Propolis is a resinous substance composed of a mixture of different plant parts and molecules secreted by bees. Chemically, it is defined as a complex matrix containing biologically active molecules with antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, hepatoprotective, and immunomodulatory activities. It is widely employed in cosmetic formulations and pharmaceutical products and is one of the most widely used natural products. However, the effects and strength of these biological activities depend on the chemical profile and composition of each propolis type. This composition is associated with the diversity of local flora, the place and period of collection, and the genetics of the bees. In this context, the objective of this review was to investigate the biological, chemical, and microbiological properties of propolis. A technological prospection was also performed on patents for products designed to be used in animal health. Our investigation shows that the literature contains diverse studies dedicated to comparing and describing the composition and therapeutic properties of propolis. These studies demonstrate the potential biological use of propolis in veterinary medicine, showing the applications of propolis extracts in different formulations. However, there are a low number of propolis‐based veterinary products with a registered patent. Thus, the development of products based on propolis is a promising market to be exploited. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, publications have highlighted the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on academic mothers, mostly focusing on the impact of social distancing and quarantine. A few months later, despite the lack of effective vaccines or therapeutics in sight, many economic activities are being resumed. Nurseries and schools are expected to be among the latest to reopen, which will amplify the impacts of the pandemic on academic mothers. In this letter, we unwrap the pandemic impacts on academic mothers and describe a set of specifi c short-, medium-and long-term policies that, if implemented, could reduce setbacks for gender equality during the pandemic and can help to level the playing fi eld for academic mothers.

Background Oral candidiasis is an opportunistic disease caused by fungi of the Candida genus. The occurrence of Candida spp. resistance to the commercial antifungal drugs points to the search for alternative treatments. Propolis has been successfully used in the treatment of infectious diseases for centuries. It has been proposed that an ultrasound pretreatment in the propolis extraction protocol can enhance the concentrations of molecules with antimicrobial activities in the final extract. Thus, this study aimed to compare the antifungal activity against oral Candida spp. isolates of green and red propolis extracts submitted or not to an ultrasound pretreatment before the extraction procedure. Methods Candida spp. were isolated from denture stomatitis lesions and identified by sequencing. Oral Candida spp. isolates and reference strains were submitted to broth microdilution assays using commercial antifungals and Brazilian green and red propolis extracts submitted or not to an ultrasound pretreatment. Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) and Minimal Fungicide Concentrations (MFC) were determined and biofilm formation interference was evaluated for resistant isolates. Results C. albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida dubliniensis were isolated from denture stomatitis lesions. Growth inhibition was observed in all Candida isolates incubated with all green and red propolis extracts. At lower doses, red propolis extracts presented significant antifungal activity. The ultrasound pretreatment did not promote an increase in the antifungal activity of green or red propolis. Three isolates, which were highly resistant to fluconazole and itraconazole, were susceptible to low doses of red propolis extracts. These same three specimens had their biofilm formation inhibted by red propolis ethanolic extract. Conclusions Thus, red propolis can be faced as a promising natural product to be used in the auxiliary antifungal therapy of denture stomatitis.

Clinical mycoses treatment is associated with issues such as negative side effects, high cost, prolonged treatment, and resistant strain selection. Malassezia pachydermatis is the most frequently isolated yeast in cases of canine otitis and dermatitis. The number of fungal strains exhibiting primary resistance to several drugs in vitro is increasing. Propolis has a diverse chemical composition and well-known therapeutic properties against mycoses. An alternative method for producing propolis extracts using supercritical fluid has higher selectivity, yielding extracts with fewer pollutant residues. This study therefore aimed to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility profile of M. pachydermatis clinical isolates to precharacterized supercritical and ethanolic extracts. Three types of Brazilian propolis extracts (green, red, and brown) and commercial allopathic antifungals were used in this investigation. We used the microdilution broth technique to evaluate the susceptibility profile of the yeasts. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the brown propolis ethanolic extract was ≥16 µg/mL for all isolates. The MICs of fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, and amphotericin B ranged from 8 to >64 µg/mL, 0.032-4 µg/mL, 0.0313-16 µg/mL, and 1-2 µg/mL, respectively. The MICs of ethanolic red propolis extracts were lower than those of supercritical red propolis extracts. However, the green propolis ethanolic extract had more pronounced fungicidal activity. Isolates with lower susceptibility to commercial fungicides were inhibited by red and green propolis extracts. These results indicate that propolis can potentially be used in in vivo experiments as a promising therapeutic agent against M. pachydermatis infections.

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As microalgas são consideradas uma rica fonte de metabólitos biologicamente ativos com potencial uso farmacológico. Na indústria farmacêutica, extratos microalgais se destacam por apresentarem importantes atividades biológicas, como a antifúngica. As dermatofitoses são micoses cutâneas ocasionadas por fungos denominados dermatófitos, microrganismos que possuem um biotropismo especial por tecidos queratinizados. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão de literatura acerca da atividade biológica de extratos e compostos das microalgas em fungos dermatófitos. Trata-se de uma revisão narrativa da literatura, realizada nas bases de dados PubMed, LILACS, SciELO e Google Scholar. Após a busca, foram selecionados 18 artigos publicados entre os anos de 1960 e 2021, nos idiomas inglês e francês. Quatro grupos de microalgas já foram explorados quanto à atividade antifúngica: clorofíceas, diatomáceas, dinoflagelados e cianobactérias, totalizando 40 espécies de microalgas já testadas em 19 espécies de dermatófitos. As diatomáceas e cianobactérias possuem o maior número de testes realizados contra dermatófitos. As espécies de dermatófitos mais testadas foram o T. rubrum e o T. menthagrophytes. Os extratos de S. platensis, C. Braunii, T. nodosa e T. tenuis e os compostos isolados das espécies de dinoflagelados Goniodoma sp., G. toxicus e Amphidinium sp. apresentaram maior atividade inibitória. A falta de padronização dos testes e o potencial antifúngico das microalgas já registrado para os dermatófitos, encoraja a realização de novos estudos para contemplar a grande biodiversidade e testar o efeito sinérgico aditivo com drogas comerciais.