Abstract

Propolis is a resinous substance which has many pharmaceutical and biological effects such as antimicrobial activities. In this study, antifungal aspect of ethanolic solution of propolis was investigated. Candida albicans isolates were obtained from patients attending the Mycology Laboratory of Veterinary Faculty of the University of Tehran. BALB/c mice were used for the second part of the study. They were divided into eight groups and infected with different strains of Candida. Then, the influence of fluconazole and propolis for prevention of infection was assessed. All of them were treated with different dilutions of fluconazole and propolis samples in microdilution plates. Only two isolates were susceptible to fluconazole. However, they showed significant susceptibility to propolis. Groups of mice which were treated with propolis showed increased resistance to Candidiasis when compared with those that received fluconazole. Results indicate that natural substances like propolis should be used instead of drugs in medicine, because they lack side effects or for its prevention of microbial resistance. Propolis has several chemical constituents, so it seems impossible that microbial strains would be able to resist it.

Key words: Propolis, fluconazole, Candida albicans, MIC, mice.