Antimicrobial activity of propolis from San Juan province, Argentina

LIMA B; TAPIA A; RODRIGUEZ J; JUAREZ S; WUNDERLIN D; ZACCHINO S; FERESIN GE

Uspallata, Mendoza. Argentina.

Congreso; XXIII Congreso Anual de la Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo 2005; 2005

Sociedad de Biología de Cuyo

Propolis is a resinous and a balsamic material with a complex composition, wich is collected by bees from sprouts, exudates of plants. Chemical and pharmacological information on the reputed medicinal properties of the propolis from San Juan province is limited considering the potential chemical and pharmacological possibilities they offer. Six raw Propolis samples are purchased from San Juan apiculture´s and were produced in different districts of San Juan province, Argentina were assessed for antimicrobial activity against selected bacteria and fungi with the agar dilution method. All methanolic propolis extracts  showed the broadest spectrum of action against fungi, inhibiting all of the tested dermatophytes Microsporum gypseum Trichophyton rubrum T. mentagrophytes and Yeast Candida albicans C.tropicalis Cryptococcus neoformans and  Saccharomyces cerevisiae with MICs ranging from 62.5 to 250µg/ml.  None of the propolis extracts was active towards filamentous fungi Aspergillus flavus A fumigatus and A niger Regarding the antibacterial activity, all propolis extracts were active on methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus as well as againts Escherichia coli with MIC from 125 to 1000µg/ml. This is the first report about antimicrobial activity on propolis from San Juan province, Argentina.