OBJECTIVES: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mainly characterized by inflammation, ulceration and erosion of colonic mucosa and submucosa. Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is an important mediator of visceral pain and inflammatory bowel disease. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of water soluble propolis (WSP) on UC colon inflammatory tissue and the role of TRPV1. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=8): a normal control (NC) group, an ulcerative colitis model (UC) group, a low-WSP (L-WSP) group, a medium-WSP (M-WSP) group, a high-WSP (H-WSP) group, and a salazosulfapyridine (SASP) group. The rats in the NC group drank water freely, and the other groups drank 4% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) solution freely for 7 d to replicate the ulcerative colitis model. Based on the successful replication of the UC, the L-WSP, M-WSP, and H-WSP groups were given 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg of water-soluble propolis by gavage for 7 d, and the SASP group was given 100 mg/kg of sulfasalazine by gavage for 7 d. The body weight of rats in each group was measured at the same time every day, the fecal traits and occult blood were observed to record the disease activity index (DAI). After intragastric administration, the animals were sacrificed after fasted 24 h. Serum and colonic tissue were collected, and the changes of MDA, IL-6 and TNF-α were detected. The pathological changes of colon tissues were observed by HE staining, and the expression of TRPV1 in colon tissues was observed by Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: The animals in each group that drank DSS freely showed symptoms such as weight loss, decreased appetite, depressed state, and hematochezia, indicating that the model was successfully established. Compared with the NC group, DAI scores of other groups were increased (all P<0.05). MDA, IL-6, TNF-α in serum and colon tissues of the UC group were increased compared with the NC group (all P<0.01), and they were decreased after WSP and SASP treatment (all P<0.01). The results of showed that the colon tissue structure was obviously broken and inflammatory infiltration in the UC group, while the H-WSP group and the SASP group significantly improved the colon tissue and alleviated inflammatory infiltration. The expression of TRPV1 in colon tissues in the UC group was increased compared with the NC group (all P<0.01), and it was decreased after WSP and SASP treatment. CONCLUSIONS WSP can alleviate the inflammatory state of ulcerative colitis induced by DSS, which might be related to the inhibition of inflammatory factors release, and down-regulation or desensitization of TRPV1.
Animals ; Male ; Rats ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Colitis, Ulcerative/chemically induced* ; Colon/pathology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interleukin-6/pharmacology* ; Propolis/therapeutic use* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sulfasalazine/therapeutic use* ; TRPV Cation Channels ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/pharmacology*

BACKGROUND: Propolis and honey have been studied as alternative treatments for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, no study has yet summarized the full body of evidence for the use of propolis and honey in COVID-19 prevention and treatment. OBJECTIVE: This study systematically reviews the mechanisms of propolis and honey against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and current evidence for the use of propolis and honey in COVID-19 prevention and treatment. SEARCH STRATEGY: A systematic search was conducted of electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library from their inceptions to April 2021. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Studies that evaluated the effect of propolis or bee products against SARS-CoV-2 using in silico methods, clinical studies, case reports and case series were included. DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS: A standardized data extraction form was used, and data were extracted by two independent reviewers. Narrative synthesis was used to summarize study results concerning the use of propolis or honey in COVID-19 prevention and treatment and their potential mechanisms of action against SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: A total of 15 studies were included. Nine studies were in silico studies, two studies were case reports, one study was a case series, and three studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs). In silico studies, using molecular docking methods, showed that compounds in propolis could interact with several target proteins of SARS-CoV-2, including angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the main protease enzyme, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and spike protein. Propolis may have a positive effect for clinical improvement in mild and moderate-to-severe COVID-19 patients, according to case reports and case series. The included RCTs indicated that propolis or honey could probably improve clinical symptoms and decrease viral clearance time when they were used as adjuvant therapy to standard of care. CONCLUSION In silico studies showed that compounds from propolis could interact with target proteins of SARS-CoV-2, interfering with viral entry and viral RNA replication, while clinical studies revealed that propolis and honey could probably improve clinical COVID-19 symptoms and decrease viral clearance time. However, clinical evidence is limited by the small number of studies and small sample sizes. Future clinical studies are warranted.
COVID-19/drug therapy* ; Honey ; Humans ; Propolis/therapeutic use* ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; SARS-CoV-2

