Basque Propolis Has Strong Activity Against Microbial Strains

Exciting new results of propolis antimicrobial and antifungal action against Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Salmonella enterica ...

The Antimicrobial Effects of Propolis Collected in Different Regions in the Basque Country (Northern Spain)

WorldJournal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Nov 2011

The antimicrobial activity of 19 propolis extracts prepared in different solvents (ethanol and propylene glycol) (EEP/PEP), was evaluated against some bacterial and fungal isolates using the agar-well diffusion method.

It was verified that all the samples tested showed antimicrobial activity, although results varied considerably between samples. Results revealed that both types of propolis extracts showed highly sensitive antimicrobial action against Gram-positive bacteria and fungi at a concentration of 20% (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisae) with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 mg/ml, with a moderate effect against Streptococcus pyogenes (MIC from 17 to 26 mg/ml).

To our knowledge, this is the first study showing elevated antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria [Salmonella enterica (MIC from 0.6 to 1.4 mg/ml)] and lesser activity against Helicobacter pylori (MIC from 6 to 14 mg/ml), while Escherichia coli was resistant.

This concluded that the Basque propolis had a strong and dose-dependent activity against most of the microbial strains tested, while database comparison revealed that phenolic substances were responsible for this inhibition, regardless of their geographical origin and the solvent employed for extraction. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between EEP and PEP extracts.

Honey May Help Prevent Post-Operative Eye Inflammation

Honey has often been reported to eliminate cataracts simply by placing drops of liquid honey in the eye... 

Honey Prophylaxis Reduces the Risk of EndophthalmitisDuring Perioperative Period of Eye Surgery

Phytotherapy Research, Early View

Endophthalmitis following eye surgery remains a rarebut serious complication. Topical fluoroquinolones have been used asprophylactic agents against endophthalmitis. However, the emerging resistanceof ocular pathogens to fluoroquinolones may preclude their routine use.

Honey, a natural antimicrobial product with woundhealing properties, is a promising candidate for the prophylaxis ofendophthalmitis.

The goal of this study was to determine whether 25%(w/v) honey solution is effective in eradicating bacterial ocular pathogens inthe perioperative period in patients scheduled for cataract surgery orvitrectomy, and to compare its efficacy to 0.3% ofloxacin.

In this pilot study, 101 patients were randomized tohoney (n = 49) or ofloxacin (n = 52) treatment. In both groups, eye drops wereadministered five times a day for 7 days before and 5 days after surgery.Before administration of the antibacterial agents, 18 and 25 isolates weredetected in the ofloxacin and honey group, respectively.

After 7 days of administration, four isolates (coagulase-negativeStaphylococcus) were detected in each therapeutic group. No significantdifference in antibacterial effect was found between groups. These resultsindicate that honey may act as a prophylactic agent of endophthalmitis; however,further studies are needed to characterize its ocular penetration properties.