Honeybee propolis extracts and its soluble sub-fraction from Apismellifera (Linn); a propolis use in ethno medicine as an emollient in the treatment of infectious diseases; ringworm, measles and chickenpox in Northern Nigeria were subjected to chemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial screening using standard procedures. Preliminary chemical screening of ethanol, hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, steroids and triterpenes. The antioxidant activity using 1,1- Diphenyl-2- Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) revealed ethyl acetate fraction (EE) having significant antioxidant activity of IC50 value of 1.78 ± 0.01μg/mL compared to other extracts and standard ascorbic acid of 2.54 ± 0.01μg/mL at p ≤ 0.05. The antimicrobial activity of the propolis extracts using Agar diffusion and Broth dilution methods against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtillis, Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis revealed zone of inhibition between 20 to 27mm with a MIC result ranged from 1.25 to 2.5 mg/mL while, the MBC/MFC values ranged from 5 to 10mg/mL. The result of the propolis extracts and its soluble sub-fractions indicates it contains compounds that possess antioxidant and antimicrobial activity and provides credibility of its use for the treatment of infectious diseases and as an immune booster.
