Antifungal activity of propolis against dermatophytes and Candida albicans isolated from human mouth

Objective This study includes the investigation of antifungal activity of the local propolis against dermatophytes and yeast. Methods Two fungi belonging to dermatophytes, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. tonsurans, isolated from patients were tested. Six concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mg/ml) of propolis extract were tested against these two fungal pathogens. Clotrimazole was used as control with 2 mg/ml concentration. So, five oral Candida albicans isolates were extracted from patients, these isolates were given numbers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Seven concentrations (0.5, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 mg/ml) of propolis extract were tested against C. albicans isolates. Results The results revealed presence of significant difference (P < 0.05) in the effect of propolis extract against two dermatophytes of the current study. T. tonsurans was more sensitive to propolis extract terms, the percentage of inhibition being 100% in each of the concentrations (10, 15, 20, 25 mg/ml), whereas it showed 72.4% at 5 mg/ml concentration. T. mentagrophytes did not show complete inhibition percentage which gave a high percentage, 94.2% with 25 mg/ml concentration. Additionally, results revealed presence of significant difference (P < 0.05) in the effect of propolis extract against C. albicans isolates of this study. C. albicans 1 isolate was the most effective isolate among the others toward propolis extract. Results of this study also showed increasing inhibition zone if the concentration of propolis extract was increased. Conclusion The local propolis that was collected from the apiaries of holy Karbala province has antifungal activity against T. mentagrophytes, T. tonsurans and C. albicans isolates