Trichophyton species susceptibility to green and red propolis from Brazil

• Published in: Letters in applied microbiology Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 90 - 96
• Main Authors: Siqueira, A.B.S, Gomes, B.S, Cambuim, I, Maia, R, Abreu, S, Souza-Motta, C.M, de Queiroz, L.A, Porto, A.L.F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Oxford, UK : Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2009; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: antifungal; Antifungal Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Brazilian green propolis; Brazilian red propolis; dermatophyte; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Itraconazole - pharmacology; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microbial Viability; Microbiology; Naphthalenes - pharmacology; Propolis; Propolis - pharmacology; Trichophyton; Trichophyton - drug effects; Trichophyton rubrum; Trichophyton sp; Trichophyton tonsurans; South America; Brazil; America; Fungi; antifungal; Antifungal agent; Applied microbiology; Trichophyton; Brazilian red propolis; Fungi Imperfecti; Trichophyton sp; Dermatophyte; Brazilian green propolis
• ISSN: 0266-8254; 1472-765X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765X.2008.02494.x

The in vitro antifungal activity of Brazilian green and red propolis was tested against different species of Trichophyton. The antifungal activity of the Brazilian aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the green propolis and the alcoholic extract of red propolis was observed against Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton tonsurans and Trichophyton mentagrohytes samples, using as controls itraconazole and terbinafine. The minimal inhibitory concentration was determined following the microdilution method indicated by the 'Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute'. The minimal fungicide concentration was determined by the absence of growth in liquid sabouraud culture medium. The data obtained showed that the green propolis alcoholic extract's antifungal activity was from 64 to 1024 μg ml⁻¹, whereas the red propolis alcoholic extract was from 8 to 1024 μg ml⁻¹. The antifungal activity of the red propolis alcoholic extract was more efficient than the green propolis alcoholic extract for all three species studied. The T. rubrum samples were shown to be more sensitive to the antifungal activity of the alcoholic extracts of the propolis. The antifungal potential of the alcoholic extracts of green and red propolis demonstrated suggest an applicable potential as an alternative treatment for dermatophytosis caused by these species.