Active combinations of propolis components active against microrganisms

• Grant number: 24/09025-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Botany - Applied Botany
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Salatino
• Grantee: Antonio Salatino
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Kelly Ishida ; Marcelo José Pena Ferreira ; Maria Luiza Faria Salatino
• Associated research grant(s): 25/03096-6 - Multi-User Equipament approved in grant 2024/09025-O: Biotage Isolera Spektra One Flash Chromatograph, AP.EMU

Abstract

Propolis is a resinous material, produced by bees with resins collected from plants, which are added to abdominal wax and salivary secretions. Propolis has been used medicinally for millennia. Research carried out since the second half of the last century has revealed biological activities of propolis and its isolated components. Among the most investigated properties, antimicrobial activity stands out, including antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal action. Little has been done about the activity of propolis on yeasts of the Candida genus. Promising results have revealed inhibitory effects of propolis on the growth of species responsible for candidiasis and candidemia. With the increasing emergence of microbial strains resistant to conventional antibiotic treatments, interest has grown about alternatives derived from natural products. In the present project, it is proposed the detection of antibacterial and anti-candida activities of alcoholic extracts of different types of Brazilian propolis (green, from Baccharis dracunculifolia; green from Mimosa tenuiflora; red, from the Brazilian northeastern coast) and samples of Uruguayan propolis. Extracts that reveal anti-candida activity will be fractionated by column chromatography. It has been demonstrated that the action of propolis is due to synergistic effects of its components. The expectation in the project is that fractions of propolis components will be more active than the crude extract or propolis isolated components. Anti-candida activity assays will be carried out with the emerging fractions and subfractions. Anti-candida activities will be analyzed in in vitro assays on planktonic and biofilm cells of Candida spp., in synergy with drugs currently used against Candida. The aim is to advance in the evaluations of anti-candida activity, by means of an in vivo experimental model. Promising fractions obtained will also be used for evaluation against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The components of the active fractions will be characterized by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, or by nuclear magnetic resonance of isolated components. (AU)