Antibacterial and Antioxidant Potential of Propolis against Skin Pathogens
Misbah Noreen
Javed Iqbal Qazi
Skin, the body’s largest organ serves as first line of defense against numerous insults caused by physical, chemicals and biological factors. Skin microbiota provides protection to the body if kept in balance. Propolis is a resinous substance that is collected by honey bees from different botanical sources. It serves as strong antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory substance because of its polyphenolic and flavonoid constituents. Objective of the present study was to evaluate in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant potential of propolis from honey bee garden of University of the Punjab, Lahore, against skin pathogens. Antibacterial property of propolis was evaluated by preparing its extract in 70% ethanol. Susceptibility of isolates was analyzed by using disc diffusion method and MIC. DPPH ((2, 2-diphenyl1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate radical) assay was performed to evaluate the antioxidant potential of ethanolic extract of proplis in terms of half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50). The ethanolic extract of propolis showed significant (p<0.05) inhibitory activity against all isolates with zones of inhibition ranging from 15.83±0.29 to 29.67±0.29mm whereas MIC values ranged from 4.50±0.50mg/ml to 6.67±0.58mg/ml. MBC values ranged from 5.83±0.29mg/ml to 7.67±0.58mg/ml. Inhibitory potential of propolis against bacteria expressed a dose dependent pattern. Ethanolic extract of propolis showed significant antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 12.28±0.49 µg/ml. Results of this study indicated that extract of the propolis can serve as important antibacterial and antioxidant substance for the maintenance of general skin health as well as for the treatment of skin diseases.
Keywords: Skin pathogens, Propolis, Antibacterial, Antioxidant
