Antioxidant Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Propolis in Liver of L-NAME Treated Rats.
BACKGROUND
The blocking of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity may cause vasoconstriction with formation of reactive oxygen species. Propolis is a natural product collected from plants by honeybees. Propolis has biological and pharmacological properties.


OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to investigate the effects of propolis on catalase (CAT) activity, nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the liver tissues of NOS inhibited rats by Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME).


METHODS
Rats were given a NOS inhibitor (L-NAME, 40 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) for 15 days to provoke hypertension and propolis (200 mg/kg, by gavage) the last 5 of the 15 days.


RESULTS
Nitric oxide levels in the liver tissue of the rats given L-NAME significantly decreased (p<0.01). That parameter did not significantly alter in the liver of rats treated with propolis compared to the control group. CAT activity and MDA levels in the liver of the rats administrated L-NAME significantly increased compared to the control group (p<0.01). These parameters significantly decreased in the liver of the rats given L-NAME + propolis compared to the L-NAME group (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The present data shows that L-NAME in the liver may enhance oxidative stress via inhibited nitric oxide synthase. Our results also suggest that this effect is suppressed by the antioxidant properties of propolis in the liver tissue of NOS inhibited rats.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Nigde University, Nigde, Turkey.
Zeliha S
ZS
Selamoglu
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
Ilknur
I
Ozdemir
Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
Osman
O
Ciftci
Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Vocational of Technical Sciences, Askaray University, Turkey.
Mehmet F
MF
Gulhan
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Mus Alparslan University, Mus, Turkey.
Ahmet
A
Savci
D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011429:Propolis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D012997:Solvents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000431:Ethanol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D011429:Propolis; D002374:Catalase; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester