The Agricultural Research Service's Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland has recently discovered several natural chemicals that enhance the health of bees, according to a USDA press release.
Researchers studied these natural compounds to find safer, more cost-effective alternatives to antibiotics and synthetic chemicals, the release said. The results suggest bee diets and treatments that maintain a healthy mix of good bacteria in bees' stomachs can improve their immunological responses.
“Many of the natural products tested are recognized as safe components of the food supply and are potentially less expensive to produce," Jay Evans, research entomologist for the Bee Research Laboratory, stated in the press release, "These results could also inform us on possible, healthier crops and flowers for bees. Bees foraging on crops or non-crop plantings of flowers that provide these benefits could naturally have better health."
The research tested a total of 20 natural products, including native extracts and individual compounds known to promote immunity, serve as antiviral or antibacterial agents, or control parasites, the release said. It found that feeding bees raw cacao and hesperidin, chemicals commonly found in many fruits and vegetables, lowered viral levels in their bodies considerably. Bees that were given chrysin, curcumin, and vanillin also exhibited lower virus levels.
Additionally, the release said that some natural compounds had a beneficial effect on the gut health and immunological response of bees. Bees that were given Vitamin E had reduced levels of Gilliamella, a gut bacteria, as did bees that were fed curcumin, vanillin, and hesperidin.
"Gilliamella is a common bacterium in honey bees, even healthy ones," Evans continued.
Although Gilliamella is considered beneficial for honey bees, an excessive amount can be detrimental to their health, the USDA said.
The full results of the study were published in Applied Sciences, an international, peer-reviewed, open-access journal.
