The aim of present study was to determine the effect of bee pollen and bee bread given as feed ad... more The aim of present study was to determine the effect of bee pollen and bee bread given as feed additive to mice. The influence on parameters of antioxidant status was taken into consideration. Mice were randomly divided into 3 groups. The control group (C). The experimental group E1 received orally bee collected pollen @ 250 mg/kg and the group E2 received orally bee bread @ 250 mg/kg for 21 days. Antioxidant efficacy was evaluated by determination of Lipid peroxidation, Glutathione, Superoxide dismutase, catalase, Glutathione-Stransferase, Glutathione peroxidase, Glutathione reductase levels with spectrophotometer. Supplementation of the diet with bee pollen and bee bread at the tested dose did not show any negative influence on mice.
International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), 2016
Experimental male SD rats weighing 180±20 g were randomly assigned into eight groups comprising o... more Experimental male SD rats weighing 180±20 g were randomly assigned into eight groups comprising of drug treated and bee pollen administered rats in selected test concentrations. Haemoglobin (Hb), red blood cellcount (RBC Count) and white blood cell count (WBC Count) were then evaluated using standard techniques after 30 days of treatment. Result indicated that bee pollen feeding helped to improve blood parameters in normal rats. Further, the drugs rifampicin and isoniazid alone as well as in combination significantly lowered blood indices indicating toxicity. However, co-administration of bee pollen (100 mg bee pollen /kg body weight) definitely helped to ameliorate the toxic effects by restoring tested values to near normal.
Aims: Propolis: A wonder honey bee product is a natural resinous substance called Bee Glue, colle... more Aims: Propolis: A wonder honey bee product is a natural resinous substance called Bee Glue, collected by bees from the exudates and secretions of plants. The aim of the present study was to determine the antistaphylococal aureus activities of propolis. Methods and Results: The antibacterial activity of propolis was determined by well diffusion and Macro dilution methods using ethanolic, methanolic and water extracts. Different extracts of Propolis at the concentrations of 15mg/ml, 30mg/ml, 45mg/ml, 60mg/ml and 75mg/ml were prepared and 50ul was added to the wells. After growth, zones of inhibition were determined and compared with antibiotic Ampicillin (10µg) and Amoxycillin (30µg). The ethanolic extract of propolis showed maximum inhibition (14.3mm) as compared to the methanolic (12.6mm) and water extract (10.7mm). The zone of inhibition of the positive control was found to be maximum (15.9mm) for Ampicillin and (17.8mm) for Amoxycillin. Conclusions: Therefore from this study we ca...
The dwarf honey bee Apis florea F. is generally found in areas with hot climate. In order to stud... more The dwarf honey bee Apis florea F. is generally found in areas with hot climate. In order to study the nesting behaviour of this species, investigations were carried out at altitude ranging from 365 to 1100 meter (m) above mean sea level. Survey was conducted during four seasons for complete three years surveying 4-6 villages in each region. It was observed that change in cultural practices by human society has led to overall decline in dwarf honey bee colonies in hilly areas. Plain areas were observed to be choice habitat for these bees. Important attracting factors for nesting were rich forage sources, bovine dung, uninterrupted agricultural practices, traditional animal husbandry, safe nesting site and less predator infestation in plains. Animal husbandry farms proved to be safe zone for colony habitation.
During the present investigations, the detailed morphoarchitecture of the male genitalia viz., th... more During the present investigations, the detailed morphoarchitecture of the male genitalia viz., the endophallus of the drone of A.cerana F. and A.mellifera L. was scanned under the electron microscope. Endophallus of each species was studied for its unique characteristics. Significant interspecific differences were observed in the 2 different species. These differences highlight the reproductive isolation in the genus. These species specific differences in the endophallus are highlighted in the paper.
Biodiversity in Cavity-Nesting Honey Bees Apis Cerana F. And Apis Mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae): Ultrastructure of Mouth-Parts
Tongue of honey bees is modified for collecting nectar. Hudson (1970) ident ified the mouth parts... more Tongue of honey bees is modified for collecting nectar. Hudson (1970) ident ified the mouth parts as an important morphological character offering itself for beneficial exploitation under the electron microscope. It presents a high g eographic variability related with the floral resources visited by the bees (Padilla et al ., 2001). Scanning of tongue offers one such advanced diagnostic tool to study h oney bee biogeography and determine adaptive variations to native flora. However this a spect has not been sufficiently exploited. The present studies were therefore planned to deter mine differences by scanning electron microscopy in the tongue of cavity-nesting bees A. cerana and A. mellifera .
