Abstract
Propolis is a natural bee product that is widely used in folk medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) on methicillin-resistant and sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and MSSA). Propolis samples were collected from six regions in Hungary. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values and the interaction of EEP-antibiotics were evaluated by the broth microdilution and the chequerboard broth microdilution methods, respectively. The effect of EEP on biofilm formation and eradication was estimated by crystal violet assay. Resazurin/propidium iodide dyes were applied for simultaneous quantification of cellular metabolic activities and dead cells in mature biofilms. The EEP1 sample showed the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents. The EEP1 successfully prevented the growth of planktonic cells of S. aureus (MIC value = 50 µg/mL). Synergistic interactions were shown after the co-exposition to EEP1 and vancomycin at 108 CFU/mL. The EEP1 effectively inhibited the biofilm formation and caused significant degradation of mature biofilms (50–200 µg/mL), as a consequence of the considerable decrement of metabolic activity. The EEP acts effectively as an antimicrobial and antibiofilm agent on S. aureus. Moreover, the simultaneous application of EEP and vancomycin could enhance their effect against MRSA infection.
Highlights
Staphylococcus aureus is present in the environment such as air and food and is found in the nose, ear, throat, and the skin of healthy individuals as a commensal bacterium [1]
The total polyphenolics content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC) of the ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) samples had been measured to determine the concentrations of the main components of the propolis samples (Table 1)
EEP1 significantly decreased the cellular metabolic activity of the four S. aureus strains within the biofilm up to 90% at 200 μg/mL (4 minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) value)
Summary
Staphylococcus aureus is present in the environment such as air and food and is found in the nose, ear, throat, and the skin of healthy individuals as a commensal bacterium [1]. S. aureus can cause a wide range of infections in the blood, skin, and wounds of its host [2]. It is a major human pathogen responsible for causing various community-onset and hospital-acquired infections that result in significant morbidity and mortality [3,4]. Even though vancomycin is one of the most effective antibiotics that act against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. The use of natural compounds, such as propolis would be one of the good alternative ways to address the challenge issues of antibiotic treatments [10]. The antibiofilm activity of EEP against planktonic cells and mature biofilms of S. aureus strains were examined
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