Gülpinar Derya Gül, Polat Zübeyda Akın, Çetinkaya Ülfet
Departments of Medical Parasitology, Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Sivas, Türkiye.
Genkök Genome and Stem Cell Center, Erciyes University, Talas, Kayseri, 38039, Türkiye.
Acta Parasitol. 2025 Jan 24;70(1):26. doi: 10.1007/s11686-024-00956-2.
Encephalitozoon intestinalis is an obligate intracellular microsporidian fungus that causes severe gastrointestinal infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Propolis (PROP), a resinous substance derived from bees, has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, while royal jelly (RJ) has immunomodulatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of PROP and RJ against E. intestinalis.
The phenolic composition of PROP was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection, and the chemical components of RJ were evaluated according to ISO12824 standards. The cytotoxicity of PROP and RJ on HEK-293 cells was evaluated using the XTT assay. The three highest non-cytotoxic concentrations of each sample were tested for their effects on E. intestinalis spores by qRT-PCR. Trichrome-stained photomicrographs were used to assess spore density in HEK-293 cells treated with PROP and RJ.
PROP analysis revealed flavonoids such as quercetin, kaempferol, pinocembrin and galangin, as well as phenolic acids such as caffeic and cinnamic acids, known for their bioactive properties. RJ contained mainly proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and sugars, reflecting its role as a nutritionally and biologically active substance. According to the results of this first study evaluating the effect of PROP and RJ on E. intestinalis, all concentrations evaluated in the study showed a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of E. intestinalis spores compared to the control group.
In conclusion, we believe that PROP and RJ should be considered as an alternative option in the development of antimicrosporidial drugs due to their potential medicinal and pharmaceutical properties.
肠脑炎微孢子虫是一种专性细胞内微孢子虫真菌，可引起严重的胃肠道感染，尤其是在免疫功能低下的个体中。蜂胶（PROP）是一种源自蜜蜂的树脂状物质，具有抗菌、抗炎和抗氧化特性，而蜂王浆（RJ）具有免疫调节、抗氧化和抗菌活性。本研究的目的是探讨蜂胶和蜂王浆对肠脑炎微孢子虫的治疗潜力。
采用带二极管阵列检测的高效液相色谱法分析蜂胶的酚类成分，并根据ISO12824标准评估蜂王浆的化学成分。使用XTT法评估蜂胶和蜂王浆对HEK-293细胞的细胞毒性。通过qRT-PCR测试每个样品的三个最高非细胞毒性浓度对肠脑炎微孢子虫孢子的影响。使用三色染色显微照片评估用蜂胶和蜂王浆处理的HEK-293细胞中的孢子密度。
蜂胶分析显示含有黄酮类化合物，如槲皮素、山奈酚、松属素和高良姜素，以及酚酸，如咖啡酸和肉桂酸，它们以其生物活性特性而闻名。蜂王浆主要含有蛋白质、脂质、碳水化合物和糖类，反映了其作为营养和生物活性物质的作用。根据这项评估蜂胶和蜂王浆对肠脑炎微孢子虫影响的首次研究结果，与对照组相比，研究中评估的所有浓度均对肠脑炎微孢子虫孢子的生长显示出显著的抑制作用。
总之，由于蜂胶和蜂王浆具有潜在的药用和制药特性，我们认为它们应被视为抗微孢子虫药物开发中的一种替代选择。
