In vitro assessment of Brazilian red propolis against mycobacteria: antibacterial potency, synergy, inhibition of biofilm formation, and intramacrophage effects
BackgroundTuberculosis persists as a major global health threat and remains the leading cause of death from infectious disease. Efforts to control the disease are increasingly hampered by the emergence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. At the same time, non-tuberculous mycobacter...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1630134/full |
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| author | S. B. Martins S. C. Teixeira G. de Souza Bader Y. Alhatlani Emad M. Abdallah S. R. Ambrosio T. S. Silva J. K. Bastos M. H. Tanimoto B. F. Barbosa E. A. V. Ferro C. H. G. Martins |
| author_facet | S. B. Martins S. C. Teixeira G. de Souza Bader Y. Alhatlani Emad M. Abdallah S. R. Ambrosio T. S. Silva J. K. Bastos M. H. Tanimoto B. F. Barbosa E. A. V. Ferro C. H. G. Martins |
| author_sort | S. B. Martins |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundTuberculosis persists as a major global health threat and remains the leading cause of death from infectious disease. Efforts to control the disease are increasingly hampered by the emergence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. At the same time, non-tuberculous mycobacteria are an expanding clinical concern, with few effective therapies available. Brazilian red propolis (BRP) has shown broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, yet its efficacy against mycobacteria is poorly characterized.MethodsThis study evaluated the in vitro antimycobacterial potential of a crude hydroalcoholic extract of BRP (CHEBRP). Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined against drug-susceptible and rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis strains (M. tuberculosis H37Rv–ATCC 27294, clinical isolate, and rifampicin-resistant clinical isolate; M. kansasii ATCC 12478 and clinical isolate; M. avium ATCC 25291 and clinical isolate). Fractional inhibitory concentration indices were calculated to assess interactions with isoniazid and rifampicin. Biofilm inhibition was measured, and cytotoxicity was assessed in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Intracellular activity was quantified using infected macrophage cultures.ResultsCHEBRP exhibited potent activity against most M. tuberculosis strains tested, including rifampicin-resistant strains. Its combination with isoniazid or rifampicin yielded an indifferent interaction, supporting the feasibility of co-administration. CHEBRP significantly inhibited biofilm formation, showed minimal cytotoxicity toward macrophages, and achieved substantial clearance of intracellular bacilli.ConclusionThese in vitro findings highlight CHEBRP as a promising candidate for adjunctive antimycobacterial therapy. Further studies should investigate its in vivo efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and activity against a broader range of mycobacterial species. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e68cd1ae3bdc489cabdddd620fb643fc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1663-9812 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e68cd1ae3bdc489cabdddd620fb643fc2025-08-20T05:32:42ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-08-011610.3389/fphar.2025.16301341630134In vitro assessment of Brazilian red propolis against mycobacteria: antibacterial potency, synergy, inhibition of biofilm formation, and intramacrophage effectsS. B. Martins0S. C. Teixeira1G. de Souza2Bader Y. Alhatlani3Emad M. Abdallah4S. R. Ambrosio5T. S. Silva6J. K. Bastos7M. H. Tanimoto8B. F. Barbosa9E. A. V. Ferro10C. H. G. Martins11Laboratory of Antimicrobial Testing, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia – UFU, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, BrazilLaboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia – UFU, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, BrazilLaboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia – UFU, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, BrazilUnit of Scientific Research, Applied College, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biology, College of Science, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi ArabiaNucleus of Research in Technological and Exact Sciences, University of Franca - UNIFRAN, São Paulo, BrazilUnit of Scientific Research, Applied College, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi ArabiaSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, BrazilSchool of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo - USP, São Paulo, BrazilLaboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia – UFU, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, BrazilLaboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia – UFU, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, BrazilLaboratory of Antimicrobial Testing, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia – UFU, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, BrazilBackgroundTuberculosis persists as a major global health threat and remains the leading cause of death from infectious disease. Efforts to control the disease are increasingly hampered by the emergence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. At the same time, non-tuberculous mycobacteria are an expanding clinical concern, with few effective therapies available. Brazilian red propolis (BRP) has shown broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, yet its efficacy against mycobacteria is poorly characterized.MethodsThis study evaluated the in vitro antimycobacterial potential of a crude hydroalcoholic extract of BRP (CHEBRP). Minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined against drug-susceptible and rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis strains (M. tuberculosis H37Rv–ATCC 27294, clinical isolate, and rifampicin-resistant clinical isolate; M. kansasii ATCC 12478 and clinical isolate; M. avium ATCC 25291 and clinical isolate). Fractional inhibitory concentration indices were calculated to assess interactions with isoniazid and rifampicin. Biofilm inhibition was measured, and cytotoxicity was assessed in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Intracellular activity was quantified using infected macrophage cultures.ResultsCHEBRP exhibited potent activity against most M. tuberculosis strains tested, including rifampicin-resistant strains. Its combination with isoniazid or rifampicin yielded an indifferent interaction, supporting the feasibility of co-administration. CHEBRP significantly inhibited biofilm formation, showed minimal cytotoxicity toward macrophages, and achieved substantial clearance of intracellular bacilli.ConclusionThese in vitro findings highlight CHEBRP as a promising candidate for adjunctive antimycobacterial therapy. Further studies should investigate its in vivo efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and activity against a broader range of mycobacterial species.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1630134/fullanti-tuberculousBrazilian red propolisantibacterial activityantibiofilmhealth |
| spellingShingle | S. B. Martins S. C. Teixeira G. de Souza Bader Y. Alhatlani Emad M. Abdallah S. R. Ambrosio T. S. Silva J. K. Bastos M. H. Tanimoto B. F. Barbosa E. A. V. Ferro C. H. G. Martins In vitro assessment of Brazilian red propolis against mycobacteria: antibacterial potency, synergy, inhibition of biofilm formation, and intramacrophage effects Frontiers in Pharmacology anti-tuberculous Brazilian red propolis antibacterial activity antibiofilm health |
| title | In vitro assessment of Brazilian red propolis against mycobacteria: antibacterial potency, synergy, inhibition of biofilm formation, and intramacrophage effects |
| title_full | In vitro assessment of Brazilian red propolis against mycobacteria: antibacterial potency, synergy, inhibition of biofilm formation, and intramacrophage effects |
| title_fullStr | In vitro assessment of Brazilian red propolis against mycobacteria: antibacterial potency, synergy, inhibition of biofilm formation, and intramacrophage effects |
| title_full_unstemmed | In vitro assessment of Brazilian red propolis against mycobacteria: antibacterial potency, synergy, inhibition of biofilm formation, and intramacrophage effects |
| title_short | In vitro assessment of Brazilian red propolis against mycobacteria: antibacterial potency, synergy, inhibition of biofilm formation, and intramacrophage effects |
| title_sort | in vitro assessment of brazilian red propolis against mycobacteria antibacterial potency synergy inhibition of biofilm formation and intramacrophage effects |
| topic | anti-tuberculous Brazilian red propolis antibacterial activity antibiofilm health |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1630134/full |
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