title: Antibacterial activity of propolis and its active principles alone and in combination with macrolides, beta-lactams and fluoroquinolones against microorganisms responsible for respiratory infections.
abstract: Propolis is produced by bees and is reported to have several pharmaceutical properties. Its antibacterial activity against strains causing upper respiratory tract infections is particularly important: propolis might be used as a therapeutic agent to prevent the bacterial infections that sometimes overlap viral infections. In this study the in vitro activity of both an alcoholic solution and a hydroglyceric extract of propolis, as well as its active principles, was tested against bacteria responsible for respiratory infections (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pyogenes). We also evaluated the in vitro activity of a combination of propolis and its active principles and some beta-lactams, macrolides and fluoroquinolones. Our results, though not demonstrating a clearly synergistic activity between antibiotics and propolis and its constituents, show the possibility of using natural preparations, due to their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, to enhance antibacterial therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiological and Gynecological Sciences, University of Catania, Italy. special@unict.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Speciale
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Costanzo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Puglisi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Musumeci
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Catania
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caccamo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iauk
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D024841:Fluoroquinolones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018942:Macrolides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D001936:Moraxella catarrhalis / Q000187:drug effects; D011429:Propolis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects; D047090:beta-Lactams / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D024841:Fluoroquinolones; D018942:Macrolides; D047090:beta-Lactams; D011429:Propolis