J Ethnopharmacol. 1999 Dec; 68(1-3): 97-102.

Screening of antibacterial activity of Amaicha del Valle (TucumÃ¡n, Argentina) propolis.

Nieva Moreno MI, Isla MI, Cudmani NG, Vattuone MA, Sampietro AR.

CÃ¡tedra de FitoquÃmica, Instituto de Estudios Vegetales, Facultad de BioquÃmica, QuÃmica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de TucumÃ¡n, Miguel de TucumÃ¡n, Argentina.

Propolis is extensively used in Argentine folk medicine. Alcoholic extracts of propolis from four localities of Amaicha del Valle (El Paraiso, La Banda Este, La Banda Oeste and El Molino), Province of TucumÃ¡n and from Cerrillos, Province of Santiago del Estero, Argentina were prepared. All showed antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria, the propolis from La Banda Este being the most active (MIC = 7.8 microg/ml) against Streptococcus piogenes, an antibiotic resistant bacterium. Thin layer chromatographic (TLC) separation profiles of propolis from Amaicha del Valle region were similar but differ from the alcoholic extract of the propolis from Cerrillos, another phytogeographical region of Argentina (provincia chaqueÃ±a). Bioautographic assays of the TLC profiles showed that several separated compounds of the Amaicha del Valle propolis have antibacterial activity. The difference in composition between Amaicha del Valle and Cerrillos propolis coincides with a different phytogeographical formation.