Antifungal Activity of the Honeybee Products Against Candida spp. and Trichosporon spp.

KOÇ A. N., SİLİCİ S., Kasap F., HORMET-OZ H. T., MAVUS-BULDU H., Ercal B. D.

JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL FOOD, vol.14, pp.128-134, 2011 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 14
  • Publication Date: 2011
  • Doi Number: 10.1089/jmf.2009.0296
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL FOOD
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.128-134
  • Keywords: Candida spp., fluconazole, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, Trichosporon spp.
  • Erciyes University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Honeybee products (honey, royal jelly, pollen, and propolis) were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the growth of 40 yeast strains of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, and Trichosporon spp. The broth microdilution method was used to assess the antifungal activity of honeybee products against yeasts. Fluconazole was selected as the antifungal control agent. Using the broth microdilution method, minimal inhibitory concentration ranges with regard to all isolates were 5-80% (vol/vol), 0.06-1 mu g/mL, 0.002-0.25 mu g/mL, 0.006-0.1 mu g/mL, and 0.02-96 mu g/mL for honey, royal jelly, pollen, propolis, and fluconazole, respectively. The antifungal activities of each product decreased in the following order: propolis > pollen>royal jelly >> honey. This study demonstrated that honeybee products, particularly propolis and pollen, can help to control some fluconazole-resistant fungal strains.