ABSENCE OF SEASONAL EFFECT ON THE IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTION OF BRAZILIAN PROPOLIS ON NATURAL KILLER ACTIVITY

Propolis, a beehive product widely used in folk medicine as an antiinflammatory agent, has been attracting researchers' attention to scientifically elucidate its biological properties and therapeutic activities. The aim of this paper was to study the possible effect of propolis on natural kille...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sforcin, J. M. [UNESP], Kaneno, R. [UNESP], Funari, S. R. C. [UNESP]
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2002
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UNESP
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.unesp.br:11449/212839
Acceso en línea:http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-79302002000100003
http://hdl.handle.net/11449/212839
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:propolis
season
immunomodulation
natural killer activity
cytotoxic assay
Descripción
Sumario:Propolis, a beehive product widely used in folk medicine as an antiinflammatory agent, has been attracting researchers' attention to scientifically elucidate its biological properties and therapeutic activities. The aim of this paper was to study the possible effect of propolis on natural killer activity, since propolis immunomodulatory action has been suggested, especially on non-specific immunity. Propolis was produced by africanized honeybees (Apis mellifera L.), collected throughout a whole year, and pooled by season. Hydroalcoholic solutions of propolis were prepared with each pool and administered to rats by gavage over three days. Natural killer activity of non-adherent spleen cells was evaluated by the 51Cr-release cytotoxicity assay against Yac-1 target cells. Our results indicated that the natural killer activity was increased in spleen cells from propolis-treated animals. There were no significant differences related to the seasonal effect on the immunomodulatory action of propolis.