Asian Journal of Biology

Propolis has a broad spectrum of therapeutic potential such as antimicrobial and anticancer activities and, is popular worldwide. The aim of the study was to investigate antibacterial and DNA damage inhibitory activities of propolis. The propolis samples were collected in Izmir of Turkey and were extracted by using ethanol and acetone solvents. The antibacterial effect of these propolis extracts was determined by using microdilution methods against three Gram positive-bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25953, Bacillus cereus ATCC 7064, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 29213), and three Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Escherichia coli ATCC 35218 and Salmonella Enteritidis ATCC 13076). The ability to repair the plasmid DNA breaks created by hydroxyl radicals was also determine using pBR322 plasmid DNA. As a result; antibacterial activity was detected in ethanolic extract better than acetone extract. Ethanol extract was also found very effective against Gram-positive bacteria especially Bacillus cereus (≤6.25 mg/mL). Among the Gram-negative bacteria, the most susceptible bacterium was identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (12.5 mg/mL). Moreover, ethanol and acetone extracts of propolis had repair effects on plasmid DNA in H₂O₂ condition.