Antimicrobial, Anti-biofilm, Anti-swarming, Anti-quorum Sensing Activities, and Cytotoxicity of Propolis Samples from Northeast of Türkiye

Abstract

Aim of study: Studies on propolis have increased as it has been revealed that it contains biologically active molecules. In the current study, it was aimed to analyze biological activity, and cytotoxicity of ethanolic extract of three different propolis samples from Türkiye. Material and methods: The antibacterial activity of the extracts against 14 microorganisms was assessed using the agar well diffusion method and the microdilution method. Chromobacter violeceum was used in quorum-sensing assay, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 strain was used in swarming and biofilm assays. Using the MTT test, the cytotoxic effect of the extracts was examined on the lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549), pancreatic tumoral cell line (AR42J), breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231), and normal epithelial cell line (Vero). Main results: All propolis extracts were effective against 8/14 microorganisms included in the study. While all propolis extracts have shown anti-quorum sensing activity, there was not any anti-swarming and anti-biofilm activity in each sample. It was demonstrated that every propolis sample had a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on the examined cell lines. Research highlights: Due to the biological activity shown by the propolis samples included in the study, it is considered that it has the potential to influence the creation of novel medications in the future.