ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECTS OF HEXANE EXTRACTS OF BEE PROPOLIS FROM KURMI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

Bee propolis, a resinous substance collected by honeybees, has garnered significant interest due to its potential therapeutic properties, including antibacterial activity. This study investigated the antibacterial effects of hexane extracts from bee propolis sourced in Kurmi Local Government Area, Nigeria, against various bacterial strains. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs), and zones of inhibition were determined using standard microbiological techniques. The results revealed that the hexane extracts exhibited antibacterial activity against all tested bacterial strains, with MIC values ranging from 1.0 mg/ml to 6.25 mg/ml. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 9027) was the most susceptible strain, with an MIC of 6.25 mg/ml, while Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC 29212) and Salmonella spp. (ATCC 2090) exhibited relatively low MIC values of 1.0 mg/ml and 1.25 mg/ml, respectively. The MBC values ranged from 25.0 mg/ml to 75.0 mg/ml, with the highest MBC observed for Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Salmonella spp. (ATCC 2090), and E. coli (ATCC 43888). The zones of inhibition varied across the tested bacterial strains, with the largest zone observed for Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633) at 25 mm and the smallest zones recorded for Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) and Salmonella spp. (ATCC 2090) at 10 mm. The findings suggest that the hexane extracts from bee propolis sourced in Kurmi Local Government Area possess promising antibacterial properties and could potentially serve as natural antibacterial agents. Further research is warranted to identify the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the observed antibacterial activity and explore potential applications in various fields, such as wound management, food preservation, and pharmaceutical formulations.