Comparative Effects of Crude Libyan Propolis and Commercial Propolis Extracts on Aspergillus Ochraceus, Aspergillus Niger, and Penicillium spp. in Vitro
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Libyan Propolis, Commercial Propolis Extract, Antifungal Activity, Aspergillus Niger, Aspergillus Ochraceus
Abstract
Propolis, a resinous substance collected by honeybees, exhibits antimicrobial properties attributed to its flavonoid and phenolic content, which vary significantly with geographical origin. This study evaluated and compared the antifungal efficacy of crude Libyan propolis (CLP) and commercial propolis extract (CPE) against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus ochraceus, and Penicillium spp. using mycelial growth inhibition on agar (10, 25, and 50 mg mL⁻¹) and biomass dry-weight quantification in broth (1, 5, and 10 mg mL⁻¹), with all experiments performed in triplicate and data analysed by three-way ANOVA. Both propolis types significantly inhibited fungal growth compared with controls (p < 0.001). CLP showed superior activity against A. niger (64.7% inhibition at 25 mg mL⁻¹) compared with CPE, which achieved comparable inhibition (45.1%) only at 50 mg mL⁻¹, a twofold higher concentration. Against A. ochraceus, CLP exhibited maximal inhibition at 10 mg mL⁻¹ (76.4%), while CPE provided stable inhibition (58.8–67.0%) across concentrations. In biomass assays, Penicillium spp. was most sensitive to CPE at 10 mg mL⁻¹ (1.42 g), and a hormetic effect was observed at 1 mg mL⁻¹ CPE, where biomass exceeded controls by up to 86%. These findings demonstrate that both CLP and CPE possess species-specific antifungal activity. CLP was particularly effective against A. niger, whereas CPE showed greater activity against Penicillium spp. The observed biphasic and hormetic responses underscore the importance of dose optimisation. Libyan propolis therefore represents a promising natural antifungal agent for food preservation.
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References
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