A Pilot Study on the Immunomodulatory Effect of Bulgarian Propolis (original) (raw)

Bulgarian Propolis Induces Apoptosis in Lymphoblast Cell Line L5178Y

2013

Propolis is a natural product resulting from the vital activity of the honey bee. It has many biological effects, including antitumoral, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, etc. Current investigations focus on its ability to modulate the immune response and to protect the organism from tumor formation. The aim of our study is to investigate the influence of propolis on cell proliferation and death on lymphoblast cell line L5178Y. 96% ethanolic extract of Bulgarian propolis was used in concentrations 0.1; 1.0 and 10 mg/L. A cell line was cultivated in an incubator of 37 о С, 5% СО 2 and high humidity. The cells were treated with increasing concentration of propolis for 24 hours. The inhibitory effect on cell vitality was detected by cytotoxcisity МТТ-test and Trypan blue. IC50 was counted. Immunocytochemical detection of proliferative (PCNA) and proapoptotic (p53) markers was used. The results from Trypan blue и МТТ-test were statistically significant. Th...

Assessment in vitro of cytogenetic and genotoxic effects of propolis on human lymphocytes

Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2012

We evaluated the genetic damage by ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) induced to human lymphocytes which were exposed to increasing concentrations (0-2000 lg ml À1 ). The results indicated that EEP reduced significantly the mitotic index (MI) and proliferation index (PI) when high concentrations of EEP were used. Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) rates indicated that EEP could have genotoxic effects at high concentrations. Exposure of the cells to the amount of ethanol used as solvent did not alter either the MI and cell proliferation kinetics (CPK), or the rate of SCE. The results showed: (a) statistical increase in the percentage the cells with CAs and in the frequency of SCE at the highest concentrations, (b) a decrease in MI and in the CPK values was observed, (c) no effect was noticed in negative controls. In conclusion, it can be assumed that high concentrations of EEP have a cyto and genotoxic effect, in vitro, for human peripheral lymphocytes.

Effect of propolis on sub-chronic phenol use-induced toxicity on the lymphatic system and complete blood cell count in rats

Phenol is naturally found in some food and animal wastes. It is used as a disinfectant, insecticide and in some pharmaceutical products. Propolis is a mixture of beeswax and resins. It has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects. This study investigates the effect of propolis on sub-chronic phenol use-induced toxicity on the lymphatic system and complete blood cell count in rats by the assessment of serum immunoglobulin, total and differential blood cell count, and histopathological changes of thymus, spleen and lymph nodes. Eighty adult albino rats were divided into four groups; each group consists of twenty rats. The control group received water, the second group received phenol only, the third group received propolis and the fourth group received propolis with phenol for 90 days via gastric gavage. Phenol sub-chronic use led to toxicity manifestations such as a decrease in the serum immunoglobulin and blood cell count, disturbance in the differential white blood cell count, decrease in the body, thymus and spleen weights of rats associated with histopathological changes in thymus, spleen and lymph nodes that were improved by propolis administration. Concurrent use of propolis with phenol ameliorated its toxicity on the lymphatic system and complete blood cell count.

Comparison of Effects of the Ethanolic Extracts of Brazilian Propolis on Human Leukemic Cells As Assessed with the MTT Assay

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012

Propolis is a resinous product collected by honey bees. It was also reported that propolis has a wide variety of biological actions, including antimicrobial activity and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and suppressive effects of dioxin toxicity activities. The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro cytotoxic activities of green propolis (G12) and red propolis (G13) in human leukemia cells. These cells were incubated with different concentrations of propolis and 48 hours after the IC 50 was calculated for each cell. The results showed that the red propolis has cytotoxic effect in vitro higher than green propolis. Red propolis was showed to be cytostatic in K562 cells and caused the same amount of apoptosis as its control Gleevec. In conclusion, these results showed that red propolis is more cytotoxic than the green propolis in a variety of human cell lines of leukemia. Red propolis may contain drugs capable of inhibiting cancer cell growth. Therefore, further isolation of respective chemical ingredients from the red propolis (G13) for identification of the activities is necessary.

