Recent studies have shown that propolis has appreciable antibacterial,
antifungal and antiviral actions, as well as cytostatic and antitumoral
activity. In light of these studies, the antimicrobial activity of a new
adhesive formulation containing propolis was evaluated in this in
vitro study. Susceptibility of the oral strains tested (
Candida albicans
,
Candida tropicalis
,
Streptococcus mutans
,
Staphylococcus aureus
,
Enterococcus faecalis
,
Actinomyces israelli
,
Actinobacillus
actinomycetemcomitans
) was evaluated using the agar diffusion method
with different concentrations of propolis (5, 10, 15 and 20%). All of
the assayed bacteria and fungi species were susceptible to propolis,
with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 1.75 to
14.0 µg/ml. The positive results suggest that propolis in this sustained
release formulation should be further tested as an alternative therapy
of infectious conditions of the oral cavity, such as denture stomatitis
and periodontitis. However, in vivo studies of the effect of this new
adhesive formulation of propolis are needed to determine its possible
effects on the oral mucosa.