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The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of propolis against clinical isolates of Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes by following the NCCLS guidelines for testing filamentous fungi, and compare the two methods of evaluating the efficacy of propolis: NCCLS microdilution and agar dilution methods. A broth microdilution method following the recommendations established by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) and agar dilution method were used to compare the in vitro activity of propolis with that of itraconazole (ITC) against 29 clinical isolates the dermatophytes belonging to two different species of Trichophyton. In terms of MICs (minimal inhibitory concentrations), ITC showed greater activity than propolis. MICs of propolis at which 50% (MIC50) and 90% (MIC90) of the isolates were 0.1 and 0.2 mu g ml(-1), respectively. Propolis merits further investigations as a potentially useful agent for treatment of dermatophytosis and the broth microdilution and the agar dilution methods were good agreement for propolis against dermatophytes. Moreover, the study suggests the potential value of the broth microdilution as a convenient alternative method for testing the susceptibilities of dermatophytes to propolis.

The in vitro susceptibilities of propolis and antifungal drugs were determined against some yeasts isolated from patients with superficial mycoses. The agents tested included fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, terbinafine and propolis. MICs were determined by the broth microdilution technique following National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards document M27-P. For all Candida albicans isolates from the patients with superficial mycoses, ketoconazole presented higher (P < 0.05) efficiency than that of the other antifungal agents tested. The geometric mean MIC values of antifungal drugs and propolis against the yeasts tested ranged from 0.087 to 12.69 mu g/mL and 0.4-0.6 mu g/mL, respectively. Propolis also showed an important antifungal activity against the yeasts tested, MIC ranges of the propolis were between 0.01-1.65 mu g/mL. Based on these results, propolis requires further investigation as a potential agent for the treatment of superficial mycoses.