In vitro antibacterial and antifungal activity of Iraqi
propolis
Nada K. K. Hendi1, Habeeb S. Naher2 and Alaa H. Al-Charrakh2*
1College of Nursing, Babylon University, Babylon province, Iraq.
2Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Babylon University, Babylon province, Iraq.
Accepted 23 May, 2011
The study was aimed at determining the antimicrobial activities of crude ethanolic extract of Al-Museiab
propolis (EEMP) against some bacterial and fungal isolates by the method of disc diffusion and agarwell
diffusion, respectively. MICs of propolis extracts using the two-fold agar dilution susceptibility
method were also determined. Results revealed that Staphylococcus aureus was highly sensitive to
EEMP than other Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, while standard Escherichia coli strain was
highly sensitive to EEMP than other Gram negative bacteria. The effect of EEMP was elevated when the
concentration increased to 20 and 30%. EEMP was not effective against Candida albicans. Results of
disc diffusion methods of crude EEMP at 10% concentration showed that S. aureus was highly sensitive
to EEMP inhibition while C. albicans was resistant. Statistical analysis showed significant differences (P
? 0.05) between results of disc and agar diffusion methods of EEP at concentration of 10%, while there
was no significant difference (P ? 0.05) at concentrations of 20 and 30% of extract, respectively. This
study concluded that EEP was the most active of all propolis extracts, S. aureus was more sensitive to
EEP and AEP than other bacteria, and agar diffusion method was better than disc diffusion method for
detection of antimicrobial activity of propolis.
Key words: Propolis, antibacterial, antifungal, Iraq.