Neuroprotection by Brazilian Green Propolis against In vitro and In vivo Ischemic Neuronal Damage.*

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2005 Jun;2(2):201-207. Epub 2005 Apr 13.

Neuroprotection by Brazilian Green Propolis against In vitro and In vivo Ischemic Neuronal Damage.

Shimazawa M, Chikamatsu S, Morimoto N, Mishima S, Nagai H, Hara H.

Abstract

We examined whether Brazilian green propolis, a widely used folk medicine, has a neuroprotective function in vitro and/or in vivo. In vitro, propolis significantly inhibited neurotoxicity induced in neuronally differentiated PC12 cell cultures by either 24 h hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) exposure or 48 h serum deprivation. Regarding the possible underlying mechanism, propolis protected against oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation) in mouse forebrain homogenates and scavenged free radicals [induced by diphenyl-p-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). In mice in vivo, propolis [30 or 100 mg/kg; intraperitoneally administered four times (at 2 days, 1 day and 60 min before, and at 4 h after induction of focal cerebral ischemia by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion)] reduced brain infarction at 24 h after the occlusion. Thus, a propolis-induced inhibition of oxidative stress may be partly responsible for its neuroprotective function against in vitro cell death and in vivo focal cerebral ischemia.

PMID: 15937561 PMCID: PMC1142190 DOI: 10.1093/ecam/neh078

 

* THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT CURE OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.