Avaliação dos potenciais antioxidante e antimicrobiano da própolis das abelhas nativas Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides, Plebeia droryana e Scaptotrigona depilis (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Abstract

This study sought to evaluate the potential antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of propolis from stingless bee species Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides, Plebeia droryana and Scaptotrigona depilis. The propolis samples were collected and the extracts prepared. The antioxidant activity were evaluated by their ability to capture free radicals using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and protection against hemolysis induced by 2,2 'azobis (2- methylpropanamide) dicloridato (AAPH) in erythrocytes. Antimicrobial activity were determined against the species of fungi Candida albicans, and Staphylococcus aureus (gram positive bacteria) and Escherichia coli (Gram negative bacteria), using the agar diffusion techniques (qualitative evaluation) and microdilution (quantitative evaluation). The antioxidant activity of propolis for each species was represented by the concentration able to inhibit 50% of free radicals (IC50): M. q. anthidioides (77.3 ± 2.7 ug / ml), P. droryana (133.7 ± 19.9 mg / ml) and S. depilis (1749 ± 65 mg / ml). In the test of induction of hemolysis the propolis M. q. anthidioides was able to protect erythrocyte against hemolysis 60, 120 and 180 minutes of incubation, without promoting morphological changes in the membranes of erythrocytes. In the concentrations tested, all samples showed fungicidal effect against C. albicans (M. q. anthidioides between: 6.5 to 25 mg / ml, P. droryana between: 25-100 mg / ml and S. depilis between: 25-100 mg / ml). Against the bacteria S. aureus the propolis from M. q. anthidioides showed bactericidal effect (6,25 to 25 mg / ml), the propolis from P. droryana (3,125 to 12,5 mg / ml) and S. depilis (25-100 mg/ml) showed bacteriostatic effect. No samples of propolis showed activity against the bacteria E. coli in the concentrations evaluated. Together these data show the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of propolis from native stingless bees M. q. anthidioides, P. droryana and S. depilis. In addition to characterizing the biological potential of propolis of these species, this study contributes indirectly to biodiversity conservation in Brazil.