Publicado

2026-09-01

Variación de las propiedades bioactivas de miel y propóleos de abejas sin aguijón (Meliponini) del pueblo Yuracaré, Bolivia

Variation in bioactive properties of honey and propolis from stingless bees (Meliponini) of the Yuracaré people, Bolivia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15446/abc.v31n2.124267

Palabras clave:

Antimicrobiana, Antiparasitaria, Extractos de propóleo, Fisicoquímicas, Fitoquímica (es)
Antimicrobial, Anti-parasitic, Propolis extracts, Physicochemical, Phytochemical (en)

Archivos adicionales

Autores/as

Se evaluaron las propiedades bioactivas de la miel y del propóleo, de ocho especies de abejas sin aguijón procedentes del Meliponario “Tua Ta Uypi” (Cochabamba, Bolivia). Se analizó la calidad de la miel de siete especies de abejas sin aguijón y Apis mellifera, además se evaluó la actividad antimicrobiana por el método de difusión en agar frente a cepas ATCC (25922 Escherichia coli y 25923 Staphylococcus aureus). Se extrajeron metabolitos de propóleos de cinco especies, mediante maceración con etanol, y se identificaron de forma preliminar por cromatografía en capa fina. Finalmente, los extractos de los propóleos de cuatro especies fueron evaluados, in vitro, frente a cepas de Leishmania amazonensis, L. braziliensis y Giardia lamblia. Los resultados muestran variaciones en la calidad de la miel entre especies, y la actividad antimicrobiana destaca porque las mieles de Scaptotrigona depilis, Melipona rufiventris y Tetragona goettei generaron halos de inhibición superiores a 17 mm para E. coli y 16 mm para S. aureus, semejante a los controles positivos (amikacina y eritromicina).  En los propóleos de Melipona eburnea y Tetragonisca angustula se observó compuestos compatibles con terpenos y polifenoles.  En las pruebas antiparasitarias, el propóleo de T. angustula mostró actividad frente a ambas cepas de Leishmania y Giardia. Los propóleos de S. polysticta y S. yungasensis fueron activos frente a G. lamblia. Estos hallazgos destacan el potencial terapéutico de los productos de estas abejas sin aguijón evaluados en el presente estudio. 

The study provides information on the bioactive properties of honey and propolis from eight species of stingless bees from the “Tua Ta Uypi” Meliponary (Cochabamba, Bolivia). The quality of honey from seven stingless bee species and Apis mellifera was evaluated, along with its antimicrobial activity using the agar diffusion method against ATCC strains (25922 Escherichia coli and 25923 Staphylococcus aureus). Additionally, metabolites were extracted from the propolis of five species through ethanol maceration and preliminarily identified using thin-layer chromatography. Finally, propolis extracts from four species were, in vitro, tested against strains of Leishmania amazonensis, L. braziliensis and Giardia lamblia. The results reveal variations in honey quality among species, with the antimicrobial activity of Scaptotrigona depilis, Melipona rufiventris, and Tetragona goettei honey showing inhibition zones greater than 17 mm for E. coli and 16 mm for S. aureus, like the positive controls (Amikacin and Erythromycin). In the propolis of Melipona eburnea and Tetragonisca angustula, were observed compounds consistent with terpenes and poliphenols. In the antiparasitic tests, T. angustula propolis showed activity against both Leishmania strains and Giardia, while the propolis from S. polysticta and S. yungasensis exhibited activity against G. lamblia. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of the products from these stingless bees.

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Variación de las propiedades bioactivas de miel y propóleos de abejas sin aguijón (Meliponini) del pueblo Yuracaré, Bolivia. (2026). Acta Biológica Colombiana, 31(2). https://doi.org/10.15446/abc.v31n2.124267