Antibacterial activity of honey and propolis from Apis mellifera and Tetragonisca angustula against Staphylococcus aureus.
OBJECTIVE
The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus of honey and propolis produced by Apis mellifera and Tetragonisca angustula was evaluated. Secondary aims included the study of the chemical composition of propolis and honey samples and its relationship with antibacterial activity against S. aureus.


RESULTS
The antibacterial activity of honey and propolis was determined by the method of macrodilution. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) of A. mellifera honey ranged from 126.23 to 185.70 mg ml(-1) and of T. angustula from 142.87 to 214.33 mg ml(-1). For propolis, the MIC ranged from 0.36 to 3.65 mg ml(-1) (A. mellifera) and from 0.44 to 2.01 mg ml(-1) (T. angustula). Honey and propolis were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography. Some typical compounds of Brazilian propolis were also identified in honey samples. Principal component analysis revealed that the chemical composition of honey and propolis samples was distinct based on the geographical location of the samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Propolis samples had higher antibacterial activity against S. aureus when compared with honey. However, both propolis and honey samples had antibacterial against S. aureus.


CONCLUSIONS
These antimicrobial properties would warrant further studies on the clinical applications of propolis and honey against S. aureus.
Miorin
P L
PL
Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Levy Junior
N C
NC
Custodio
A R
AR
Bretz
W A
WA
Marcucci
M C
MC
D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001516:Bees; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D006722:Honey / Q000032:analysis; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011429:Propolis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D011429:Propolis