Efficacy Study of Propolis Eutectic Extract in Gel Formulations for the Treatment of Bacterial Skin Diseases in Dogs

Skin infections are common in veterinary practice and are often treated with topical agents. Superficial pyoderma (superficial bacterial folliculitis) is a common cause of skin disease in dogs and a reason for treatment, most caused by <i>Staphylococcus </i>spp. strains. The frequent use...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dovilė Svetikienė, Monika Jokubaite, Gintaras Zamokas, Lina Babickaite, Rita Šiugždiniene, Kristina Ramanauskiene
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1434
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850127484550381568
author Dovilė Svetikienė
Monika Jokubaite
Gintaras Zamokas
Lina Babickaite
Rita Šiugždiniene
Kristina Ramanauskiene
author_facet Dovilė Svetikienė
Monika Jokubaite
Gintaras Zamokas
Lina Babickaite
Rita Šiugždiniene
Kristina Ramanauskiene
author_sort Dovilė Svetikienė
collection DOAJ
description Skin infections are common in veterinary practice and are often treated with topical agents. Superficial pyoderma (superficial bacterial folliculitis) is a common cause of skin disease in dogs and a reason for treatment, most caused by <i>Staphylococcus </i>spp. strains. The frequent use of antibiotics contributes to the emergence of resistant bacterial strains, making antimicrobial resistance (AMR) one of the most important threats to human and animal health. For this reason, active natural compounds are increasingly being explored as alternative therapies. To contribute to the development of effective treatments for bacterial infectious diseases, researchers are looking for new antimicrobial agents. Topical drug action has many advantages as it avoids systemic reactions and ensures that the active substance reaches the site of the lesion directly. This study aimed to develop gelled dosage forms with propolis extract and to evaluate their antibacterial activity and the release of the active substances. Hydrogels, oleogels, and bigels enriched with eutectic propolis extract were produced. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were chosen as an effective tool to extract the active compounds of propolis and to improve their penetration into the skin. The pH values of the semi-solid pharmaceutical forms tested ranged from 3.3 to 6.4. Using modified Franz-type diffusion cells, the release of phenolic compounds from gels, oleogels, and bigels was assessed and quantified spectrophotometrically using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. The highest amount of active compounds was released from the hydrogels, while the lowest amount was released from the castor oil-based oleogel. The study used clinical and reference strains of bacteria. The antimicrobial activity of the gelled dosage forms with propolis extract was tested against six pathogenic bacterial species (<i>S. aureus</i>, <i>S. agalactiae</i>, <i>B. cereus</i>, <i>E. faecalis</i>, <i>E. coli</i>, <i>Ps. aeruginosa</i>) and one pathogenic fungus (<i>C. albicans</i>). The study’s results suggest that the propolis extract obtained by DES has significant antibacterial activity and is a promising component in skin formulations for the treatment of bacterial infections.
