The antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of bee products against certain bacteria

Antibiotics are employed worldwide for both prevention and therapeutic purposes against infectious diseases on dairy farms. Recurrent infections frequently arise from biofilm-forming bacteria. This research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of oak honey, honeycomb capping, and propolis against certain biofilm-associated and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The total phenolic content (TPC) values for propolis, honeycomb capping, and oak honey samples were 298, 128, and 72 mg of gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g, respectively. Oak honey showed the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value (<0.08%) against the strong biofilm of non-blaCTX-M Serratia fonticola-1. Propolis had the lowest MIC value (<0.03%) against the weak biofilm of blaCTX-M positive Citrobacter braakii, and the moderate biofilm of non-blaCTX-M S. fonticola-2. The MIC values of all bee products showed a significant decrease upon interaction with 1% boric acid for all strains. Moreover, propolis has shown the ability to reduce 96% of the biofilm biomass of Citrobacter braaki after 24 h. The results show that bee products, used for medicinal purposes since ancient times, have emerged as a viable alternative against environmental pathogens.