title: Suppression of HIV-1 replication by propolis and its immunoregulatory effect.
abstract: In the current study we show that propolis, a non-toxic natural bee-hive product, suppresses HIV-1 replication and modulates in vitro immune responses. CEM cells were treated with propolis at nontoxic concentrations prior to or following infection with HIV-1. Propolis abolished syncytium formation at 4.5 micrograms/ml and inhibited it at lower doses in a concentration-dependent manner. Propolis decreased p24 antigen production by as much as 90-100% in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, modulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) mitogenic responses upon the addition of propolis was noted, reducing the elevated responses to Concanavalin A (Con A) and enhancing suppressed mitogenic responses to pokeweed mitogen (PWM). In summary, propolis may constitute a non-toxic natural product with both anti HIV-1 and immunoregulatory effects.
authors.affiliation: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Microbiology and Immunology, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Harish
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rubinstein
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Golodner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elmaliah
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mizrachi
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24 / Q000032:analysis; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008934:Mitogens; D011429:Propolis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016655:HIV Core Protein p24; D008934:Mitogens; D011429:Propolis