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SummaryPropolis has a long history of use in traditional medicine dating back to at least 300 BC, and has been reported to have a broad spectrum of biological activities. Since most studies have to date focused on medical uses of propolis, its antimicrobial activity against honey bee diseases has been little studied. One of the aims of this study was therefore to investigate the potential use of propolis in honey bee health, especially against American foulbrood, which causes much damage in the beekeeping industry. The second aim was to reveal the different antimicrobial activities of propolis collected from different geographical areas from the neighbouring countries of Greece and Turkey. Propolis samples collected from several regions of Greece and Turkey were investigated for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against Paenibacillus larvae.Eighteen ethanol extracts of propolis (EEP), (nine from Greece and nine from Turkey) were tested for antimicrobial activities against ten P. larvae isolates. The results showed that all P. larvae strains were susceptible to propolis extracts from both Greece and Turkey Furthermore 50 % concentrations of EEP caused significantly wider inhibition zones (P≤0.05) around the discs. Comparisons of the content, and locations and botanical origins of EEPs from Greece and Turkey showed that the kind of vegetation is more important factor than geographic location for their antimicrobial activity. This is the first comprehensive study concerning the antimicrobial activity of propolis samples collected from a wide area around the Aegean Sea. Comparación de la actividad de propóleos de Turquía y Grecia frente a Paenibacillus larvae ResumenEl propóleos tiene una larga historia de uso en la medicina tradicional que se remonta por lo menos a 300 años antes de Cristo, y se ha descrito que tienen un amplio espectro de actividades biológicas. Como la mayoría de los estudios hasta la fecha se han centrado en los usos médicos de los propóleos, su actividad antimicrobiana frente a enfermedades de las abejas de la miel ha sido poco estudiada. Por lo tanto, uno de los objetivos de este estudio fue investigar el posible uso de los propóleos en la salud de la abeja de la miel, especialmente contra la loque americana, que causa mucho daño en la industria de la apicultura. El segundo objetivo era revelar las diferentes actividades antimicrobianas de propóleos recolectados de diferentes áreas geográficas de los países vecinos de Grecia y Turquía. Se investigó la actividad antimicrobiana in vitro de muestras de propóleos recolectados en varias regiones de Grecia y Turquía contra Paenibacillus larvae. Se probó la actividad antimicrobiana de dieciocho extractos de propóleos en etanol (EEP), (nueve de Grecia y nueve de Turquía) contra diez aislamientos de P. larvae. Los resultados mostraron que todas las cepas de P. larvae fueron susceptibles a los extractos de propóleos tanto de Grecia como de Turquía. Además concentraciones al 50% de EEP causaron zonas de inhibición significativamente más amplias (p ...

We aimed to determine the differences and similarities between Greek and Turkish propolis with respect to their chemical composition given that the two countries have many similarities in floral biodiversity. We observed that: a) Greek propolis is different from the European-type propolis, having a high terpene content; therefore we can definitely characterize it as a Mediterranean type; b) the Turkish propolis collected along the coast line of the Aegean Sea is similiar to the examined Greek propolis; c) the remaining Turkish samples, originating from the European part of Turkey, were found to be similiar to the European-type propolis, having a high flavonoid content. Finally, especially two compounds, beta-elemene and totarol, were found in Greek samples in quite high amounts that are thought to have important biological properties.

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We aimed to determine the differences and similarities between Greek and Turkish propolis with respect to their chemical composition given that the two countries have many similarities in fl oral biodiversity. We observed that: a) Greek propolis is different from the European-type propolis, having a high terpene content; therefore we can definitely characterize it as a Mediterranean type; b) the Turkish propolis collected along the coast line of the Aegean Sea is similiar to the examined Greek propolis; c) the remaining Turkish samples, originating from the European part of Turkey, were found to be similiar to the Europeantype propolis, having a high fl avonoid content. Finally, especially two compounds, β-elemene and totarol, were found in Greek samples in quite high amounts that are thought to have important biological properties.