Antimicrobial activity of bee pollen ethanolic and methanolic extracts on Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strain.

Bee pollen is consumed for api-therapeutical, nutritional and medicinal properties. These actions are attributed to its chemical composition and mostly phenolics, carotenoids, fatty acids and vitamins. For this study bee pollen was freshly harvested and immediately placed at -18 0 C. Two different extraction solvents were used: ethanol and methanol, in three different dilutions (60, 70, 80%). 5%, 10% and 15% pollen concentration in each solvent solution were carried out to determine the most efficient variant, possessing the highest antibacterial activity, using the disc diffusion method. Stock culture of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria was grown in Nutrient Broth at 37ÂoC for 24h in a shaker. The inhibition zones were different, according to the extraction solvent used and also the pollen concentration. Methanol extract (70%) of 15% pollen have the biggest inhibition diameter. Negative controls (methanol and ethanol) did not show an inhibitory effect on the tested bacteria, while positive control (Streptomicine) has the highest antimicrobial activity. Â