Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds
08:54

Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds

Published on: February 14, 2018

Antifungal activity of propolis extract against yeasts isolated from onychomycosis lesions

Ana Carla Pozzi Oliveira1, Cristiane Suemi Shinobu, Renata Longhini

  • 1Laboratório de Micologia, Departamento de Análises Clînicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brasil.

Memorias Do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
|October 31, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Propolis extract demonstrates potent antifungal activity against yeasts causing onychomycosis (nail fungus). This natural product effectively inhibits fungal growth and promotes cell death, offering a potential new treatment option.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Pharmacology
  • Natural Products

Background:

  • Onychomycosis is a common fungal infection of the nails.
  • Current treatments can have limitations, necessitating exploration of alternative therapies.
  • Propolis, a natural resinous substance, is known for its diverse biological activities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of propolis extract against yeasts isolated from onychomycosis patients.
  • To determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of propolis extract.

Main Methods:

  • An adapted protocol from the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards was used.
  • Sixty-seven yeast strains were isolated from onychomycosis patients.
  • Antifungal activity was assessed by determining MIC and MFC values for propolis extract.

Main Results:

  • Propolis extract exhibited significant antifungal activity, inhibiting all tested yeasts at 5 x 10(-2) mg/ml flavonoids.
  • A concentration of 2 x 10(-2) mg/ml flavonoids stimulated yeast cell death.
  • Trichosporon sp. were most sensitive (MIC50/MIC90 = 1.25 x 10(-2) mg/ml), while C. tropicalis was most resistant (CFM50 = 5 x 10(-2), MFC90 = 10 x 10(-2) mg/ml).

Conclusions:

  • Propolis extract possesses strong in vitro antifungal properties against common onychomycosis-causing yeasts.
  • Its natural origin, low cost, and non-toxic profile make it a promising candidate for onychomycosis treatment.
  • Further research into propolis as a therapeutic agent for nail fungal infections is warranted.

More Related Videos

Quantifying the Antifungal Activity of Peptides Against Candida albicans06:45

Quantifying the Antifungal Activity of Peptides Against Candida albicans

Published on: January 13, 2023

Assessing the Putative Anticryptococcal Properties of Crude and Clarified Extracts from Mollusks09:18

Assessing the Putative Anticryptococcal Properties of Crude and Clarified Extracts from Mollusks

Published on: December 2, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
Fungal Group Zygomycota01:29

Fungal Group Zygomycota

Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...
Antimicrobial Effectiveness01:28

Antimicrobial Effectiveness

The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...