Preliminary formulation of a dietary supplement in capsule form based on propolis combined with carob and pine resin

Propolis, carob, and pine resin are natural ingredients used in the development of food supplements in capsule form. This study aimed to evaluate microbiological quality, antioxidant potential, and antibacterial activity to determine the most suitable formulation. Three formulations were developed: a control formulation containing only propolis, formulation 1 combining propolis with carob powder, and formulation 2 combining propolis with pine resin. The antibacterial activity was assessed using the disc diffusion method, while the antioxidant effect was evaluated through the DPPH free radical scavenging assay. Pharmacotechnical tests, conducted in accordance with the European Pharmacopoeia (9.2nd edition) guidelines, confirmed compliance with the European Pharmacopoeia (9th edition) for all three formulations. The results demonstrated that formulation 1 exhibited strong antioxidant activity, whereas formulation 2 showed the highest antibacterial efficacy. These findings suggest that both formulations have promising potential, and the choice between them should be guided by the intended health benefits and the target consumer population.