, as well as their interaction with antibiotics (ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, oxytetracycline dihydrate, and erythromycin). <b>Results</b>: This study showed an enhancement in bee pollen’s antibacterial activity after both fermentation and enzymatic hydrolysis. The increase varied with the pollen’s origin, treatment type, and culture used for antimicrobial tests. More than 77% of bee pollen extracts demonstrated a synergistic effect with antibiotics across all tested bacterial strains, while antagonistic interactions were comparatively rare. <b>Conclusions</b>: The applied treatment methods can improve the antibacterial properties of bee pollen. Bee pollen extracts, in combination with antibiotics, can enhance their effectiveness. These findings provide new insights into the potential use of bee pollen in combating bacterial infections.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/1/15European bee pollenantimicrobial activitysolid-state fermentation<i>Viscozyme<sup>®</sup> L</i><i>Clara-diastase</i>cellulase
spellingShingle Vaida Damulienė
Vilma Kaškonienė
Paulius Kaškonas
Rūta Mickienė
Audrius Maruška
Improved Antibacterial Properties of Fermented and Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Bee Pollen and Its Combined Effect with Antibiotics
Pharmaceuticals
European bee pollen
antimicrobial activity
solid-state fermentation
<i>Viscozyme<sup>®</sup> L</i>
<i>Clara-diastase</i>
cellulase
title Improved Antibacterial Properties of Fermented and Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Bee Pollen and Its Combined Effect with Antibiotics
title_full Improved Antibacterial Properties of Fermented and Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Bee Pollen and Its Combined Effect with Antibiotics
title_fullStr Improved Antibacterial Properties of Fermented and Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Bee Pollen and Its Combined Effect with Antibiotics
title_full_unstemmed Improved Antibacterial Properties of Fermented and Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Bee Pollen and Its Combined Effect with Antibiotics
title_short Improved Antibacterial Properties of Fermented and Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Bee Pollen and Its Combined Effect with Antibiotics
title_sort improved antibacterial properties of fermented and enzymatically hydrolyzed bee pollen and its combined effect with antibiotics
topic European bee pollen
antimicrobial activity
solid-state fermentation
<i>Viscozyme<sup>®</sup> L</i>
<i>Clara-diastase</i>
cellulase
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/18/1/15
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AT pauliuskaskonas improvedantibacterialpropertiesoffermentedandenzymaticallyhydrolyzedbeepollenanditscombinedeffectwithantibiotics
AT rutamickiene improvedantibacterialpropertiesoffermentedandenzymaticallyhydrolyzedbeepollenanditscombinedeffectwithantibiotics
AT audriusmaruska improvedantibacterialpropertiesoffermentedandenzymaticallyhydrolyzedbeepollenanditscombinedeffectwithantibiotics