Propolis ameliorates tumor nerosis factor-α, nitric oxide levels, caspase-3 and nitric oxide synthase activities in kainic acid mediated excitotoxicity in rat brain.
BACKGROUND
Increased nitric oxide (NO), neuronal inflammation and apoptosis have been proposed to be involved in excitotoxicity plays a part in many neurodegenerative diseases. To understand the neuro-protective effects of propolis, activities of Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and caspase-3 along with NO and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were studied in cerebral cortex (CC), cerebellum (CB) and brain stem (BS) in rats supplemented with propolis prior to excitotoxic injury with kainic acid (KA).


METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n=6 rats per group) as Control, KA, Propolis and KA+Propolis. The control group and KA group have received vehicle and saline. Propolis group and propolis + KA group were orally administered with propolis (150 mg/kg body weight), five times every 12 hours. KA group and propolis +KA group were injected subcutaneously with kainic acid (15 mg/kg body weight) and were sacrificed after 2 hrs. CC, CB and BS were separated, homogenized and used for estimation of NOS, caspase-3, NO and TNF-α by commercial kits. Results were analyzed by one way ANOVA, reported as mean + SD (n=6 rats), and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
The concentration of NO, TNF-α, NOS and caspase-3 activity were increased significantly (p<0.001) in all the three brain regions tested in KA group compared to the control. Propolis supplementation significantly (p<0.001) prevented the increase in NOS, NO, TNF-α and caspase-3 due to KA.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study clearly demonstrated that the propolis supplementation attenuated the NOS, caspase-3 activities, NO, and TNF-α concentration and in KA mediated excitotoxicity. Hence propolis can be a possible potential protective agent against excitotoxicity and neurodegenerative disorders.
Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Health campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Mummedy
M
Swamy
Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Health campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Dian
D
Suhaili
Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Health campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
K N S
KN
Sirajudeen
Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Health campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Zulkarnain
Z
Mustapha
Department of Chemical Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, Health campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Chandran
C
Govindasamy
D000818:Animals; D056705:Apitherapy; D017209:Apoptosis; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011429:Propolis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011429:Propolis; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D053148:Caspase 3; D007608:Kainic Acid
Caspase-3; Excitotoxicity; Nitric oxide; Propolis; Rat Brain; TNF-α