Assessing the antimicrobial strength of Moroccan propolis from four regions on human infection-causing bacteria and yeast strains

Abstract

This study aims to explore the potential of ethanolic extracts of propolis from different regions in Morocco as a means of combatting microbial infections. Specifically, we investigate the antimicrobial activity of these extracts against five distinct microbial strains and analyze the correlation between this activity and the polyphenol and flavonoid content of the extracts. The inhibitory effects of the extracts on Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans were evaluated by measuring the inhibition diameters, followed by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and the minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC). The study revealed that the ethanolic extract of Moroccan propolis displayed potent antibacterial and antifungal activity, with a greater sensitivity towards Staphylococcus aureus. The extracts' antimicrobial activities were correlated with the concentration of flavonoids and polyphenols present in them. The results also suggest that propolis collected from Rabat and Agadir exhibited more substantial antimicrobial potential than that collected from Settat or Marrakech. Overall, the findings of this study provide valuable insights into the possibility ofMoroccan propolis as an antimicrobial agent.

Keywords

• moroccan propolis
• polyphenols
• flavonoids
• antibacterial activity