Evaluation of the Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Brazilian Green Propolis

Abstract

Phamacological activities of a standard ethanol extract G1 from Brazilian green propolis, typified as BRP1, was evaluated in mouse models of pain and inflammation. Intraperitoneal injection ( I. P.) of G1 inhibited acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions with an ID (50) = 0.75 +/- 0.05 mg/kg, and in the formalin test the ID (50) values were 0.85 +/- 0.07 mg/kg and 13.88 +/- 1.12 mg/kg, respectively, for the neurogenic and inflammatory phases. The extract was ineffective when assessed in the hot-plate assay. In serotonin-induced paw edema, G1 led to a maximal inhibition (MI) of 51.6 % after 120 min when administered I. P. and of 36 % after 15 min by the oral route ( O. R.). When the inflammatory agent was complete Freund's adjuvant, inhibition of paw edema was also observed after administration of the extract by both routes. In the capsaicin-induced ear edema the ID (50) values were 1.09 +/- 0.08 mg/kg ( I. P.) and 10.00 +/- 0.90 mg/kg ( O. R.). In the acute carrageenan-induced inflammatory reaction induced by carrageenan, G1 reduced the number of neutrophils in the peritoneal cavity with IC (50) values of 0.72 +/- 0.08 mg/kg and 4.17 +/- 0.50 mg/kg, by I. P. or O. R. administration, with a preferential migration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils. IN VITRO, G1 decreased nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells (IC (50) = 41.60 microg/mL), and also the luciferase activity in TNF-alpha-stimulated HEK 293 cells transfected with NF-kappaB-luciferase reporter gene driven by the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) (IC (50) = 200 microg/mL). This extract, which at low concentrations induces anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in mouse models, presents a high content of flavonoids, known to inhibit inducible NOS (iNOS) activity. These data taken together led us to reinforce the hypothesis in the literature that the anti-inflammatory effect of propolis may be a due to inhibition of iNOS gene expression, through interference with NF-kappaB sites in the iNOS promoter.

Pharmacological Evaluation of Propolis Solutions for Endodontic Use

“…Our findings show that propolis solutions PPE 1 , PPE 2 , and PPF 18 inhibit the acute inflammation response caused by croton oil in the mouse ear, confirming the anti-inflammatory activity of propolis that was also observed in other models of experimental inflammation Silva et al 2004;Paulino et al, 2006). However, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of propolis is not yet clear although some studies have indicated that phenyl-propanoids and flavonoids are the active agents.…”

“…However, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of propolis is not yet clear although some studies have indicated that phenyl-propanoids and flavonoids are the active agents. These substances may act on eicosanoids production, suppressing prostaglandins and leukotrienes synthesis and inhibiting the release of free radicals (Kroll et al, 1996;Rossi et al, 2002;Cardile et al, 2003) and nitric oxide production (Song et al, 2002;Paulino et al, 2006). A lower concentration of the propolis solutions was more efficient in inhibiting the inflammatory reaction according to Magro-Filho and Perri De Carvalho (1990) and Silva et al (2000).…”

Ecosystem Services Provided by the Little Things That Run the World

“…Apart from these, a broad spectrum of biological activities have also been reported in studies using propolis, such as antioxidant [69], antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal [70], anti-inflammatory [71], and anticancer effects [72]. Currently, the pharmaceutical industry uses beeswax as a binding agent, time-release mechanism, and drug carrier [43].…”

Antioxidant activity and protective effects of commercial propolis on gentamicin induced nephrotoxicity in rabbits- In vitro study

“…Ancient Egyptians, used propolis for embalming their dead, and Greeks used it to cure external and internal sores and ulcers due to its anti-inflammatory and healing properties [2]. It exhibits a wide range of biological activities such as anti-oxidant [3], anti-bacterial [4], anti-viral [5], anti-fungal [6], antiparasitic [7], anti-inflammatory activities [8] and as hepatoprotective agent against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity [9]. These biological activities are based on its rich phenolic, flavonoid and trepenoid contents [10].…”