Propolis is a plant-derived product of Apis mellifera L., the common honeybee, and is utilized for construction and protection purposes. Propolis decreases the occurrence of mold and bacteria within the beehive. Recent studies suggest that prominent constituents of propolis display bioactivity, including antitumoral, antiinflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, among others. Cinnamic acid is identified as a prominent constituent in American propolis, which is scarcely studied compared to propolis from other locations. Cinnamic acid is tested against various lipids from cellular membranes. Lipids are responsible for selective transport as the barrier of the cellular membrane. Changes in cellular membranes are investigated as cinnamic acid is introduced to lipids in several concentrations. The Langmuir trough model membrane system aided in determining that cinnamic acid contains potential for permeating bacterial, fungal, and prevalent lipid membranes, including dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine. Using Kirby-Bauer assays, antibacterial experiments were conducted to observe any killing of gram negative bacteria <i>E. coli </i> by propolis constituents pinocembrin and cinnamic acid. Liquid media experiments were conducted to determine if these propolis constituents are bacteria static rather than actively kill bacteria. Future research involves utilizing the Langmuir monolayer technique to study the interactions of cinnamic acid with unsaturated phospholipids to discover if interactions between the constituent and lipids are headgroup or tailgroup mediated.

Observing membrane interactions and antibacterial properties of American propolis constituents with lipids via the Langmuir monolayer technique and <i>E. coli </i>bacteria cultures

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Observing membrane interactions and antibacterial properties of American propolis constituents with lipids via the Langmuir monolayer technique and E. coli bacteria cultures