Potential acaricide 2-Heptatone induces brain apoptosis and negatively affects survival in honey bees : comparison with thymol

Golob, Špela (avtor), Božič, Janko (avtor), Glavan, Gordana (avtor)

Varroa destructor is probably one of the greatest threats to honey bees. A potential natural acaricide, 2-heptanone (2 H) has shown promise in controlling mite populations in honey bee colonies, but the effects of prolonged systemic administration of 2 H on honey bee health remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effects of prolonged exposure to different concentrations of 2 H on honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica) survival, stress response, and neural system, comparing these effects with thymol. Sublethal effects were assessed by measuring the activity of two enzymes in bee heads and thoraces: acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which regulates neurotransmission, and glutathione S-transferase (GST), a detoxifying enzyme involved in the stress response. Brain cell death was assessed using the TUNEL assay. Carniolan honey bee workers were exposed to different concentrations of 2 H and thymol. Significant mortality caused by 2 H was observed starting at 0.8 ppm (w/v), while thymol-induced mortality was significant only at 25 ppm (w/v). Neither compound influenced GST activity. Thymol did not have any effect on the bee nervous system, whereas 2 H exhibited neurotoxic effects, inhibiting AChE activity at concentrations of 0.8, 1.2 and 1.6 ppm (w/v) and inducing apoptosis in the bee brain at a concentration of 1.2 ppm (w/v). The greater toxicity of 2 H compared to thymol, particularly regarding its negative neural effects and impact on survival at the tested concentrations, indicates that its use for mite control should be approached with caution and is not recommended under the specific exposure scenarios examined in this study.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: 2-heptanone, thymol, Apis mellifera carnica, acetylcholinesterase, glutathione s-transferase, neurotoxicity
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: BF - Biotehniška fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2025
• Št. strani: Str. 1-8
• Številčenje: Vol. 302, article 118723
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-182860
• UDK: 638
• ISSN pri članku: 0147-6513
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118723
• COBISS.SI-ID: 243547907
• Datum objave v RUL: 26.05.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
• Skrajšan naslov: Ecotoxicol. environ. saf.
• Založnik: Academic Press.
• ISSN: 0147-6513
• COBISS.SI-ID: 25368320

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P1-0184-2020
• Naslov: Integrativna zoologija in speleobiologija

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: Young Researcher program
• Naslov: Young Researcher program