title: Propolis: anti-Staphylococcus aureus activity and synergism with antimicrobial drugs.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista Julio de Mesquita Filho, Unesp, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. ary@ibb.unesp.br
authors.forename: Ary
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernandes Júnior
authors.forename: Elaine Cristina
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Balestrin
authors.forename: Joyce Elaine Cristina
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Betoni
authors.forename: Ricardo de Oliveira
authors.initials: Rde O
authors.lastname: Orsi
authors.forename: Maria de Lourdes Ribeiro de Souza
authors.initials: Mde L
authors.lastname: da Cunha
authors.forename: Augusto Cezar
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Montelli
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011429:Propolis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011429:Propolis