In Vitro Activity of Several Essential Oils Extracted from Aromatic Plants against Ascosphaera apis

Pusceddu, Michelina; Floris, Ignazio; Mangia, Nicoletta Pasqualina; Angioni, Alberto; Satta, Alberto

doi:10.3390/vetsci8050080

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 44 publications

(74 reference statements)

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“…This aspect can extend the spectrum of action of essential oils to other pathologies in addition to parasite control as has been investigated in this study [ 40 ]. Some essential oils have been shown to be effective against American Foulbrood and the chalkbrood disease [ 29 , 58 ]. Therefore, the use of essential oils could be beneficial in several ways.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Green Veterinary Pharmacology for Honey Bee Welfare and Health: Origanum heracleoticum L. (Lamiaceae) Essential Oil for the Control of the Apis mellifera Varroatosis

Castagna

Bava

Piras

et al. 2022

Veterinary Sciences

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Varroatosis, caused by the Varroa destructor mite, is currently the most dangerous parasitic disease threatening the survival of honey bees worldwide. Its adverse effect on the welfare and health of honey bees requires the regular use of specific acaricides. This condition has led to a growing development of resistance phenomena towards the most frequently used drugs. In addition, another important aspect that should not be understated, is the toxicity and persistence of chemicals in the environment. Therefore, the identification of viable and environmentally friendly alternatives is urgently needed. In this scenario, essential oils are promising candidates. The aim of this study was to assess the contact toxicity, the fumigation efficacy and the repellent effect of Origanum heracleoticum L. essential oil (EO) against V. destructor mite. In the contact tests, each experimental replicate consisted of 15 viable adult female mites divided as follows: 5 treated with EO diluted in HPLC grade acetone, 5 treated with acetone alone (as negative control) and 5 treated with Amitraz diluted in acetone (as positive control). The EO was tested at concentrations of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/mL. For each experimental replicate, mortality was manually assessed after one hour. The efficacy of EO fumigation was evaluated through prolonged exposure at different time intervals. After each exposure, the 5 mites constituting an experimental replicate were transferred to a Petri dish containing a honey bee larva and mortality was assessed after 48 h. The repellent action was investigated by implementing a directional choice test in a mandatory route. During the repellency tests the behavior of the mite (90 min after its introduction in the mandatory route) was not influenced by the EO. In contact tests, EO showed the best efficacy at 2 and 1 mg/mL concentrations, neutralizing (dead + inactivated) 90.9% and 80% of the mites, respectively. In fumigation tests, the mean mortality rate of V. destructor at maximum exposure time (90 min) was 60% and 84% at 24 and 48 h, respectively. Overall, these results demonstrate a significant efficacy of O. heracleoticum EO against V. destructor, suggesting a possible alternative use in the control of varroatosis in honey bee farms in order to improve Apis mellifera welfare and health and, consequently, the hive productions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thanks to their particular and diversified chemical composition, the parasitic populations treated with essential oils are often unable to develop drug resistance phenomena [ 26 , 28 , 29 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Green Veterinary Pharmacology for Honey Bee Welfare and Health: Origanum heracleoticum L. (Lamiaceae) Essential Oil for the Control of the Apis mellifera Varroatosis

Castagna

Bava

Piras

et al. 2022

Veterinary Sciences

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“…Terpenes, terpenoids and phenolic compounds are the major constituents of EOs and are the primary cause of their biological activity [14]. EOs and their monoterpenes are widely studied as alternatives to synthetic acaricides for controlling pests and diseases in honey bees [15][16][17][18]. However, few EO-based products have entered the market because of the discrepancy between independent field studies, even for the same plant species (14).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of natural treatments on the varroa mite infestation levels and overall health of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies

Narciso,

Topini,

Ferraiuolo

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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The survival of the honey bee (Apis mellifera), which has a crucial role in pollination and ecosystem maintenance, is threatened by many pathogens, including parasites, bacteria, fungi and viruses. The ectoparasite Varroa destructor is considered the major cause of the worldwide decline in honey bee colony health. Although several synthetic acaricides are available to control Varroa infestations, resistant mites and side effects on bees have been documented. The development of natural alternatives for mite control is therefore encouraged. The study aims at exploring the effects of cinnamon and oregano essential oils (EOs) and of a mixed fruit cocktail juice on mite infestation levels and bee colony health. A multi-method study including hive inspection, mite count, molecular detection of fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens, analysis of defensin-1, hymenoptaecin and vitellogenin immune gene expression, colony density and honey production data, was conducted in a 20-hive experimental apiary. The colonies were divided into five groups: four treatment groups and one control group. The treatment groups were fed on a sugar syrup supplemented with cinnamon EO, oregano EO, a 1:1 mixture of both EOs, or a juice cocktail. An unsupplemented syrup was, instead, used to feed the control group. While V. destructor affected all the colonies throughout the study, no differences in mite infestation levels, population density and honey yield were observed between treatment and control groups. An overexpression of vitellogenin was instead found in all EO-treated groups, even though a significant difference was only found in the group treated with the 1:1 EO mixture. Viral (DWV, CBPV and BQCV), fungal (Nosema ceranae) and bacterial (Melissococcus plutonius) pathogens from both symptomatic and asymptomatic colonies were detected.

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“…For this reason, EOs and their monoterpenes are widely studied alternatives in the scientific community for adoption in many pest control programs [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. Ascosphaera apis , Paenibacillus larvae , Nosema ceranae , and other honeybee diseases have been successfully treated with these compounds [ 21 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. Compared to hard acaricides, EOs have been highly evaluated and have proven effective as miticides against V. destructor over time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Essential Oils for a Sustainable Control of Honeybee Varroosis

Bava

Castagna

Palma

et al. 2023

Veterinary Sciences

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The Varroa destructor parasite is the main obstacle to the survival of honey bee colonies. Pest control mainly involves the use of synthetic drugs which, used with the right criteria and in rotation, are able to ensure that infestation levels are kept below the damage threshold. Although these drugs are easy to use and quick to apply, they have numerous disadvantages. Their prolonged use has led to the emergence of pharmacological resistance in treated parasite populations; furthermore, the active ingredients and/or their metabolites accumulate in the beehive products with the possibility of risk for the end consumer. Moreover, the possibility of subacute and chronic toxicity phenomena for adult honeybees and their larval forms must be considered. In this scenario, eco-friendly products derived from plant species have aroused great interest over the years. In recent decades, several studies have been carried out on the acaricidal efficacy of plant essential oils (EOs). Despite the swarming of laboratory and field studies, however, few EO products have come onto the market. Laboratory studies have often yielded different results even for the same plant species. The reason for this discrepancy lies in the various study techniques employed as well as in the variability of the chemical compositions of plants. The purpose of this review is to take stock of the research on the use of EOs to control the V. destructor parasite. It begins with an extensive discussion of the characteristics, properties, and mechanisms of action of EOs, and then examines the laboratory and field tests carried out. Finally, an attempt is made to standardize the results and open up new lines of study in future.

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In Vitro Activity of Several Essential Oils Extracted from Aromatic Plants against Ascosphaera apis

Cited by 8 publications

References 44 publications

Green Veterinary Pharmacology for Honey Bee Welfare and Health: Origanum heracleoticum L. (Lamiaceae) Essential Oil for the Control of the Apis mellifera Varroatosis

Green Veterinary Pharmacology for Honey Bee Welfare and Health: Origanum heracleoticum L. (Lamiaceae) Essential Oil for the Control of the Apis mellifera Varroatosis

Effects of natural treatments on the varroa mite infestation levels and overall health of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies

Essential Oils for a Sustainable Control of Honeybee Varroosis

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