ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITIES OF HONEY BEES PROPOLIS ETHANOLIC EXTRACT

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Microbiology Dept., Fac. of Agric., Mansoura Univ., Damietta, Egypt

2 Entomology Dept., Faculty of Agric., Mansoura Univ., Mansoura, Egypt

3 Bee Keeping Dept., Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Two different samples of honey bees propolis collected from strong and moderate bees colonies in Dakahlia Governorate were examined for their antifungal activities. The antifungal activities were tested against five different economic fungi which cause spoilage of food and storing grains. The fungal strains were Fusarium moniliform DSM764, Rhizopus arrhizus DSM906, Mucor miehei DSM1330, Aspergillus flavus DSM1830 and Penicillium camemberti DSM1995. The chemical analyses of HPLC showed that both tested samples containing volatile cyclic compounds, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, alcohol, Limonene, alkane, alkene and other compounds. Results of antifungal potentialities showed that both samples of propolis lead to remarkable inhibition of fungal mycelial growth as well as spores germination. The propolis obtained from strong colony was more effective towards the tested fungi than that one of moderate colonies. Measured MICs and MFCs values were 520, 680; 410, 530; 350, 490; 330, 450 and 390, 470 ppm for the tested fungi, respectively, data also showed that the tested propolis samples showed fungicidal effect (MFC) with higher concentration than that of MIC values.