Establishing biodiversity in dwarf honey bee, Apis florea F. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) workers from north western India based on morphometrics of antenna and mouth parts
The present study was conducted on two head appendages viz. antenna and mouth parts to report mor... more The present study was conducted on two head appendages viz. antenna and mouth parts to report morphometric differences in 7 different populations of Apis florea F. collected from foot hill regions of Himachal Pradesh (Bangana, Chintpurni, Hamirpur, Parwanoo, Daulatpur and Gagret) and Chandigarh plains (Chandigarh) of north western India. Collection was made during mid June- mid September months of the year, 2010-14. Ten morphometric characters and 4 biometric indices were statistically analyzed by means of factor analysis, discriminant analysis and cluster analysis. Chandigarh and Gagret regions having low altitude tend to show higher values of more number of morphometric characters while Bangana region with high altitude showed the opposite. For both antenna and tongue maximum numbers of characteristics with higher values were in Gagret region while maximum number of characteristics with lower values was exhibited by Bangana population of A. florea . The majority of characteristics...
Bee Pollen attenuates Rifampicin and Isoniazid in Combination induced Oxidative Stress in Testis of SD Rats
Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology, 2018
Objective: Analysis of shielding potential of bee pollen in rifampicin and isoniazid drugs in com... more Objective: Analysis of shielding potential of bee pollen in rifampicin and isoniazid drugs in combination induced toxicity in testis of SD rats. Materials and Methods: SD rats (180±20 g body weight) were divided into four groups, i.e. group C (Control), group O (Bee pollen 100mg/kg body weight/day orally), group D12 (Rifampicin 100mg/kg body weight/day and isoniazid 50mg/kg body weight/day orally), group D12O (rifampicin 100mg/kg body weight, isoniazid 50 mg/kg body/day and bee pollen 100mg/kg body orally) under hygienic conditions. Results: Aqueous extract of bee pollen (100 mg/kg body weight) when fed orally showed normal level of MDA, SOD, GR, GPx, GST, CAT and GSH representing no harmful effect caused by bee pollen in the rats. The anti-tuberculosis drugs (rifampicin and isoniazid in combination) and bee pollen treated groups showed significant decrease in the level of lipid peroxidation while the activity of SOD, GR, GPx, GST, CAT and GSH were elevated representing reduced oxid...
Bovine milk samples collected from different agro-climatic zones in Himachal Pradesh revealed tha... more Bovine milk samples collected from different agro-climatic zones in Himachal Pradesh revealed thatt in 10% samples DDT residues were above MRL while 26% of the samples contained HCH above MRL (0.01 ug ml−1 for γ HCH alone). The possible sources of entry into milk have been discussed.
Apis mellifera is the most commonly domesticated species of honey bees. It probably originated in... more Apis mellifera is the most commonly domesticated species of honey bees. It probably originated in tropical Africa and spread from there to Northern Europe and East into Asia. This species builds multiple comb nests in dark cavities (like A.cerana), and share a similar social organization and division of labour with other honey bee species (Maa, 1953; Akratanakul, 1976; otis, 1990). The sting of the species is a modification of the female ovipositor, or egg laying apparatus. It is no longer used to lay eggs but instead serves as a weapon of defense. When a honey bee stings, the barbs on the stinger get stuck in the victim, and the stinger is pulled out of the bee’s body. The bee dies shortly after stinging. Queen bees however can sting many times ABSTRACT
Apis mellifera is the most commonly domesticated species of honey bees. It probably originated in... more Apis mellifera is the most commonly domesticated species of honey bees. It probably originated in tropical Africa and spread from there to Northern Europe and East into Asia. This species builds multiple comb nests in dark cavities (like A.cerana), and share a similar social organization and division of labour with other honey bee species (Maa, 1953; Akratanakul, 1976; otis, 1990). The sting of the species is a modification of the female ovipositor, or egg laying apparatus. It is no longer used to lay eggs but instead serves as a weapon of defense. When a honey bee stings, the barbs on the stinger get stuck in the victim, and the stinger is pulled out of the bee’s body. The bee dies shortly after stinging. Queen bees however can sting many times ABSTRACT
Foraging activity of honeybee Apis mellifera was studied during autumn season in Chandigarh. The ... more Foraging activity of honeybee Apis mellifera was studied during autumn season in Chandigarh. The collection of pollen by worker bees was influenced by number of factors including both internal and external. Internal factors like higher area under brood in the colony stimulated the foragers to collect more pollen. External factors such as temperature, light, wind, rain, clouds also influenced the pollen foraging activities. Number of pollen foragers returning with pollen loads at the hive entrance was counted for 5 minutes (September-November, 2011) at intervals of 1 hour each from 10:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m., twice a week in five honeybee colonies during autumn season. The mean maximum number of pollen foragers was recorded as 218.38 ± 33.27 at 12:00 noon when air temperature ranged from 15°C to 32°C. This pollen collecting activity decreased after 03:00 p.m. Number of trips depended upon various conditions including weather, forage availability, strength of colony etc. The results of ...
