Effects of Stingless Bee Propolis on Experimental Asthma

• Main Authors: José Hidelbland Cavalcante de Farias, Aramys Silva Reis, Marcio Antonio Rodrigues Araújo, Maria José Abigail Mendes Araújo, Anne Karine Martins Assunção, Jardel Cavalcante de Farias, Eder Magalhães Silva Fialho, Lucilene Amorim Silva, Graciomar Conceição Costa, Rosane Nassar Meireles Guerra, Maria Nilce Sousa Ribeiro, Flávia Raquel Fernandes do Nascimento
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2014-01-01
• Series: Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/951478
• ISSN: 1741-427X; 1741-4288

Bee products have been used empirically for centuries, especially for the treatment of respiratory diseases. The present study evaluated the effect of treatment with a propolis hydroalcoholic extract (PHE) produced by Scaptotrigona aff. postica stingless bee in a murine asthma model. BALB/c mice were immunized twice with ovalbumin (OVA) subcutaneously. After 14 days, they were intranasally challenged with OVA. Groups P50 and P200 received PHE by gavage at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. The DEXA group was treated with intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone. The OVA group received only water. The mice were treated daily for two weeks and then they were immunized a second time with intranasal OVA. The treatment with PHE decreased the cell number in the bronchoalveolar fluid (BAL). Histological analysis showed reduced peribronchovascular inflammation after treatment with PHE especially the infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells. In addition, the concentration of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the serum was decreased. These results were similar to those obtained with dexamethasone. Treatment with S. aff postica propolis reduced the pathology associated with murine asthma due an inhibition of inflammatory cells migration to the alveolar space and the systemic progression of the allergic inflammation.