Protective effects of rosmarinic acid against carbaryl-exposed toxicity in honey bees (Apis mellifera): histopathological and molecular docking evidence.

This study aimed to evaluate the potential protective role of Rosmarinic acid (RA) against Carbaryl (CRB)-induced toxicity in honey bees by assessing survival, nutrient uptake, and intestinal tissue integrity , while exploring potential CYP-mediated detoxification mechanisms via complementary in silico modelling. Honey bees were divided into six experimental groups: CRB-1, CRB-2, CRB-1 + RA, CRB-2 + RA, RA-only, and control, and treatments were administered for three days. Results showed a 100% mortality rate in the groups treated with high doses of CRB alone or in combination with RA. In contrast, the addition of RA to the low-dose CRB group resulted in surviving individuals, with a statistically significant increase in survival rate compared to the pesticide-only group (p < 0.05), while RA supplementation in the high-dose CRB group delayed mortality despite complete lethality. Food consumption decreased significantly only in the CRB-2 group; however, RA co-treatment during the first two days effectively mitigated this reduction. Histopathological examination showed severe damage to the intestinal epithelium in CRB-treated groups, while co-treatment with RA significantly reduced the severity of these low-dose pesticide-induced lesions. Furthermore, in silico molecular modelling and docking analyses suggested that RA may interact with detoxification-related cytochrome P450 enzymes in honey bees, providing preliminary computational insight into possible associations with CYP-mediated phase I metabolism. Collectively, these findings indicate that Rosmarinic acid improves physiological resilience in honey bees under Carbaryl-induced xenobiotic stress, with in silico data suggesting a potential link to detoxification pathways.