title: Acute and sub-acute oral toxicity of Brazilian red propolis in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Propolis is a bee product widely used in folk medicine due to its numerous pharmacological properties. However, samples from different regions can differ in chemical composition, effectiveness, and side effects. Despite the widespread use of Brazilian red propolis, which is an isoflavone-rich variety, its toxicity has not been carefully studied.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the acute and sub-acute toxicity of the hydroethanolic extract of red propolis (HERP) administered orally to rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  HERP for the acute (300mg/kg) and sub-acute (10, 100 and 200mg/kg) toxicity studies was administered orally to rats according to OECD Guidelines 420 and 407, respectively. Clinical signs were identified, and hematological and biochemical analyses were performed. Water and food uptake as well as body and organ weights of animals were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The acute study revealed no lethal effects at 300mg/kg of HERP, but toxic signs were observed, as HERP had an LD50 of more than 300mg/kg, indicating a warning. The most toxic signals in sub-acute studies were observed in males at a dose of 200mg/kg HERP. These results suggest estrogen-like activity, possibly from the isoflavones in HERP.
authors.affiliation: Tiradentes University, 300 Murilo Dantas Ave, Farolândia 49032-490 Aracaju, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafaela Oliveira
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Tiradentes University, 300 Murilo Dantas Ave, Farolândia 49032-490 Aracaju, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valléria Matos
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: Tiradentes University, 300 Murilo Dantas Ave, Farolândia 49032-490 Aracaju, SE, Brazil; Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, Marechal Rondon Ave, Cidade Universitária, CEP 49100-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil; Research and Technology Institute (ITP), 300 Murilo Dantas Ave, Farolândia 49032-490 Aracaju, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ester Seixas
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Bullé Rêgo
authors.affiliation: Tiradentes University, 300 Murilo Dantas Ave, Farolândia 49032-490 Aracaju, SE, Brazil; Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, Marechal Rondon Ave, Cidade Universitária, CEP 49100-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil; Research and Technology Institute (ITP), 300 Murilo Dantas Ave, Farolândia 49032-490 Aracaju, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Grace Anne
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Azevedo Dória
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, Marechal Rondon Ave, Cidade Universitária, CEP 49100-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Dos
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Santos Lima
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, Marechal Rondon Ave, Cidade Universitária, CEP 49100-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francilene Amaral
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, Marechal Rondon Ave, Cidade Universitária, CEP 49100-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriano Antunes
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: de Souza Araújo
authors.affiliation: Tiradentes University, 300 Murilo Dantas Ave, Farolândia 49032-490 Aracaju, SE, Brazil; Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, Marechal Rondon Ave, Cidade Universitária, CEP 49100-000 São Cristóvão, SE, Brazil; Research and Technology Institute (ITP), 300 Murilo Dantas Ave, Farolândia 49032-490 Aracaju, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo Luiz Cavalcanti
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: de Albuquerque Júnior
authors.affiliation: Tiradentes University, 300 Murilo Dantas Ave, Farolândia 49032-490 Aracaju, SE, Brazil; Research and Technology Institute (ITP), 300 Murilo Dantas Ave, Farolândia 49032-490 Aracaju, SE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cordeiro Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Tiradentes University, 300 Murilo Dantas Ave, Farolândia 49032-490 Aracaju, SE, Brazil; Research and Technology Institute (ITP), 300 Murilo Dantas Ave, Farolândia 49032-490 Aracaju, SE, Brazil. Electronic address: guetezanardo@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Margarete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zanardo Gomes
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees; D001938:Brazil; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000633:toxicity*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011429:Propolis / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012737:Sex Factors; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D059551:Toxicity Tests, Subacute
chemical_list: D007529:Isoflavones; D011429:Propolis
keywords: Acute toxicity; Biochemical parameters; Hematological parameters; Isoflavone; Red propolis; Sub-acute toxicity