ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECT OF PROPOLIS DROPS ON ORAL PATHOGENS IN VITRO

Background: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of various propolis drops found easily in Turkey against two oral pathogens; Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis. Methods: Seven different propolis drops (Group 1 to 7: Umay Herbal Organic Propolis, Bee'o Up [15%], Propoli EVSP, Brazilian Green Liquid Propolis, Eğriçayır Propolis, Bee'o Up [30%], Biostore Propolis) were included in the study. Antimicrobial effect of drops was investigated by the agar plate diffusion method. 18 standard Petri dishes were prepared with Brain-Heart Infusion broth. 100 µl of microorganisms and 10 µl of each propolis were planted to these Petri dishes from a broth culture. Inhibition zones formed on the 24th hour were measured in mm's and each experimental group was photographed. Data were compared by Mann Whitney-U test. Results: Only water-based propolis of the present study (Group 1) formed no inhibition zone against both oral pathogens and alcohol-based groups 4 and 5 formed no zone only against the latter. Group 5 showed significantly the highest antimicrobial effect against S. mutans, however that group showed no influence on E. faecalis. Group 6 was found significantly more effective on E. faecalis than other propolis drops (p