Propolis improves pregnancy outcomes and placental oxidative stress status in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract

BackgroundThis study assessed the effects of propolis alone or combined with insulin on maternal status, pregnancy outcomes and placental oxidative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.MethodsForty female rats were randomly assigned into five groups (n = 8/group) i.e. non-DM (non-diabetes), DM (diabetes), DM + Propolis (diabetes on propolis orally); DM + Insulin (diabetes on insulin subcutaneously) and DM + Combined (diabetes on propolis and insulin) groups. Propolis and insulin were given at 300 mg/kg/day orally and 5.0 IU/kg/day subcutaneously, respectively, for 4 weeks.ResultsFasting blood glucose, conception period, implantation losses, foetal blood glucose and placental oxidative stress markers such as malonaldehyde and protein carbonyl were significantly higher while maternal weight gain, foetal body weight and total antioxidant capacity were significantly lower in DM group compared with non-DM group. These changes were significantly improved in rats treated with propolis or insulin alone with greater significant effects in rats treated with both propolis and insulin.ConclusionThis study may suggest the protective effects of propolis against DM-induced impaired pregnancy outcomes and placental oxidative stress with greater effects when combined with insulin.

Oxidative Stress, NF-κB-Mediated Inflammation and Apoptosis in the Testes of Streptozotocin–Induced Diabetic Rats: Combined Protective Effects of Malaysian Propolis and Metformin

“…These findings are similar to those from previous studies, where propolis from Egypt, Turkey and India, were reported to decrease testicular MDA level and increase TAC after chemotherapy [53,56] or exposure to cadmium [54]. Furthermore, studies using MP obtained from H. itama demonstrated significant decreases in placental MDA and protein carbonyl levels, and an increase in TAC in diabetic dams [74].…”

Effects of Propolis Extract and Propolis-Derived Compounds on Obesity and Diabetes: Knowledge from Cellular and Animal Models

“…In this report, while Chinese propolis did not, Brazilian propolis slightly (~17%) decreased total cholesterol levels, whereas propolis did not influence blood triglyceride, LDL-C, nor HDL-C levels [130]. Similar effects on blood glucose were also observed in propolis collected from Malaysia, Mexico, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Croatia, although botanical sources are different [133,134,136,141,142,143,156,202]. Using S961 peptide as an inducer of T1DM, Indonesian propolis (50–200 mg/kg) lowered blood glucose level in a dose-dependent manner [128].…”

Biomedical Properties of Propolis on Diverse Chronic Diseases and Its Potential Applications and Health Benefits

“…In streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type I diabetic mice, treatment with Saudi Arabian propolis (100 mg/kg body weight) for one month improved body weight, decreased blood glucose levels, and restored serum insulin; it also restored the plasma cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and the lipid profile, to nearly normal levels [ 94 ]. In another study, treatment for four weeks with propolis from Malaysia (300 mg/kg/day propolis orally) reduced the fasting blood glucose in STZ-induced type 1 diabetic Sprague Dawley (SD) rats [ 95 ]. Similarly, treatment with Iranian propolis (100 and 200 mg/kg) for six weeks, in type 1 diabetes rats (Wistar) induced by STZ, inhibited bodyweight loss and reduced serum glucose levels.…”