Evaluation of the Anti-Free Radical and Antibacterial Properties of Methanolic and Aqueous Extracts of an Algerian Propolis

Propolis is a beekeeping product that has been widely known since Antiquity for its beneficial effects on human health; it has significant therapeutic potential and many biological properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant activity, using the DPPH test, of a sample of propolis from the Maadid region (in the wilaya of M'sila in eastern Algeria). The antibacterial activity of methanolic and aqueous propolis extracts was assessed in Mueller–Hinton (MH) agar medium using the disc diffusion technique on the Gram-positive microorganism Staphylococcus aureus. Our results showed that all the concentrations of the extracts tested had significant activity, with the zones of inhibition ranging from (44 ± 3.46 mm) to (10.16 ± 1.25 mm). In addition, propolis has an antioxidant power, expressed in IC50, of EAqP 0.301 ± 0.007 mg/mL and EMeth P 0.194 ± 0.016 mg/mL at a concentration of 1 mg/mL compared to the BHT control (0.087 ± 0.03 mg/mL). This study shows that the methanolic and aqueous extracts have a high level of interesting activity. We also confirm that propolis is an important natural product of the hive that can be used in a number of fields: pharmaceutical and food.