In Vitro Effects of Propolis Mouthwash and Nystatin on Candida Albicans: A Comparative Study

Oral candidiasis is the most common fungal infection of the oral cavity, mainly caused by the overgrowth of Candida albicans. One of the topical medications for candidiasis is nystatin, a polyene antifungal agent. Nevertheless, increased resistance to this drug because of overprescription has caused recurrent oral candidiasis. There is a lot of interest today in the use of natural products and compounds due to the side effects of synthetic products. Propolis is a natural resin substance produced by bees through the combination of wax and saliva with resins collected from plants, which has reportedly antibacterial, antifungal and antitumor properties. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of propolis mouthwash and nystatin on C. albicans.

The present in vitro study, in which the effects of antifungal agents were investigated on the standard strain of C. albicans, was conducted within two groups of 15, nystatin and propolis, using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion susceptibility test after preparation and sterilization. The diameter of the zone of inhibition (ZOI) was measured in this assay using the disc diffusion method onto Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) medium.

Statistical analysis of data by SPSS software using t-test statistics to evaluate the antifungal effect of the interventions showed a better antifungal effect of nystatin compared to propolis mouthwash against C. albicans (P<0.001).

The findings of this study demonstrated that the local propolis mouthwash was less potent than nystatin in inhibiting the growth of C. albicans, probably due to differences in the concentration and geographical region of collected propolis. Further research on species isolated from oral biofilm is needed to achieve complementary outcomes.