MECHANISMS INVOLVED IN ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF PROPOLIS

Propolis is a bee product characterized by possesses antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, which are attributed to the presence of polyphenolic compounds, mainly flavonoids. These compounds are low molecular weight and contain in their chemical structure a variable number of hydroxyl groups. Several researchers reported that antioxidant mechanisms proposed for these groups are free radical sequestration, or their acting as substrate for radicals such as superoxide and hydroxyl, and metallic ion chelation. While antimicrobial mechanism involves the inhibition of nucleic acids and degradation of cytoplasmic membrane.