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Extraction and Analysis of Taiwanese Green Propolis
06:50

Extraction and Analysis of Taiwanese Green Propolis

Published on: January 7, 2019

Multifactorial aspects of antimicrobial activity of propolis

F Scazzocchio1, F D D'Auria, D Alessandrini

  • 1Dipartimento di Scienze di Sanità Pubblica, Facoltà di Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Roma, Italy. francesca.scazzocchio@uniroma1.it

Microbiological Research
|January 24, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) shows significant antimicrobial activity and enhances antibiotic effectiveness against Gram-positive bacteria. EEP also inhibits key virulence factors like lipase, coagulase, and biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Natural Products Chemistry

Background:

  • Bacterial infections pose a significant global health challenge, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern, driving research into alternative antimicrobial agents and potentiators.
  • Propolis, a natural resinous mixture produced by honey bees, exhibits diverse biological activities, including antimicrobial properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the antibacterial activity of ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) against clinical Gram-positive strains.
  • To investigate the synergistic effects of sub-inhibitory concentrations of EEP with common antibiotics.
  • To assess the impact of EEP on virulence factors such as lipase, coagulase, and biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus.

Main Methods:

  • Testing the antimicrobial activity of EEP against clinical Gram-positive bacterial isolates.
  • Evaluating the combined effects of EEP with ampicillin, gentamycin, streptomycin, chloramphenicol, ceftriaxone, vancomycin, and erythromycin.
  • Assessing the inhibition of lipase and coagulase activity by EEP in Staphylococcus species.
  • Analyzing the effect of EEP on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation in vitro.

Main Results:

  • EEP demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against all tested clinical strains.
  • EEP notably potentiated the activity of ampicillin, gentamycin, and streptomycin, and moderately enhanced chloramphenicol, ceftriaxone, and vancomycin.
  • Sub-inhibitory concentrations of EEP inhibited lipase activity in 18 Staphylococcus spp. and coagulase activity in 11 S. aureus strains.
  • EEP significantly reduced adhesion and biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P.

Conclusions:

  • Ethanolic extract of propolis possesses intrinsic antibacterial properties and acts synergistically with several antibiotics.
  • EEP effectively inhibits crucial virulence factors in Staphylococcus species, suggesting a multi-faceted approach to combating infections.
  • These findings highlight the potential of propolis as a complementary therapeutic agent in managing bacterial infections, particularly those involving antibiotic-resistant strains.

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