OBJECTIVE: Chemotherapeutic drugs, such as cisplatin (CP), which are associated with oxidative stress and apoptosis, may adversely affect the reproductive system. This study tests whether administration of propolis and nano-propolis (NP) can alleviate oxidative stress and apoptosis in rats with testicular damage induced by CP. METHODS: In this study, polymeric nanoparticles including propolis were synthesized with a green sonication method and characterized using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, and wet scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques. In total, 56 rats were divided into the following seven groups: control, CP, propolis, NP-10, CP + propolis, CP + NP-10, and CP + NP-30. Propolis (100 mg/kg), NP-10 (10 mg/kg), and NP-30 (30 mg/kg) treatments were administered by gavage daily for 21 d, and CP (3 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally in a single dose. After the experiment, oxidative stress parameters, namely, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT), and apoptotic pathways including B cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 protein (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) were measured in testicular tissues. Furthermore, sperm quality and weights of the testis, epididymis, right cauda epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate were evaluated. RESULTS: Propolis and NP (especially NP-30) were able to preserve oxidative balance (decreased MDA levels and increased GSH, CAT, and GPx activities) and activate apoptotic pathways (decreased Bax and increased Bcl-2) in the testes of CP-treated rats. Sperm motility in the control, CP, and CP + NP-30 groups were 60%, 48.75%, and 78%, respectively (P < 0.001). Especially, NP-30 application completely corrected the deterioration in sperm features induced by CP. CONCLUSION The results show that propolis and NP treatments mitigated the side effects of CP on spermatogenic activity, antioxidant situation, and apoptosis in rats.
Animals ; Antioxidants/metabolism* ; Cisplatin/toxicity* ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Propolis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sperm Motility ; Testis

Heart Diseases/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Parkinson Disease/drug therapy* ; Propolis

Aims: Phenolic compounds with various biological activities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative activity are considered as key compounds in propolis. In this study, propolis was obtained in Kuantan, Pahang and is known to be collected from stingless honey bee Trigona thoracica. The objective of this study is to extract propolis using surfactant vitamin E d-α-Tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (Vitamin E TPGS) and evaluate its antimicrobial activity compared to water and ethanolic propolis extracts. Methodology and results: Quantitative determinations of phenolic acid and flavonoid such as caffeic acid and quercetin, respectively in propolis extracts were conducted by using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). As a result, 70% ethanol extracted propolis (EEP), water extracted propolis (WEP) and 0.02% vitamin E TPGS extracted propolis successfully demonstrate the presence of hydrophilic caffeic acid, while only 70% EEP and 0.02% vitamin E TPGS extracted propolis show the presence of hydrophobic quercetin. Lastly, antimicrobial testing was conducted towards Staphylococcus aureus by using all three different propolis extracts. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The results showed EEP and vitamin E TPGS propolis extracts exhibit higher antimicrobial activity compared to the WEP.
Propolis ; Anti-Infective Agents

OBJECTIVE: Primary dysmenorrhea typically occurs with no associated pelvic pathology and is common in adolescents and young women. This study evaluated the effect of bee propolis on relief of primary dysmenorrhea. METHODS: The study was performed in 2018 in Hamadan, in western Iran, among female students with primary dysmenorrhea. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, using balanced block randomization, and were administered a placebo or bee propolis capsules for 5 days during two menstruation cycles. The number of participants required was estimated to be 86 in total, with 43 students in each group according to the inclusion criteria. We used the visual analog scale to assess pain severity. The independent t-test was conducted for comparing between two groups, using SPSS 16.0. RESULTS: A significant change was found in the mean pain scores during the first (P<0.001) and second (P<0.001) months after using bee propolis in comparison with placebo. The means of the pain scores in the bee propolis group were 5.32±2.28 and 4.74±2.40 in first and second months after the intervention, respectively, whereas the means of the pain scores in the placebo group were 7.40±1.21 and 7.17±1.24 in first and second months after the intervention, respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the use of bee propolis for two months compared with placebo reduced primary dysmenorrhea during the first and second months after use, with no adverse effects. Therefore, it could be used as an alternative to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for relief of primary dysmenorrhea.
Adolescent ; Bees ; Capsules ; Dysmenorrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Iran ; Menstruation ; Pathology ; Propolis ; Random Allocation ; Visual Analog Scale

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of mangosteen extract complex (MEC; Garcinia mangostana L. and propolis extracts) on the inhibition of inflammation and prevention of alveolar bone loss using a ligature-induced periodontitis model. Rat molars were ligatured with silk, and 1 µg/mL of lipopolysaccharide of Porphyromonas gingivalis was injected into the buccal and palatal gingivae of the teeth with or without treatment with the MEC. Changes in the expression levels of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), interleukin-8 (IL-8), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8), cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, and COX-2 in gingival tissues were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Alveolar bone loss around the ligated molars was examined using micro-computed tomography. The expression levels of PGE₂, IL-8, iNOS, MMP-8, COX-1, and COX-2 in gingival tissues were significantly reduced in the group treated with a mixture of 16 µg of mangosteen extract powder and 544 µg of propolis extract powder (ligation [Lig] + lipopolysaccharide extracted from P. gingivalis KCOM 2804 [L] + MEC 1:34). Additionally, alveolar bone loss was significantly reduced in the Lig + L + MEC 1:34 group compared with that in other groups. These results indicate that the MEC could be useful in preventing and treating periodontitis.
Alveolar Bone Loss ; Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Garcinia mangostana ; Garcinia ; Gingiva ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-8 ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 ; Molar ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Periodontitis ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Propolis ; Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases ; Rats ; Silk ; Tooth

