Candida is a form of parasitic fungus which resemble yeasts and occur especially in the mouth, vagina, and intestinal tract. Though usually benign, they can become pathogenic, causing diseases including candidiasis and thrush.

The List of Studies on the Effects of Propolis on Candida

1) Effect of commercial ethanol propolis extract on the in vitro growth of Candida albicans collected from HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative Brazilian patients with oral candidiasis.

Authors:Martins RS; Péreira ES; Lima SM; Senna MI; Mesquita RA; Santos VR
Department of Clinical Pathology and Surgery, School of Dentistry, Minas Gerais Federal University, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Summary of Research:
The present study assessed the susceptibility of Candida albicans strains, collected from HIV-positive patients with oral candidiasis, to a commercial 20% ethanol propolis extract (EPE) and compare it to the inhibitory action of the standardized antifungal agents nystatin (NYS), clotrimazole (CL), econazole (EC), and fluconazole (FL).

Twelve C. albicans strains collected from HIV-positive patients with oral candidiasis were tested. The inhibition zones were measured with a pachimeter and the results are reported as means and standard deviation (M +/- SD).

Data were analyzed statistically by the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test. EPE inhibited all the C. albicans strained tested. No significant difference was observed between the results obtained with NYS and EPE, while significant differences were observed between EPE and other antifungals.

The C. albicans strains tested showed resistance to the remaining antifungal agents. The propolis extract used in this study inhibited the in vitro growth of C. albicans collected from HIV-seropositive Brazilian patients, creating/forming inhibition zones like those ones formed by NYS.

This fact suggests that commercial EPE could be an alternative medicine in the treatment of candidiasis from HIV-positive patients. However, in vivo studies of the effect of EPE are needed to determine its possible effects on the oral mucosa.

Journal: Juornal of Oral Science
Issue: 2002 Mar;44(1):41-8.

2) Seasonal Effect of Brazilian Propolis on Candida albicans AND Candida tropicalis

Authors: J. M. SFORCIN,A. FERNANDES JÚNIOR, C. A. M. LOPES, S. R. C. FUNARI, V. BANKOVA
1. Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil;
2 Institute of Organic Chemistry with Centre of Phytochemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Summary of Research:
Recently, propolis has been attracting the attention of researchers due to various biological activities and therapeutic properties. In Brazil, propolis is produced all year long, so there may be some seasonal variations.

This work was carried out in order to compare propolis collected during the four seasons by its in vitro antimicrobial activity on yeast pathogens isolated from human infections. Propolis was produced by africanized honeybees in Botucatu, São Paulo State, collected throughout a year and pooled by season.

Hydroalcoholic solutions of propolis were prepared with each pool and diluted in agar, using serial concentrations of propolis from each pool. A determination of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was performed.

The results show that Candida tropicalis and Candida albicans were susceptible to low concentrations of propolis, the latter showing a higher susceptibility. No differences were seen in relation to seasonal effects in the minimal inhibitory concentration of propolis.

Journal: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins
Issue: v.7 n.1 Botucatu 2001

3) Antifungal activity of propolis on different species of Candida

Authors: Claudia Ota, Carmelinda Unterkircher, Vera Fantinato, M. T. Shimizu
Dental School, UNESP, São José dos Campos, SP, University of Vale do Paraíba, IP & D, and Pharmacy School, São Francisco University, USF, Bragança Paulista, SP, Brasil.

Summary of Research:
Propolis is a resinous material collected by bees from the buds or other parts of plants. It is known for its biological properties, having antibacterial, antifungal and healing properties.

The antifungal activity of propolis was studied in sensitivity tests on 80 strains of Candida yeasts: 20 strains of Candida albicans, 20 strains of Candida tropicalis, 20 strains of Candida krusei and 15 strains of Candida guilliermondii.

The yeasts showed a clear antifungal activity with the following order of sensitivity: C. albicans>C. tropicalis>C. krusei>C. guilliermondii.

Patients with full dentures who used a hydroalcoholic propolis extract showed a decrease in the number of Candida.

Journal: Mycoses
Issue: Volume 44 Issue 9-10 Page 375 – November 2001

4) The effect of Brazilian Propolis on the germ tube formation and cell walls of Candida Albicans

Authors: André Marinho Mello, Rafael Tomaz Gomes, Simone Resende Lara, L. Gomes Silva, José Bento Alves, Maria Esperanza Cortés, Sheila Lemos Abreu, Vagner Rodrigues Santos. .

Summary of Research:
Candidal adherence has been implicated as the first step in the pathogenesis of oral
candidosis, and germ tube formation by Candida albicans has been attributed as co-factor that promotes adherence.

Propolis, a natural product produced by the honeybee, has been shown to
possess antifungal activity although the mechanism of its action remains unclear.

The aim of this study was to investigate the germ tube formation capacity of C.albicans (ATCC18804) following its exposure to Brazilian Green Propolis (BGP) at different concentrations. The ultrastructural topographic features of the yeast cells exposed to propolis using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and light microscopy (LM) were performed to investigate the morphology of the yeast. Yeast cell suspensions were added to tubes containing foetal calf serum medium (2 h-37ºC). Nystatin and C. glabrata (ATCC 2001) were used as control.
Absence of germ tube formation (LM) occurred at 0,33 µg/mL. The ultrastructural findings (TEM) showed hyperplasia and changes in the cell surface at 0,43 µg/mL . It is suggested that the antifungal activity of propolis is due to changes in the cell wall leading to an increase of volume and membrane rupture. The positive results suggest that propolis should be further tested as an alternative therapy for infectious conditions of the oral cavity, such candidiasis
and denture stomatitis.

Journal: Pharmacologyonline
Issue: Archive 29

Related posts:

1. Effects of propolis on herpes
2. Propolis and it's role against tumor in mice
3. Effect of propolis on human cartilage and chondrocytes