A Comparison between the Anti-microbial Activity of Native Propolis and the Anti-microbial Activity of Imported Ones against Different Health Microbes

Propolis is a gum-like product gathered by bees from various plants. It is known that the propolis has anti-bacterial, anticarcinogenic, and immune-stimulating biological activities. In the present study, we have investigated the anti-microbial activity of propolis against certain important human microbes. The paper disc diffusion method was used to investigate the propolis activity and the inhibition zones were measured. Results revealed that the ethanolic and water extracts of propolis have a strong inhibitory potential against Aspergillus brasiliensis Varga and Escherichia coli Migula strain (ATCC 0157:H7) regardless of the time of propolis harvesting. The propolis ethanolic and water extracts were ineffective against Escherichia coli strain (ATCC 29522) and Proteus mirabilis Hauser. Jordan propolis was the most effective in inhibiting the Enterobacter aerogenes 35029 Hormaeche and Edwards than the Chinese, Turkish and Tablet propolis samples. Furthermore, the Jordan propolis and the Chinese crude 2 propolis were the most effective against the Candida albicans mold. The Chinese propolis was the most effective against A. brasiliensis mold.