In vitro evaluation of antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of honeybee venom and propolis collected from various regions in Egypt

Background and objective Honeybee products are commonly used as food and medicine. Recently, pharmacological properties of bee venom and propolis have been reported. However, the geographic origin of bee venom and propolis influences their chemical composition and biological activities. The antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of bee venom and propolis collected from different regions in Egypt were evaluated. Materials and methods Bee venom and propolis were collected from the regions of Kafr-Elsheikh, Fayoum, and Giza in Egypt. The antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of bee venom and propolis extracts obtained with various solvents were evaluated using the well-diffusion method and the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrilidrazil free radical scavenging assay, respectively. Results and conclusion The antimicrobial activities of bee venom extracts were greater than those of propolis extracts, and ethanol extracts were more efficient than chloroform and water extracts. Extracts obtained from the Kafr-Elsheikh region were the most active, whereas those from the Giza region were less effective. Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive than gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Propolis extracts were more effective antioxidants than bee venom extracts. The activities of extracts from the Kafr-Elsheikh or the Fayoum regions were comparable and greater than those of the corresponding extracts from the Giza region. Ethanolic extraction provided the greatest antioxidant potential. The biological activity of Egyptian bee venom or propolis varies significantly depending on the extraction solvent and geographical area of collection. These results provide insights into the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Egyptian bee venom and propolis and constitute a basis for further phytochemical and pharmacological research.