Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Screening of Propolis Extracts

Abstract

Propolis is a resinous mixture that collects by honey bees from the plants. However, the physical character of propolis generally has been used by honey bees to protect their hive, but several beneficial properties of this compound could be considered for human being. In the present study, two propolis samples (P1&P2) were collected and subjected for extraction using different solvents. Then, their antimicrobial effects were evaluated against Salmonella typhi PTCC 1609, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PTCC 1047, Staphylococcus aureus PTCC 1112, Escherichia coli PTCC 1338, Bacillus cereus PTCC 1015, Aspergillus niger PLM 1140 and Candida albicans ATCC 1405 using Well Diffusion Agar. In addition, the bioactive compounds and functional groups of the extracts were determined by paper chromatography and Spray methods. The results obtained indicated that ethanol and methanol extracts of the propolis showed relatively more antimicrobial effect and both extracts exhibited similar responses against the antagonistic microorganisms. Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi , Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were sensitive whereas, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger were resistant to the extracts. E.coli was sensitive to methanol and resistant to ethanol extracts. Our finding concerning to the chemical analysis of the propolis exhibited the presence of flavonoid, tannin, steroid, alcohol and alkaloid in extracts. Overall, propolis has antimicrobial effect with different spectrum and therefore, it might consider a potent candidate for treatment of several clinical scenarios.