title: Brazilian propolis: a natural product that improved the fungicidal activity by blood phagocytes.
abstract: Natural product incorporation into microcarriers increases the bioavailability of these compounds, consequently improving their therapeutic properties. Natural products, particularly those from bees such as propolis, are widely used in popular medicine. Propolis is a powerful treatment for several diseases. In this context, the present study evaluated the effect of propolis Scaptotrigona sp. and its fractions, alone or adsorbed to polyethylene glycol (PEG) microspheres, on the activity of human phagocytes against Candida albicans. The results show that propolis exerts a stimulatory effect on these cells to assist in combating the fungus, especially as the crude extract is compared with the fractions. However, when incorporated into microspheres, these properties were significantly potentiated. These results suggest that propolis adsorbed onto PEG microspheres has immunostimulatory effects on phagocytes in human blood. Therefore, propolis may potentially be an additional natural product that can be used for a variety of therapies.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science Postgraduate Program, Araguaia University Campus, Federal University of Mato Grosso, BR-070, Km 5, 78600-000 Barra do Garças, MT, Brazil.
authors.forename: Muryllo Mendes
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Possamai
authors.forename: Adenilda Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Honorio-França
authors.forename: Ana Paula Barcelos
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Reinaque
authors.forename: Eduardo Luzia
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: França
authors.forename: Paula Cristina de Souza
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Souto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001516:Bees; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology; D001938:Brazil; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008863:Microspheres; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D011429:Propolis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D013481:Superoxides; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011429:Propolis