Antimicrobial, Antibiofilm and Toxicological Assessment of Propolis
Maria Cristina Queiroga,
Marta Laranjo,
Nara Andrade,
Mariana Marques,
Ana Rodrigues Costa,
Célia Maria Antunes
Affiliations
Maria Cristina Queiroga
MED–Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE–Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Marta Laranjo
MED–Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE–Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Universidade de Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Nara Andrade
Universidade Paulista, Campus Petrolina-PE, Av. Barão do Rio Branco, 700-862 - Centro, Petrolina - PE, CEP: 56304-260, Brazil
Mariana Marques
Instituto de Ciências da Terra, ICT, Universidade de Évora, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Ana Rodrigues Costa
Instituto de Ciências da Terra, ICT, Universidade de Évora, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Célia Maria Antunes
Instituto de Ciências da Terra, ICT, Universidade de Évora, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Antimicrobial resistance is a serious problem for the control of infections and infectious diseases. Propolis is a substance produced by honeybees with antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties. To consider propolis as an alternative to the use of antimicrobials for infection control, we assessed its antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. To assess propolis for topical medical use, toxicological studies were also performed. A Portuguese 70% propolis ethanolic extract was chemically evaluated and studied for antimicrobial activity on staphylococcal field isolates (n = 137) and antibiofilm action (n = 45). Cell toxicological assessment was performed using keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Pinobanksin, chrysin, acacetin, apigenin, pinocembrin, and kaempferol-dimethyl-ether were detected. All 137 isolates were susceptible to 6.68 mg/mL or lower propolis concentration (80% isolates were susceptible to Staphylococcus spp. that deserves to be evaluated in vivo.
