Antifungal Activity of Bee Pollen Extracts Against Selected Filamentous Fungi

Abstract

Objective: Pollen is a natural bee product known for its rich bioactive content and positive effects on health. Although previous research has highlighted the antibacterial and antifungal properties of bee pollen, there is still a lack of comprehensive studies investigating its inhibitory effects on fungi, particularly molds. Our research seeks to contribute to filling this gap by assessing the antifungal potential of bee pollen against selected fungal species. Materials and methods: In this study, the antifungal properties of bee pollen obtained by combining two multifloral samples from the Bursa region were evaluated. Ethanolic and methanolic extracts of the bee pollen at varying concentrations (1%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%) were tested for their inhibitory effects against Alternaria alternata, Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium culmorum, and Aspergillus flavus. Results and conclusion: Both pollen extracts exhibited dose-dependent antifungal activity against all tested fungal strains, with the methanol/water extract demonstrating significantly greater efficacy than the ethanol/water extract. The highest antifungal activity among all tested fungi was consistently observed at the 10% extract concentration. Among the tested strains, F. culmorum demonstrated the highest sensitivity, with a 7.5% concentration effectively inhibiting its growth. Given the promising antifungal potential, further investigation is needed to identify the primary bioactive compounds and elucidate their mechanisms of action.