RESUMO:Este estudo avaliou, in vitro e ex vivo, a ação de diferentes concentrações de extratos de própolis, comparativamente à efi cácia de anti-sépticos bucais, frente aos microrganismos presentes na saliva de humanos. Para a realização dos ensaios in vitro, foi adicionada à saliva solução de glicose a 25%, seguindo-se da coleta de alíquotas para a preparação dos grupos controle (C) e experimentais, mediante a adição do extrato de própolis a 11%, 20% e 30%, e do Periogard, Listerine, Malvatricin e Parodontax. Nas experimentações ex vivo, foram coletadas amostras de saliva em jejum (C) e após o enxágüe individual com os extratos de própolis, seguindo-se da adição de glicose. Nas duas fases, foram recolhidas alíquotas das misturas e determinado o consumo de glicose pelos microrganismos pelo método Glicose Oxidase, nos tempos 0, 24, 48 h de incubação a 37 ºC. Constatou-se diferenças estatisticamente signifi cantes no consumo de glicose aos serem comparadas as médias do grupo C nas fases 1 e 2 após 24 e 48 h. Entre os grupos experimentais, não foram constatadas diferenças signifi cativas. Conclui-se que as soluções de própolis a 11%, 20% e 30% tiveram a mesma ação antimicrobiana, o que justifi ca a indicação daquela com menor concentração. Constatou-se também a mesma ação farmacológica em comparação aos anti-sépticos industrializados testados.Unitermos: Própolis, abelha, saliva, microrganismos, metabolismo.ABSTRACT: "Study, in vitro and ex vivo, of the action of different concentrations of propolis extracts against microorganisms present in human saliva". This study evaluated in vitro and ex vivo, the action of propolis extracts in different concentrations, in comparison with the effectiveness of oral antiseptics, against microorganisms present in human saliva. For in vitro experiences, glucose 25% solution was added to saliva, then individual samples were collected to prepare a control group (C) and experimental groups (Exp), with addition of propolis extracts in 11%, 20% and 30%, and extracts of Periogard, Listerine, Malvatricin e Parodontax. For ex vivo experiments, samples of saliva in fast and after mouthrinses with extracts of propolis 11%, 20% and 30% were collected and later glucose solution was added. In both phases of the experiments, successive samples of the mixtures were collected and glucose consumption by microorganisms present in human saliva was determined by the glucose oxidase method in 0, 24 and 48 h of incubation preserved at 37 ºC. The values obtained in control group proved that there was consumption of glucose by microorganisms after 24 and 48 h of incubation in both phases of the study. However, among experimental groups no signifi cant differences have been observed. We conclude that the propolis 11%, 20% and 30% solutions showed the same antimicrobial action. As a result, it is justifi ed to recommend the use of the 11% concentration. It was concluded that propolis had similar pharmacological effect when compared to the industrialized oral antiseptics tested.Keywords: Propolis, bee, saliv...