Phytochemical Characterisation and Antibacterial Activity of Propolis on Cariogenic Microrganisms

Background: Dental caries is also known as tooth decay is as a result of the softening of hard dental tissues from factors of multiple origins, with dental plaque bacteria being one of the most important factors. Due to the resistance of microorganisms to common antibiotics, modern medical sciences had been looking for new approaches in the treatment and prevention of oral diseases.

Objective: This study aimed to phytochemically characterise, evaluate the antibacterial activity of propolis on bacteria responsible for dental caries.

Methodology: This was an experimental study that took place in the Laboratory of Chemistry and Microbiology (Clinque Universities des Montagne (CUM)) of Bangangté between January to April 2018.

Chemical screening of the aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts revealed the presence of secondary metabolites namely alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, saponins and terpenes, those being more abundant in the aqueous extract. The content of flavonoids was high. Macro-dilution was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of propolis and Müller Hinton agar was used for obtaining the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) and determination of inhibition diameters of the bacteria.

Results: The flavonoid content in the aqueous extract was estimated at 222.85 mg/ml and 18.77 mg/ml for the hydroalcoholic extracts. S mutans and Lactobacillus spp. were isolated from samples collected from caries affected teeth. The aqueous extract of propolis generally generates greater inhibition diameters than that of the hydroalcoholic extract on both lactobacillus and Streptococcus mutans, The MBC of the aqueous extract on S. mutans and Lactobacillus spp. was 50 mg/ml and the MIC was 25 mg/ml. The hydroalcoholic extract did not have MBC on both S. mutans and Lactobacillus spp. However, the MIC of this extract on both bacteria was 50 mg/ml. These antibacterial properties were not statically significant as that of gentamicin.

Conclusion: The evaluation of the antibacterial activity of our various extracts by determination of the MIC and MBC revealed that propolis was endowed with inhibitory properties vis-à-vis the growth of most bacterial strains tested: Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus spp. all 2 being gram-positive bacteria.