BMC Complement Altern Med, 2013 Jan 28;13(1):23\
BACKGROUND: Geopropolis is a type of propolis containing
resin, wax, and soil, collected by threatened stingless bee species native to
tropical countries and used in folk medicine. However, studies concerning the
biological activity and chemical composition of geopropolis are scarce. In this
study, we evaluated the antimicrobial and antiproliferative activity of the
ethanolic extract of geopropolis (EEGP) collected by Melipona scutellaris and
its bioactive fraction against important clinical microorganisms as well as
their in vitro cytotoxicity and chemical profile.
METHODS: The antimicrobial activity of EEGP and fractions was
examined by determining their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and
minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against six bacteria strains as well
as their ability to inhibit Streptococcus mutans biofilm adherence. Total
growth inhibition (TGI) was chosen to assay the antiproliferative activity of
EEGP and its bioactive fraction against normal and cancer cell lines. The
chemical composition of M. scutellaris geopropolis was identified by
reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and gas
chromatography--mass spectrometry.
RESULTS: EEGP significantly inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus
aureus strains and S. mutans at low concentrations, and its hexane fraction
(HF) presented the highest antibacterial activity. Also, both EEGP and HF
inhibited S. mutans biofilm adherence (p < 0.05) and showed selectivity
against human cancer cell lines, although only HF demonstrated selectivity at
low concentrations. The chemical analyses performed suggest the absence of
flavonoids and the presence of benzophenones as geopropolis major compounds.
CONCLUSIONS: The empirical use of this unique type of geopropolis by folk
medicine practitioners was confirmed in the present study, since it showed
antimicrobial and antiproliferative potential against the cancer cell lines
studied. It is possible that the major compounds found in this type of
geopropolis are responsible for its properties.
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