In vitro amoebicidal activity of propolis on Acanthamoeba castellanii.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro effects of an ethanolic extract of propolis on the growth and adherence of Acanthamoeba castellanii trophozoites and cysts.


METHODS
The effect of propolis with concentrations of 8.0, 6.0, 5.0, 4.0, 3.0, and 2.0 mg/mL on the proliferation of A. castellanii trophozoites, and with a concentration of 62.25, 31.25, 15.62, 7.81, 3.90, 1.95, and 0.97 mg/mL on the proliferation of A. castellanii cysts, at 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h were examined in vitro.


RESULTS
After 1-72 h, incubation in concentrations between 2.0 and 6.0 mg/mL, its effect was amoebistatic; at concentrations of 8.0 mg/mL and higher, its effect was amoebicidal. After 48 h or longer incubation times at 15.62 mg/mL and at higher concentrations, the propolis extract was cysticidal. At concentrations of 1.97 mg/mL or lower, there was no observable effect at any time point.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that ethanolic extract of propolis has amoebicidal, as well as cysticidal, properties for Acanthamoeba trophozoites and cysts. Propolis alone, or in combination with other amoebicidal agents, may be used in clinical practice after further investigations.
Topalkara
Aysen
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey. atopalkara@gmail.com
Vural
Ayse
A
Polat
Zubeyde
Z
Toker
Mustafa I
MI
Arici
Mustafa K
MK
Ozan
Fatih
F
Cetin
Ali
A
D048248:Acanthamoeba castellanii / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D000562:Amebiasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D000563:Amebicides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology; D011429:Propolis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053058:Trophozoites / Q000187:drug effects
D000563:Amebicides; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D011429:Propolis