Iranian Journal of animal Science

Iranian Journal of animal Science

Effect of Echinacea purpurea herbal extract on immune parameters in honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Zahra Gorzin 1
Hossein Moravej 2
Gholam Ali Nehzati Paghale 3
Leyla Tabrizi 3
1 M. Sc. Student, University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
2 Associate Professor, University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
3 Asistance Professor, University of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
10.22059/ijas.2017.133536.653366
Abstract
This study investigated Echinacea purpurea herbal extract in honey bee nutrition and its effect immune system including measuring total haemocyte counts and phenoloxidase enzyme. 28 colonies were randomly divided into 4 treatments and 7 replicates.1- sugar syup – control, 2- sugar syrup enriched with 10 cc extract 3- sugar syrup enriched with 20 cc extract, 4- sugar syrup enriched with 30 cc extract. This experiment was conducted in the laboratory and Apiaries University of Tehran-Karaj in completely randomized design repeated in time during spring and summer of 2013. The results showed treatments had a significant effect on phenol oxidase enzyme activity in short and long-term immune (p<0.05), the enzyme was higher in bees that get sugar syrup enriched with 30 cc extract and lower in bees that get sugar syrup. In total haemocyte counts treatments had significant effect in short-term (p<0.05), the factor was highest was in bees that get sugar syrup enriched with 20 cc extract and lower in bees that get sugar syrup.too was observed that higher in bees that get sugar syrup enriched with 30 cc extract and lower in bees that get sugar syrup in long immune. The results showed that this extract had a positive effect on the immune system.
Keywords
Echinacea purpurea
honey bee
Immune system
Nutrition
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Iranian Journal of animal Science
Volume 48, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
Spring 2017
Pages 101-107

  • Receive Date 05 October 2015
  • Revise Date 24 September 2016
  • Accept Date 31 December 2016