Antiviral Potential of Specially Selected Bulgarian Propolis Extracts: In Vitro Activity against Structurally Different Viruses.

Propolis is a natural mixture of resins, wax, and pollen from plant buds and flowers, enriched with enzymes and bee saliva. It also contains various essential oils, vitamins, mineral salts, trace elements, hormones, and ferments. It has been found that propolis possesses antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Anti-Coronavirus Efficiency and Redox-Modulating Capacity of Polyphenol-Rich Extracts from Traditional Bulgarian Medicinal Plants.

The use of various herbal therapists as part of traditional medicine in different parts of the world, including Bulgaria, is due to the knowledge accumulated over the centuries by people about their valuable biological activities. In this study, we investigate extracts from widely used Bulgarian medicinal plants for their ability to prevent the coronavirus infection of cells by testing different mechanisms of antiviral protection, their polyphenol content, and redox-modulating capacity. The influence on the stage of viral adsorption, the inhibition of extracellular virions, and the protective effect on uninfected cells of the plant's extracts were reported by the end-point dilution method, and virus titer (in Δ lgs) was determined as compared to the untreated controls.

Anti-herpes virus activity of postbiotics.

Background: Recently various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their post-metabolites have shown many positive effects on human and animal welfare. They appear to be beneficial in different disorders and pathological conditions, including in a broad-spectrum of infectious diseases.

Aim: To estimate the anti-herpes simplex activity of 11 postbiotic samples (lysates or cell-free supernatants - CFS) produced during the fermentation of six candidate-probiotic strains isolated from Bulgarian fermented milk products.

Bulgarian Medicinal Extracts as Natural Inhibitors with Antiviral and Antibacterial Activity.

Background: Bulgaria is a country with a wide range of medicinal plants, with uses in traditional medicine dating back for centuries.

Methods: Disc diffusion assay was used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the plant extracts. A cytopathic effect inhibition test was used for the assessment of the antiviral activity of the extracts.