Highly efficient antibiofilm and antifungal activity of green propolis against Candida species in dentistry materials

PLoS One. 2020 Dec 23;15(12):e0228828. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228828. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of green propolis extract on the adhesion and biofilm formation of Candida species in dentistry materials. Phytochemical analysis of green propolis extract was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Adhesion was quantified by counting the number of yeast cells adherent to dental material fragments in a Neubauer chamber. Biofilm formation was determined by counting colony-forming units recovered from dental material fragments. The intensity of biofilm adhesion was classified as negative, weak, moderate, strong, or very strong. Fifteen compounds, mainly flavonoids, were identified in green propolis extract. All strains adhered to and formed biofilms on the surfaces of the orthodontic materials studied. On steel and resin, yeast cell adhesion intensities were weak at all incubation times, except for those of Candida parapsilosis and C. tropicalis, which were moderate at 12 h. At 24 and 48 h, C. albicans formed biofilms on steel with moderate adhesion affinities; at 24 and 48 h, C. parapsilosis formed biofilms with very strong affinities. C. tropicalis formed biofilms with strong and very strong affinities at 24 and 48 h, respectively. On resin, all species displayed strong affinity for biofilm formation at 24 and 48 h, except for C. tropicalis, which displayed very strong affinity at only 48 h. Green propolis extract displayed antifungal activity and inhibited both adhesion and biofilm formation at 2.5 μg/mL. This study reinforces the idea that green propolis has antifungal activity and interferes with the virulence of Candida species.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acrylic Resins
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Ascomycota / drug effects
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Candida / drug effects*
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Propolis / chemistry*
  • Propolis / pharmacology
  • Virulence / drug effects

Substances

  • Acrylic Resins
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Propolis

Grants and funding

GFBB receveid financial support by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Estado do Maranhão (FAPEMA). Notice 31/2016 for accquiring equipments and reagents.