A Review on the Antimicrobial Activity of Propolis and its Synergy with Other Antimicrobial Compounds

Abstract

The alarming increase in the development of drug resistant microbes and the decrease in the efficacy of numerous antibiotics have led to the rise in patient mortality and morbidity affecting various fields of medicine. To combat this development and or the improvement of drugs are paramount. Natural products have long been utilized in the treatment of diseases showing broad spectrum of activity against a wide range of pathogens. In this study, the potential application of propolis to combat drug resistant microbes is reviewed, highlighting the presence and diversity of bioactive compounds with focus on its antimicrobial activity against a number of drug resistant microbes and its synergistic properties with other antimicrobial compounds. It is hoped that this study would enable researchers to continue to analyse propolis compounds and its interactions with other antimicrobial compounds which ultimately paves the way for new drug development.