Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Aug 2005)

Propolis: anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity and synergism with antimicrobial drugs

  • Ary Fernandes Júnior,
  • Elaine Cristina Balestrin,
  • Joyce Elaine Cristina Betoni,
  • Ricardo de Oliveira Orsi,
  • Maria de Lourdes Ribeiro de Souza da Cunha,
  • Augusto Cezar Montelli

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0074-02762005000500018
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 100, no. 5
pp. 563 – 566

Abstract

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Propolis is a natural resinous substance collected by bees from tree exudates and secretions. Its antimicrobial activity has been investigated and inhibitory action on Staphylococcus aureus growth was evaluated. The in vitro synergism between ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) and antimicrobial drugs by two susceptibility tests (Kirby and Bauer and E-Test) on 25 S. aureus strains was evaluated. Petri dishes with sub-inhibitory concentrations of EEP were incubated with 13 drugs using Kirby and Bauer method and synergism between EEP and five drugs [choramphenicol (CLO), gentamicin (GEN), netilmicin (NET), tetracycline (TET), and vancomycin (VAN)] was observed. Nine drugs were assayed by the E-test method and five of them exhibited a synergism [CLO, GEN, NET, TET, and clindamycin (CLI)]. The results demonstrated the synergism between EEP and antimicrobial drugs, especially those agents that interfere on bacterial protein synthesis.

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