Preparation and standardization of propolis extract and formulation of cream and gel based on propolis extract

Abstract

Introduction: Propolis is one of the products of bees, which have has anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant and anti-tumor effects.Scope: Due to the importance of medicinal properties of propolis, propolis collected from Zarnaq city, was selected for phytochemical analysis and evaluation of its antioxidant and anti bacterial activity, total phenol and flavonoid content and formulation of cream and gel from its total extract.Methods and materials: The extraction was performed using Soxhlet apparatus and by n-hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and ethanol 90% solvents and then dried by rotary evaporator. The methanolic extract was fractionated by VLC chromatography and purified by the crystallization method and finally two pure substance were identified by NMR. Fatty acid content of N-hexan extract of propolis was analyzed by GC-MS analysis as well. Furthermore, The antioxidant activity of total extract, was evaluated by using DPPH test. The antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects of all extracts were determined against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacterias. Finally, optimal topical cream and gel formulations were prepared from the total extract, and the physicochemical stability of the topical cream was evaluated under accelerated conditions.Results: Tectochrysin and Chrysin, were identified from the methanolic extract of propolis. Fatty acid content of n-Hexan extract propolis was investigated by the reflux and sonication methods. 25 and 14 compounds were identified by these methods, respectively. In DPPH test, propolis total extract exhibited IC50 value of 0.0135. In the disc diffusion method, all the extracts showed antimicrobial effects and The biofilm formation test in this study revealed that Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria were unable to form biofilm. The optimal formulation of propolis extract cream ( F3 ) was physicochemically stable under accelerated conditions.Conclusion: The results indicated that Zarnaq propolis has significant antioxidant and antibacterial properties.