Comparative study of in vitro methods used to analyse the activity of propolis extracts with different compositions against species of Candida.
OBJECTIVE
Propolis is known for its activity against micro-organisms and different in vitro assays have been used to evaluate this activity, frequently with contradictory results.


RESULTS
Brazilian propolis from the state of São Paulo was extracted by maceration using different concentrations of ethanol and water. The resultant extracts were analysed by chromatographic methods. Several microbiological methods were compared to determine which one best evaluated the activity of the propolis extracts against species of Candida, with average minimal inhibitory concentration values between 6 and 12 mg ml(-1).


CONCLUSIONS
Agar dilution in plates showed the clearest results. These were in agreement with the chromatographic analyses, which also identified the active substances.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the active substances identified in this sample are typical of Brazilian propolis, their activity against Candida had not been recognized previously, demonstrating the importance of standardizing the correct combination of microbiological and chromatographic analyses.
Universidade São Francisco, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Bragança Paulista, SP, Brazil.
A C H F
AC
Sawaya
A M
AM
Palma
F M
FM
Caetano
M C
MC
Marcucci
I B
IB
da Silva Cunha
C E P
CE
Araujo
M T
MT
Shimizu
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011429:Propolis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011429:Propolis