Antiulcerogenic Effect of Brazilian Propolis Formulation in Mice

Abstract

Propolis is a natural resin used around the world to treatment of several diseases. We evaluated the effect of Brazilian propolis (P1) in guinea pig isolated trachea in vitro contracted with hista-mine, in paw oedema induced by histamine in mice and anti-ulcerogenic effect of propolis formulation in mice. We used a P1 extract from South of Brazil to produce a formulation containing sodium bicarbonate and propolis dry extract (2%). In the guinea pig trachea Brazilian propolis extract (10 μg/mL) produced a non-significant inhibition in the cumulative response curve for histamine. However, the dose of 100 μg/mL shown had a significant inhibitory effect on the contraction induced by histamine (51% ± 5%). In the mouse paw oedema induced by intraplantar injection of histamine (50 μg/paw), the results showed that the treatment of the mice with P1 (10 or 100 mg/Kg (p.o) or 1 or 10 mg/Kg (i.p)), 0.5 h beforehand, significantly inhibited the paw oedema with maximal inhibition (MI) of 25% or 42% by p.o. route or 22% or 37% by i.p. route, respectively. Finally we have pre-treated mice with P1 formulation (20 mg/Kg or 40 mg/Kg, p.o, one time) or vehicle (powder) in animals submitted to diclofenac-induced ulcer, after 8 h P1 formulation inhibited of 43% or 83% of ulcers scores, respectively. Results showed that P1 formulation inhibited the ulcerogenic effect induced by diclofenac. Results suggested also, at least in part, the antiulcerogenic effect of formulation containing standardized extract of propolis can be due to the antagonistic action on the histaminergic system.