IN VITRO ACTIVITY OF PROPOLIS AGAINST BACTERIAL AND YEAST PATHOGENS ISOLATED FROM HUMAN INFECTIONS

A. FERNANDES Jr(1,3). , M. F. SUGIZAKI(1), M. L. FOGO(1), S. R. C. FUNARI(2,3), C. A. M. LOPES(2,3).

(1)Department of Microbiology and Immunology of the Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu - UNESP,  Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil, (2)Department of  Production and Animal Exploration of the School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry of Botucatu - UNESP, Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil, (3)Center for the Study of  Venoms and Venomous Animals - CEVAP - UNESP, Botucatu, State of São Paulo, Brazil.

ABSTRACT. The in vitro activity of propolis against 118 Staphylococcus  aureus, 108 Escherichia coli, 60 Salmonella typhimurium, 50 Candida albicans, 23 Candida parapsilosis, 19 Candida tropicalis and 14 Candida guilliermondii isolated from human infections was studied by the agar dilution method. Among the bacteria, the Gram-negative were the least susceptible organisms showing minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for 90% of the strains tested ranging from 22.5 mg/ml - 10,2% V/V to 23.1 mg/ml - 10.5% V/V. The MIC's for Candida ranged  from 0.80 mg/ml to > 11 mg/ml (0.40% V/V to > 5.0% V/V), the strains of C. parapsilosis being the least susceptible. The relative order of susceptibility among all isolates, was:  S.aureus  > C. tropicalis  > C. albicans > C. guilliermondii > C. parapsilosis > S. typhimurium > E. coli.

KEY WORDS: propolis, antimicrobial activity, bacteria, yeast pathogens, Candida sp

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

C. A. M. LOPES, Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu, UNESP - CEP 18.618-000 - Botucatu - São Paulo - Brasil. Email cevap@cevap.org.br