Antibacterial activity of Royal Jelly against bacteria capable of infecting cutaneous wounds

Abstract

The antibacterial activity of two royal jelly (RJ) samples against staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Micrococcus luteus, Streptococcus uberis, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae was tested using the well diffusion method. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were determined by broth dilution tests. Raw RJ sample A did not inhibit the growth of K. pneumoniae and S. uberis, while raw RJ sample B did not inhibit the growth of K. pneumoniae. MIC values of RJ sample A were in the concentration range between 3.3 and 10.3 mg/mL, while that of RJ sample B were in the concentration range between 7.1 and 14.5 mg/mL. MBC concentration ranges were between 125 and 250 mg/mL, and between 63 and 250 mg/mL, for RJ samples A and B, respectively. The differences observed in MIC and MBC values may be related to components of RJ associated with their geographical provenance or with genetic variability between bee colonies.