Bioactive Compounds from Honeybees Osmophilic Yeasts isolated from Lamoeo Forest, Muna Barat: A Potential Source for Biotherapeutics

Abstrak

Osmophilic yeasts associated with honeybees represent a promising yet underexplored source of bioactive metabolites. The aim of this study was to screen 21 osmophilic yeast strains for antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities, followed by chemical characterization and in-silico analyses of the most active isolate and extract. Antibacterial screening against Escherichia coli revealed that five isolates produced inhibition zones, with strain YLB5 demonstrating the highest activity (35.1 ± 0.09 mm). Anti-inflammatory potential, assessed through inhibition of albumin denaturation, identified three potential strains, with YLB5 producing 26.96% inhibition at 1000 ppm. Antioxidant evaluation showed that YLB4, YLB6, and YLB5 displayed the strongest radical scavenging activities, reaching 49.18%, 48.23%, and 47.03% inhibition, respectively. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of YLB5 identified eleven compounds, predominantly associated with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Pyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazine-1,4-dione, hexahydro- was detected and is reported here for the first time from a yeast source. Several detected metabolites have not yet been linked to biological activity, highlighting opportunities for further investigation. In-silico ADME prediction indicated that six compounds satisfied Lipinski’s rule of five, suggesting favorable oral drug-likeness. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated stable binding affinities toward antioxidant (5O0X) and anti-inflammatory (3W37) target proteins, particularly for pyrrolopyrazine derivatives and erythritol, with binding energies ranging from −5.1 to −5.9 kcal/mol. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the typical oval morphology of YLB5 cells (≈3.5 µm) with smooth, intact cell surfaces. These findings promote the yeast isolate, YLB5 as a promising candidate for the development of multifunctional biotherapeutic agents derived from honeybee-associated osmophilic yeasts, warranting further purification, mechanistic studies, and in-vivo validation.

Kata kunci

• Anti-inflammatory
• Bee microbiota
• In silico
• Osmophilic yeast
• antioxidant