Immunomodulatory Effect of Propolis Extract on Granzyme Expression in CD8+ and CD4+CD25+ T Cells

Turkish Journal of Immunology

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of propolis extract to the population of regulatory T cells (CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 +) expressing IL-10 and TGF-β in vivo (DMBA-induced breast cancer in Female Sprague-Dawley Rats). Materials and Methods: Thirty virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 45-50 days-old were injected subcutaneously with 2x10 mg of 7.12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) for one-week intervals. A week later each rat was administered orally with 5 mg DMBA. Ten rats without DMBA served as negative control. To ensure the development of breast cancer before starting treatment, at week 8, five rats that received DMBA and five negative controls were randomly selected and euthanized. Their breast tissues were then dissected for histological analysis by hematoxylineosin staining. Breast ductal cell morphological changes were apparent in DMBA-treated rats. The remaining rats were divided into 5 groups (6 rats per group). Group I served as a negative control, and Groups II-V were animals treated with DMBA, where Group II served as positive control, and Group III, IV, and V were animals treated with ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight (BW), respectively, for 4 weeks. The animals were sacrificed by cervical decapitation. Breast and spleen tissues were subjected to histological and flow cytometric analysis respectively. Results: Statistical analysis by linear regression showed a significant decline in the relative number of CD4 + CD25 + FoxP3 + regulatory T cells expressing IL-10 or TGF-β after treatments with propolis extracts. Conclusion: In summary, propolis may act as immunomodulatory agent that can be useful for curing cancer patients.

In Vitro Evaluation of the Potential Use of Propolis as a Multitarget Therapeutic Product: Physicochemical Properties, Chemical Composition, and Immunomodulatory, Antibacterial, and Anticancer Properties

BioMed Research International

Propolis is a resin that honeybees produce by mixing saliva and beeswax with exudate gathered from botanical sources. The present in vitro study investigated the potential use of propolis as a multitarget therapeutic product and the physicochemical properties, chemical composition, and immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer properties of a propolis extract from the northern Morocco region (PNM). Pinocembrin, chrysin, and quercetin were the main phenolic compounds of PNM as measured in HPLC. The PNM showed significant inhibitory effects against all tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains and showed high antioxidant activities by scavenging free radicals with IC50 (DPPH = 0.02, ABTS = 0.04, and FRAP = 0.04 mg/ml). In addition, PNM induced a dose-dependent cytostatic effect in MCF-7, HCT, and THP-1 cell lines at noncytotoxic concentrations with IC50 values of 479.22, 108.88, and 50.54 μg/ml, respectively. The production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) an...

Propolis and Some of its Constituents Down-Regulate DNA Synthesis and Inflammatory Cytokine Production but Induce TGF-β1 Production of Human Immune Cells

Zeitschrift für Naturforschung C, 2003

Propolis, the resinous product collected by honey bees from plants, is used as folk medicine since ancient time. Recently, immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of propolis have been published. The detailed mechanisms of actions of propolis and its components on immune cells, however, are still unknown. Therefore, we studied the effects of different propolis extracts, of the flavonoids hesperidin and quercetin as well as of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on basic human immune cell functions. In detail, we measured the effects on DNA synthesis and production of different types of cytokines, namely IL-1β, IL-12, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and TGF-β1, of mitogen-activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as well as of purified T lymphocytes. Our data clearly show that propolis as well as its constituents studied are capable of dosedependently suppressing phythemagglutinin (PHA)-induced DNA synthesis of PBMC and T cells. Moreover, cytokines produced by monocytes/macroph...

Immune's-boosting agent: Immunomodulation potentials of propolis

Journal of Family and Community Medicine, 2019

With a concomitant increase in immune-related diseases such as allergic diseases, Type 1 diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease and other immune-related responses such as immunodeficiency, various infectious, diseases, vaccines, and malignancies, it has become very important to have a well-balanced and properly functioning immune system for the maintenance of human health. Recent scientific research has strongly suggested propolis as one of the most promising immunomodulation agents. This review describes recent findings with respect to propolis and its ingredients that show potential in this respect and evaluate their potential mechanisms. The author believes that propolis or/and its ingredients alone and in combination could be promising in manipulating the immune response and inducing immunomodulation. Further exploratory studies are needed to support large clinical trials toward further development of propolis.

Effect of Propolis on Immunotoxicity Induced by Phenol Subchronic Use in Adult Albino Rats

2020

Phenol is naturally found in some foods and animal wastes. It is also used as a disinfectant, insecticide and in some pharmaceutical products. Immunotoxicity is considered to be one of the harmful health effects of phenol. Propolis is a mixture of beeswax and resins; it has an antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory effect. This study investigates effect of propolis on immunotoxicity induced by phenol subchronic use in rats by assessment of the serum immunoglobulins, total and differential blood cells count, immune organs weight and histopathological changes of thymus, spleen and lymph nodes. Eighty adult albino rats were divided into four groups; each group consisted of twenty rats. The control group received water, the second group received phenol only, third group received propolis and the fourth group received propolis with phenol for 90 days via gastric gavage. Phenol Subchronic use led to immunotoxicity manifestations such as a decrease in the serum ...