Antimicrobial Activity of Korean Propolis Extracts on Oral Pathogenic Microorganisms

Abstract

Propolis has been used as a natural remedy in folk medicine worldwide. The antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiprotozoal aspects of its antimicrobial properties have been widely investigated. However, few studies focused on its applications in dentistry. Many dental diseases are related to various microorganisms in the oral cavity. In this study, we assessed the antimicrobial activity of Korean propolis extract, collected from 6 different regions, on oral pathogenic microorganisms. The propolis samples, collected from 6 different regions (P1: Uijeongbu, P2: Ansan, P3: Hongcheon, P4: Iksan, P5: Gwangju, and P6: Sangju), were dissolved in ethanol at two different concentrations (10 and 50 mg/ml). Three oral bacteria (Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis) and one fungus (Candida albicans) were activated in general broth for 24 hours. Microorganisms were diluted and spread onto agar plates, onto which sterilized 6 mm filter papers with or without each propolis sample were placed. After 24 hours of incubation, clear zones of inhibition were observed. All tests were performed in triplicate. The propolis samples showed significant antibacterial and antifungal activity on oral pathogenic microorganisms; in addition, low-concentration groups showed outstanding antimicrobial efficacy on the 4 different microorganisms. Among the samples, P6 had significantly higher antibacterial activity than that of the others against three different bacteria. In particular, a high concentration of P6 showed a significant antifungal effect. In conclusion, we confirmed that Korean propolis has an inhibitory effect on oral pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Therefore, we suggest the possibility of developing oral medicine and oral care products based on Korean propolis.