Photo by V. Miller

Sept. 27, 2006

Beeswax and Bacteria

Bee Smart: The Effects of Ethanol Extracts of Propolis on Gram-positive and Gram-negative Bacteria
Camden Miller, 14, Fairview, Texas.
Animal Planet "Animals Everywhere" Award, Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, 2005

Project background: While researching the health benefits of honey, Camden discovered propolis, a mixture of beeswax and resins. She read that bees line their hives with propolis. She wondered whether propolis had any antibiotic effects.

Tactics and results: Camden collected propolis from beehives and prepared extracts with ethanol. She made eight extracts of different strengths and tested them against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.

Photo by V. Miller

Camden's data showed that the propolis extract inhibited the growth of gram-positive, but not gram-negative, bacteria.

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