Use of gamma irradiation to remove microbial contamination of honeybee venom

Parvin Shawrang¹ Fateme Abbasi²

1) 1Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute
2) 1Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute

IOI Code : XEBK-GGKEK
Publication : 6th International Congress of Developing Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism of Iran(6icsda.ir)
Abstract :
    In order to determine the appropriate dose of gamma irradiation to remove microbial contamination of honeybee venom, the venom samples were irradiated using Gamma Cell 220 with doses of 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 kGy of gamma from cobalt-60 source. Total bacterial count Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Clostridium and aerobic fungi were counted using specific culture medium. Experimental data were analyzed in a completely randomized experimental design using SAS statistical software. According to the results, the total bacterial count in irradiated samples decreased with increasing dose. Doses of 2 and 4 kGy could not completely eliminate bacteria, but doses of 6 and 8 kGy reduced the bacterial titer to zero (P <0.05). The difference between the colony count of Staphylococcus aureus in irradiated and control samples was significant (P <0.05). In all radiation doses, the colony count of Staphylococcus aureus was zero (P <0.05). Aerobic fungi in the irradiated sample with a dose of 2 kGy did not differ from the control sample (P> 0.05), but doses of 4, 6 and 8 kGy caused the complete elimination of fungal infections (P <0.05). According to the results of this study, a dose of 6 kGy can be used to sterilize bee venom.

Keywords : gamma irradiation honeybee venom microbial contamination