title: Effects of stingless bee propolis on experimental asthma.
abstract: Bee products have been used empirically for centuries, especially for the treatment of respiratory diseases. The present study evaluated the effect of treatment with a propolis hydroalcoholic extract (PHE) produced by Scaptotrigona aff. postica stingless bee in a murine asthma model. BALB/c mice were immunized twice with ovalbumin (OVA) subcutaneously. After 14 days, they were intranasally challenged with OVA. Groups P50 and P200 received PHE by gavage at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. The DEXA group was treated with intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone. The OVA group received only water. The mice were treated daily for two weeks and then they were immunized a second time with intranasal OVA. The treatment with PHE decreased the cell number in the bronchoalveolar fluid (BAL). Histological analysis showed reduced peribronchovascular inflammation after treatment with PHE especially the infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells. In addition, the concentration of interferon- γ (IFN- γ ) in the serum was decreased. These results were similar to those obtained with dexamethasone. Treatment with S. aff postica propolis reduced the pathology associated with murine asthma due an inhibition of inflammatory cells migration to the alveolar space and the systemic progression of the allergic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Department of Pathology, Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), 65085-580 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Hidelbland Cavalcante
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: de Farias
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Department of Pathology, Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), 65085-580 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aramys Silva
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Department of Pathology, Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), 65085-580 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcio Antonio Rodrigues
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Department of Pathology, Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), 65085-580 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria José Abigail Mendes
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Department of Pathology, Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), 65085-580 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anne Karine Martins
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7552-7542
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Assunção
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Department of Pathology, Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), 65085-580 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jardel Cavalcante
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Farias
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Department of Pathology, Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), 65085-580 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eder Magalhães Silva
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fialho
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Department of Pathology, Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), 65085-580 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lucilene Amorim
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Department of Pathology, Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), 65085-580 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Graciomar Conceição
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Department of Pathology, Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), 65085-580 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosane Nassar Meireles
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Department of Pharmacy, Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), 65085-580 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Nilce Sousa
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunophysiology, Department of Pathology, Biological and Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), 65085-580 São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávia Raquel Fernandes
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: do Nascimento