Antenna of honey bees is geniculate and has been known to possess a wide variety of sensilla. The... more Antenna of honey bees is geniculate and has been known to possess a wide variety of sensilla. The sensilla are sensitive to odor, temperature, humidity, air pressure and gustatory stimuli. The antennal form as well as the sensilla arrangement has been suggested to be adapted to the pheromone perception need of a particular species. Electron microscopy is today considered an important tool in elucidating the external morphological details of diverse biological material. In the present investigations, ultrastructural study on the antenna of plains and hill populations of Apis cerana F. was taken into account. Studies revealed differences at electron microscopic level in the antennal morphology and types and distribution of sensilla on the antenna in different populations of honey bees.
Tongue of honey bees is modified for collecting nectar. Regarding their nutritional requirements,... more Tongue of honey bees is modified for collecting nectar. Regarding their nutritional requirements, taste perception plays vital role in the life of honey bees. Honey bee biodiversity with respect to sensory structures on tongue can be analyzed by Scanning electron microscopy. This technique offers an advanced diagnostic tool to study honey bee biogeography and to determine adaptive variations to native flora. Mouth parts have been considered as an important morphological character for beneficial exploitation under the electron microscope. This aspect has, however, not been sufficiently exploited. In the present investigation, scanning electron microscopic studies on tongue of Apis cerana plains and hill populations have been performed and significant differences in the arrangement of spines in the middle region of tongue have been observed. It is therefore imperative that before intraspecific hybridization further complicates the scenario, modern taxonomic tests which can supplement ...
Venom peptides in association with standard drugs: a novel strategy for combating antibiotic resistance - an overview
The Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases, 2020
Development of antibiotic resistance that leads to resurgence of bacterial infections poses a thr... more Development of antibiotic resistance that leads to resurgence of bacterial infections poses a threat to disease-free existence for humankind and is a challenge for the welfare of the society at large. Despite research efforts directed towards treatment of pathogens, antibiotics within new improved classes have not emerged for years, a fact largely attributable to the pharmacological necessities compelling drug development. Recent reversion to the use of natural products alone or in combination with standard drugs has opened up new vistas for alternative therapeutics. The success of this strategy is evident in the sudden interest in plant extracts as additives/synergists for treatment of maladies caused by drug-resistant bacterial strains. Animal venoms have long fascinated scientists as sources of pharmacologically active components that can be exploited for the treatment of specific ailments and should be promoted further to clinical trials. In the present review, we outline the sc...
Propolis is a natural resinous substance (bee glue) collected by honey bees. The aim of the study... more Propolis is a natural resinous substance (bee glue) collected by honey bees. The aim of the study was to perform phytochemical analysis of different extracts of propolis viz. ethanolic extract, methanolic extract and water extract. The antibacterial activity was studied by using Well diffusion method and Macro Broth dilution method against Salmonella typhimurium at different concentration like 100mg/ml, 150mg/ml, 200mg/ml, 250mg/ml, 300mg/ml and the results have been presented here.
New record of subgenus Chelostomoda Michener of Genus Megachile Latreille (Hymenoptera; Megachilidae) from Sutlej basin of North western plains of India with descriptions of a new species
International Journal of Entomology Research, 2020
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