Antibacterial and Leishmanicidal Activity of Bolivian Propolis

Abstract

The antimicrobial activity of Bolivian propolis was assessed for the first time on a panel of bacteria and two endemic parasitic protozoa. Ten samples of Bolivian propolis and their main constituents were tested using the micro-broth dilution method against 11 bacterial pathogenic strains as well as against promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis and L. braziliensis using the XTT-based colorimetric method. The methanolic extracts showed antibacterial effect ranging from inactive (MICs >1000 μg ml(-1) ) to low (MICs 250-1000 μg ml(-1) ), moderate (62∙5-125 μg ml(-1) ) and high antibacterial activity (MIC 31.2 μg ml(-1) ), according to the collection place and chemical composition. The most active samples towards Leishmania species were from Cochabamba and Tarija, with IC50 values of 12∙1 and 7∙8, 8∙0 and 10∙9 μg ml(-1) against L. amazonensis and L. brasiliensis, respectively. The results show that the best antibacterial and antiprotozoal effect was observed for some phenolic rich propolis.