Antibacterial activity of Indigenous propolis extracts against the growth of Streptococcus mutans

Background: Propolis, a natural product produced by honey bees is used as an adhesive to maintain the nest. Numerous studies have shown that propolis has antimicrobial effect against bacteria (gram positive and gram negative), anti-fungal and anti-viral. Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the in vitro inhibition of propolis extracts derived from various regions in Indonesia against the bacterium Streptococcus mutans. Method: Research laboratory tests conducted in the Pharmaceutical laboratory Unhas and Microbiology laboratory, Department of Biological Science Unhas. The extraction of raw propolis from bee, Trigona sp, originating from South Sulawesi, Melia(R) and Lawang, tested for bacterial inhibition to Streptococcus mutans using agar diffusion method with Muller Hinton Agar medium. Propolis extract has a test concentration of 2.5 %, 5 % and 10 % and in 4 times replication. Result: All types of propolis tested showed zones of inhibition against S. mutans bacteria, with diameters ranging from 10 mm to 17 mm on a 24 -hour observation. Test results using one way ANOVA and post hoc LSD test showed significant differences between the bacterial inhibitory concentration of propolis of 2.5 % to 10 % and there were no significant differences in the inhibition of bacteria on the three types of propolis. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that the ethanol extract of propolis Trigona sp originating from the province of South Sulawesi able to inhibit the growth of S.mutans in vitro