Exploring Therapeutic and Prophylactic Activities of Natural Alternatives Against Nosema Infection

Abstract

       Nosemosis is one of the most lethal and prevalent diseases affecting adult honey bees. It is highly encouraged to seek natural and safe alternatives to eliminate chemical and antibiotic residue issues. Bioactive ingredients from Citrus sinensis peel oil and Artemisia judaica (70% ethanolic extract) were extracted, and their toxicity on adult bees was assessed to determine suitable applicable concentrations. At 0.5% and 0.25% concentrations, orange peel oil and Artemisia extract exhibited toxicities of 15.3%, 3.2%, 11.5%, and 3.2%, respectively. The palatability of the tested extracts was evaluated by estimating daily food intake, revealing highly significant differences for orange peel oil and Artemisia extract. The efficacy of both extracts as therapeutic and/or prophylactic agents was assessed in vitro. Cumulative mortality rates showed significant differences for both extract trials.

Conclusion: Administration of both extracts in both trials (therapeutic and prophylactic) resulted in reductions in Nosema spore loads after 3,5, and 10 days of infection. GC/MS analysis identified 70 chemical compounds in orange peel oil (isolimonene; 12.16%). Whereas, 46 compounds were identified in the Artemisia extract,(β,7βH,10α-Eudesm-11-en-1α-ol; 15.62%).