Shabnam Asfaram1,2, Mahdi Fakhar3, Masoud Keighobadi4, Javad Akhtari5. 1. Research Center for Zoonoses, Parasitic and Microbial Diseases, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran. 2. Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis and Toxoplasmosis, Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Farah-Abad Road, P.O Box: 48471-91971, Sari, Iran. 3. Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis and Toxoplasmosis, Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Farah-Abad Road, P.O Box: 48471-91971, Sari, Iran. mahdif53@yahoo.com. 4. Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Iranian National Registry Center for Lophomoniasis and Toxoplasmosis, Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Farah-Abad Road, P.O Box: 48471-91971, Sari, Iran. keighobadi216@yahoo.com. 5. Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Propolis (bee glue) is a resinous mixture of different plant exudates that possesses a wide range of biological and antimicrobial activities and has been used as a food supplement and in complementary medicine for centuries. Some researchers have proposed that propolis could be a potential curative compound against microbial agents such as protozoan parasitic infections by different and occasionally unknown mechanisms due to the immunoregulatory function and antioxidant capacity of this natural product. METHODS: In this review, we concentrate on in vitro and in vivo anti-protozoan activities of propolis extracts/fractions in the published literature. RESULTS: In Leishmania, propolis inhibits the proliferation of promastigotes and produces an anti-inflammatory effect via the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production. In addition, it increases macrophage activation, TLR-2, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-17 production, and downregulation of IL-12. In Plasmodium and Trypanosoma, propolis inhibits the parasitemia, improving anemia and increasing the IFN-γ, TNF-α, and GM-CSF cytokines levels, most likely due to its strong immunomodulatory activity. Moreover, propolis extract arrests proliferation of T. cruzi, because it has aromatic acids and flavonoids. In toxoplasmosis, propolis increases the specific IgM and IgG titers via decreasing the serum IFN-γ, IL-1, and IL-6 cytokines levels in the rats infected with T. gondii. In Cryptosporidium and Giardia, it decreases oocysts shedding due to phytochemical constituents, particularly phenolic compounds, and increases the number of goblet cells. Propolis inhibits the growth of Blastocystis, possibly by apoptotic mechanisms like metronidazole. Unfortunately, the mechanism action of propolis' anti-Trichomonas and anti-Acanthamoeba is not well-known yet. CONCLUSION: Reviewing the related literature could highlight promising antimicrobial activities of propolis against intracellular and extracellular protozoan parasites; this could shed light on the exploration of more effective drugs for the treatment of protozoan parasitic infections in the near future.
PURPOSE: Propolis (bee glue) is a resinous mixture of different plant exudates that possesses a wide range of biological and antimicrobial activities and has been used as a food supplement and in complementary medicine for centuries. Some researchers have proposed that propolis could be a potential curative compound against microbial agents such as protozoan parasitic infections by different and occasionally unknown mechanisms due to the immunoregulatory function and antioxidant capacity of this natural product. METHODS: In this review, we concentrate on in vitro and in vivo anti-protozoan activities of propolis extracts/fractions in the published literature. RESULTS: In Leishmania, propolis inhibits the proliferation of promastigotes and produces an anti-inflammatory effect via the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production. In addition, it increases macrophage activation, TLR-2, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-17 production, and downregulation of IL-12. In Plasmodium and Trypanosoma, propolis inhibits the parasitemia, improving anemia and increasing the IFN-γ, TNF-α, and GM-CSF cytokines levels, most likely due to its strong immunomodulatory activity. Moreover, propolis extract arrests proliferation of T. cruzi, because it has aromatic acids and flavonoids. In toxoplasmosis, propolis increases the specific IgM and IgG titers via decreasing the serum IFN-γ, IL-1, and IL-6 cytokines levels in the ratsinfected with T. gondii. In Cryptosporidium and Giardia, it decreases oocysts shedding due to phytochemical constituents, particularly phenolic compounds, and increases the number of goblet cells. Propolis inhibits the growth of Blastocystis, possibly by apoptotic mechanisms like metronidazole. Unfortunately, the mechanism action of propolis' anti-Trichomonas and anti-Acanthamoeba is not well-known yet. CONCLUSION: Reviewing the related literature could highlight promising antimicrobial activities of propolis against intracellular and extracellular protozoan parasites; this could shed light on the exploration of more effective drugs for the treatment of protozoan parasitic infections in the near future.
Authors: Pawel Olczyk; Pawel Ramos; Marcin Bernas; Katarzyna Komosinska-Vassev; Jerzy Stojko; Barbara Pilawa Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2013-05-27 Impact factor: 2.629
Authors: Nelly Rivera-Yañez; C Rebeca Rivera-Yañez; Glustein Pozo-Molina; Claudia F Méndez-Catalá; Julia Reyes-Reali; María I Mendoza-Ramos; Adolfo R Méndez-Cruz; Oscar Nieto-Yañez Journal: Biology (Basel) Date: 2021-05-12