Evaluating the antibacterial efficacy of bee venom against multidrug-resistant pathogenic bacteria: Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, and Enterococcus faecalis

Abstract

Abstract Bee venom (BV) represents a promising natural alternative to conventional antibiotics, particularly significant given its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and potential to address the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance. The prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms (AMR) is a global burden that affects human health and the economies of different countries. As a result, several scientific communities around the world are searching for safe alternatives to antibiotics. In this context, the present study represents a comprehensive investigation to evaluate the antibacterial effect of bee venom (BV) against Escherichia coli ATCC8739, Salmonella typhimurium ATCC14028, and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC25923. One mg of BV was extracted using 1 mL of DMSO to obtain a 1000 µg/mL solution. The chemical profile of the BV extract was determined using GC-MS, which revealed the presence of bioactive molecules with antimicrobial properties, such as astaxanthin, hycanthone, and fucoxanthin. The BV extract was tested against bacterial strains using different concentrations to obtain the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC). The results obtained revealed a high antibacterial activity of BV against the three strains with the highest MIC/MBC values of 12.5/25 µgml − 1 against S. typhimurium . The antibacterial activity of the BV extract was compared to five conventional antibiotics using the disc diffusion method. The results showed a high antibacterial activity of the BV extract compared to different antibiotics with the largest inhibition zone obtained against E. faecalis at a value of 15 ± 0.22 mm compared to 9 ± 0.13 for azithromycin. The mode of action of BV, examined using scanning electron microscopy, proved a high effect of BV on the permeability of the bacterial plasma membrane. This study demonstrates bee venom’s promising potential as a natural and eco-friendly antimicrobial agent, with activity against multiple bacterial strains, suggesting it may serve as an alternative to conventional antibiotics. The findings highlight the potential applications of BV in medical, agricultural, and veterinary fields, offering a sustainable solution to combat antimicrobial resistance. However, further studies are needed to fully assess its broad-spectrum antibacterial potential. Clinical trial number Not applicable.