Propolis extracts are the natural bee product most widely used as food supplements. The high antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of propolis derive from its polyphenol compositions. This study investigated the relationship between the phenolic composition and antimicrobial activities of four different prepared ethanolic propolis extracts. The composition of the samples was tested in terms of total phenolic content and total flavonoid content, and their phenolic compositions were analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography-photometric diode array detection. Ferric reducing/antioxidant capacity (FRAP) and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging tests were used as antioxidant assays. The antimicrobial effects of the extracts were tested using bacteriostatic, bactericide, anti-quorum sensing (QS), and anti-biofilm tests. Staphylococcus aureus, Chromobacterium violaceum, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Bacillus cereus, Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis were used in the agar well diffusion assay. Anti-QS and anti-biofilm activities were tested against Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC31532, Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. The phenolic compositions and the antioxidant properties of the extracts varied. All propolis specimens exhibited antimicrobial activity against the strains studied, although that activity varied according to the propolis extract. The findings showed that the high phenolic content of the propolis extracts resulted in high antioxidant and high antimicrobial activity.

In this study, propolis referred to as of Türkiye Anatolian propolis was utilized. This work was aim to prepare a 70% ethanolic extract of propolis and subsequently determine certain biochemical parameters, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), phenolic and flavonoid composition, inhibitory effects on certain enzymes [acetylcholinesterase (AChE), urease, and alpha-amylase], along with assessments of antiviral activity against Vero cells, lung cancer cells (A549), and breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). The richness of phenolic content in Anatolian propolis clearly indicates a high inhibitory effect on these enzymes. Additionally, it was observed to exert significant effects on cancer cells and demonstrated effective antiviral activity. It can be contemplated that the Anatolian propolis might serve as a potential source for novel drugs, and the isolation of its compounds could offer opportunities for utilization in traditional medicine.

The increasing inadequacy of antibiotics against multidrug‐resistant pathogens is a growing concern. In this study, the antibacterial activity of propolis extracts with different phenolic profiles against carbapenem‐resistant clinical isolates was investigated. The antimicrobial activity of propolis extract was tested against Acinetobacter baumannii (K17, K16, and K21), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K22, and K19), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (E5, E7, and E4) bacterial strains isolated from tracheal aspirate and blood cultures. The total phenolic content and phenolic composition of the extracts were analyzed. Antimicrobial activity values examined according to the disk diffusion method were measured as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The results showed that all propolis extracts showed different inhibition values against bacterial strains. As a result, the high inhibitory potential of the propolis extracts against resistant bacteria such as A. baumannii , K. pneumoniae , and S. maltophilia is promising for combating infections. However, the study needs to be supported by further randomized clinical studies.

Elaeagnus umbellata, known as Autumn olive and growing widely in Asia and Southern Europe, is a shrub tree used in the traditional treatment of many diseases, including cancer. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the several biological effects of methanol extract of E. umbellate. The activity of the extract on 11 microorganisms was determined by the agar well diffusion technique. The anti-quorum sensing activity of the extract was tested using Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472. The anti-biofilm and anti-swarming activities were tested using Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Cytotoxic effect of the extract against pancreatic tumoral cell line (AR42J), breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231), lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549), and normal epithelial cell line (Vero), and antiviral effect of the extract against herpes simplex virus type 1 was analyzed using the MTT method. It was determined that the extract was moderately effective against 6/11 microorganisms and showed anti-quorum sensing activity. While the extract did not have a cytotoxic effect on cancer cell lines, it was found to have a cytotoxic effect on Vero cells at concentrations of 100 µg/mL and above. However, no anti-biofilm, anti-swarming, and antiviral activity of the extract was observed. The study shows that E. umbellata fruit has limited biological activity.

Industrial activities destroying natural resources for decades have been one of the most significant factors in environmental destruction. As a result of industrialization, environmental pollutants became one of the biggest threats for the biosphere. Heavy metals, one of these environmental pollutants, have become a significant health threat for organisms by forming metal accumulations in water and soil. In addition to the existing ones, most researchers believe that there is a great need for alternative biological processes to be used in the control of heavy metal pollution. Bioremediation is the process of removing various toxic pollutants, such as heavy metals from the environment, especially with the help of fungal and bacterial microorganisms, sometimes plants and earthworms. The use of bacteria in the bioremediation process is prevalent. In this study, the metal tolerance and plant growth-promoting properties of Bacillus mycoides and Bacillus thuringiensis isolated from the root soil of and orchid plant were investigated. The abilities of both bacteria to tolerate copper, lead, iron, silver, and zinc were tested in addition to and their indole acetic acid production (IAA), siderophore production, phosphate solubility and Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate-deaminase (ACC-deaminase) activity were determined. The two isolates exhibited a high level of tolerance towards different pH levels, temperature ranges and metal concentrations. The results showed that B. mycoides and B. thuringiensis isolates can be used as bioremidant agents in metal-contaminated soils and also as biological fertilizers due to their plant growth-promoting properties.