In vitro Screening of antifungal activity of Propolis Against Standard and Clinical fungal Isolates

Abstract

This study was retrospective analytical, carried out during period from April to August 2013 at the department of Microbiology in Sudan University of Science and Technology. The objectives of this study was the invitro screening of the antifungal activity of crude and commercial propolis extracts against standard and clinical fungal isolates and to compare between commercial and crude propolis extract according to their activity. The extraction of crude and commercial propolis were carried out with ethanol 70% using Soxhlet apparatus about three hours daily, the extract was then filtered through filter paper and the solvent was evaporated under reducing pressure using Rotary Evaporator Apparatus. The antifungal activity was determined by agar well diffusion method through measuring of the diameter of the observed zone of inhibition. The result of crude and commercial propolis extracts showed prominent in invitro antifungal activity against all investigated fungal species (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus terrus). The antifungal activity of crude propolis extracts was stronger than antifungal activity of commercial extract (paired sample T test (P = 0.00). The best concentration that was sufficient in reducing the growth of all fungal strains was 10% (100mg/dl). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to all fungal species was 2.5% (25mg/dl). The results had shown the possibility of using propolis in treatment of disease caused by these pathogens (Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus terrus). Further studies are required to screen antifungal activity of propolis against other pathogens.