format Article
id doaj-art-c6ca8975fa80480f83b2f5832742f34b
institution OA Journals
issn 2076-2615
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Animals
spelling doaj-art-c6ca8975fa80480f83b2f5832742f34b2025-08-20T02:33:39ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-05-011510143410.3390/ani15101434Efficacy Study of Propolis Eutectic Extract in Gel Formulations for the Treatment of Bacterial Skin Diseases in DogsDovilė Svetikienė0Monika Jokubaite1Gintaras Zamokas2Lina Babickaite3Rita Šiugždiniene4Kristina Ramanauskiene5Department of Dr. L. Kriauceliunas Small Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes Str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Drug Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliai Avenue 13, LT-50162 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Dr. L. Kriauceliunas Small Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes Str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Dr. L. Kriauceliunas Small Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzes Str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, LithuaniaInstitute of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Tilzės Str. 18, LT-47181 Kaunas, LithuaniaDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Sukileliai Avenue 13, LT-50162 Kaunas, LithuaniaSkin infections are common in veterinary practice and are often treated with topical agents. Superficial pyoderma (superficial bacterial folliculitis) is a common cause of skin disease in dogs and a reason for treatment, most caused by <i>Staphylococcus </i>spp. strains. The frequent use of antibiotics contributes to the emergence of resistant bacterial strains, making antimicrobial resistance (AMR) one of the most important threats to human and animal health. For this reason, active natural compounds are increasingly being explored as alternative therapies. To contribute to the development of effective treatments for bacterial infectious diseases, researchers are looking for new antimicrobial agents. Topical drug action has many advantages as it avoids systemic reactions and ensures that the active substance reaches the site of the lesion directly. This study aimed to develop gelled dosage forms with propolis extract and to evaluate their antibacterial activity and the release of the active substances. Hydrogels, oleogels, and bigels enriched with eutectic propolis extract were produced. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) were chosen as an effective tool to extract the active compounds of propolis and to improve their penetration into the skin. The pH values of the semi-solid pharmaceutical forms tested ranged from 3.3 to 6.4. Using modified Franz-type diffusion cells, the release of phenolic compounds from gels, oleogels, and bigels was assessed and quantified spectrophotometrically using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. The highest amount of active compounds was released from the hydrogels, while the lowest amount was released from the castor oil-based oleogel. The study used clinical and reference strains of bacteria. The antimicrobial activity of the gelled dosage forms with propolis extract was tested against six pathogenic bacterial species (<i>S. aureus</i>, <i>S. agalactiae</i>, <i>B. cereus</i>, <i>E. faecalis</i>, <i>E. coli</i>, <i>Ps. aeruginosa</i>) and one pathogenic fungus (<i>C. albicans</i>). The study’s results suggest that the propolis extract obtained by DES has significant antibacterial activity and is a promising component in skin formulations for the treatment of bacterial infections.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1434pyodermatopical medicationhydrogelsoleogelsbigelspropolis
spellingShingle Dovilė Svetikienė
Monika Jokubaite
Gintaras Zamokas
Lina Babickaite
Rita Šiugždiniene
Kristina Ramanauskiene
Efficacy Study of Propolis Eutectic Extract in Gel Formulations for the Treatment of Bacterial Skin Diseases in Dogs
Animals
pyoderma
topical medication
hydrogels
oleogels
bigels
propolis
title Efficacy Study of Propolis Eutectic Extract in Gel Formulations for the Treatment of Bacterial Skin Diseases in Dogs
title_full Efficacy Study of Propolis Eutectic Extract in Gel Formulations for the Treatment of Bacterial Skin Diseases in Dogs
title_fullStr Efficacy Study of Propolis Eutectic Extract in Gel Formulations for the Treatment of Bacterial Skin Diseases in Dogs
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy Study of Propolis Eutectic Extract in Gel Formulations for the Treatment of Bacterial Skin Diseases in Dogs
title_short Efficacy Study of Propolis Eutectic Extract in Gel Formulations for the Treatment of Bacterial Skin Diseases in Dogs
title_sort efficacy study of propolis eutectic extract in gel formulations for the treatment of bacterial skin diseases in dogs
topic pyoderma
topical medication
hydrogels
oleogels
bigels
propolis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1434
work_keys_str_mv AT dovilesvetikiene efficacystudyofpropoliseutecticextractingelformulationsforthetreatmentofbacterialskindiseasesindogs
AT monikajokubaite efficacystudyofpropoliseutecticextractingelformulationsforthetreatmentofbacterialskindiseasesindogs
AT gintaraszamokas efficacystudyofpropoliseutecticextractingelformulationsforthetreatmentofbacterialskindiseasesindogs
AT linababickaite efficacystudyofpropoliseutecticextractingelformulationsforthetreatmentofbacterialskindiseasesindogs
AT ritasiugzdiniene efficacystudyofpropoliseutecticextractingelformulationsforthetreatmentofbacterialskindiseasesindogs
AT kristinaramanauskiene efficacystudyofpropoliseutecticextractingelformulationsforthetreatmentofbacterialskindiseasesindogs