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and propolis from Shangdong province on the cell viability, mineralization and migration and anti-inflammatory ability of dental pulp fibroblasts. METHODS: The human dental pulp fibroblasts were cultured and subjected to 10 mg/L of propolis and 1:8 dilution of MTA extraction. The cell viability was evaluated with cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) after 1, 5, 7 and 9 days. The cells in the upper inserts and the test culture media on the bottoms of 24-well plates interacted for 15 hours. Then the numbers of cells migrated through the permeable membranes were compared. The cells seeded in the 24-well plates were incubated in osteogenic medium with different materials for 21 days and stained with alizarin red S, then photographed. To evaluate the deposition of calcified matrix, the wells were destained with 100 mmol/L cetylpyridinium chloride. Finally, the cells were exposed to 1 mg/L lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce an inflammatory response, in the presence of propolis, MTA extraction. The cells were collected after 3 h, and the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). Statistical analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA and nonparametric tests (P<0.05). RESULTS: The cell viability of propolis group was significantly lower than those of MTA and control groups on days 5, 7 and 9, while MTA significantly increased the numbers of the viable cells on days 7 and 9. The migration cells of propolis group (26.67±2.52) were fewer than control group (61.33±4.93), and the cells of MTA group (80.00±2.65) were statistically more than those of the other two groups. The propolis group significantly induced more calcified matrix deposition than MTA group after 21 days of culture. Propolis significantly suppressed the expressions of IL-1β and IL-6 after LPS exposure compared with MTA and control groups. CONCLUSION The propolis from Shandong compared with MTA showed a certain degree of cytotoxicity, and had no significant effect on cell migration. On the other hand, propolis exhibited significant anti-inflammatory and mineralization promotion effect, suggesting that the active ingredients of propolis could be introduced as a supplement of pulp capping materials, or used as an irrigant or intracanal medicament due to its excellent anti-inflammatory effect. Propolis may have potential in vital pulp treatment of young permanent tooth suffering pulp inflammation.
Aluminum Compounds ; Calcium Compounds ; Dental Pulp ; Drug Combinations ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Oxides ; Plant Extracts ; Propolis ; Silicates

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Propolis has a rich source of bioactive compounds and has renal and hepatic protective properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the beneficial effect of hydro-ethanolic extract of propolis against paracetamol-induced liver damage and impairment of kidney function, as well as hematological changes in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six groups of rats were used; the first group was served as a control; the second and third groups were treated by propolis extract at a dose of 50 and 100 mg/kg.B.WT. respectively; the fourth group was treated by paracetamol (200 mg/kg.B.WT.); the fifth group was treated by propolis (50 mg/kg.B.WT.) for eight days and then received similar dose of propolis for following seven days with paracetamol at a dose of 200 mg/kg.B.WT. daily for the seven days; and the sixth group was treated with propolis (100 mg/kg.B.WT.) for eight days and then received similar dose of propolis for following seven days with paracetamol at a dose of 200 mg/kg.B.WT. daily for the seven days. All the animals were treated for a period of 15 days. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were collected for measurement of the liver enzymes, serum albumin, protein and creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, hematological parameters, and urine volume, protein and albumin. RESULTS: Paracetamol over dose significantly lowered hemoglobin, serum total protein, albumin, and uric acid, while it significantly increased blood creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities, white blood cells, and platelet count as compared to the control. However, these alterations were significantly attenuated by the use of propolis extract and the effect was dose dependent. Interestingly, propolis prevented paracetamol induced proteinuria, low hemoglobin and body weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Propolis significantly prevented paracetamol induced renal, hepatic and hematological toxicity and might be useful in the management of liver and renal diseases particularly proteinuria.
Acetaminophen* ; Alanine Transaminase ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Body Weight ; Creatinine ; Kidney ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Leukocytes ; Liver ; Platelet Count ; Propolis* ; Proteinuria ; Rats* ; Serum Albumin ; Uric Acid

OBJECTIVES: The post-tonsillectomy pain and post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage are the two main problems after tonsillectomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of water soluble ethanol extract propolis on post-tonsillectomy patient. METHODS: One hundred and thirty patients who underwent tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy were randomly divided into the control and propolis groups, each including 65 patients. The propolis group was applied with propolis orally immediately after surgery and by gargle. The pain scores were assessed on post-tonsillectomy 0, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th–10th day using a visual analogue scale score. Postoperative wound healing was evaluated by scoring pinkish membrane of tonsillar fossae on postoperative days 3 and 7–10. The incidence of post-tonsillectomy bleeding was examined in each group. RESULTS: Post-tonsillectomy pain was significantly less in propolis group compared to control group on postoperative days 3 and 7–10. Post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage was significantly less in the propolis group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The wound healing was significantly better in the propolis group compared to the control group on postoperative day 7–10 (P=0.002). CONCLUSION: Applying the propolis to post-tonsillectomy wound showed beneficial effect of reducing postoperative pain, preventing hemorrhage, and accelerating of wound healing of tonsillar fossae.
Ethanol ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Membranes ; Pain, Postoperative ; Propolis* ; Tonsillectomy* ; Water ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*