Propolis Shows No Side Effects When Used as Scolicidal Agent

Posted on June 15, 2008 in Medicine news

The Effects of Scolicidal Agent Propolis on Liver and Biliary Tree J Gastrointest Surg, 2008 May 30 BACKGROUND: This study was designed to examine the effects of propolis on the liver and biliary system when used as a scolicidal agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty Wistar-Albino rats were divided into two groups. Propolis and 0.9% saline (NaCl) were injected into the biliary tract of the rats. Three rats from control group and four rats from propolis group died within 5 days after the procedure. Blood samples of remaining 23 rats were obtained 1 week after and at the end of the experimental study for liver function tests. Six months after the procedure, retrograde and magnetic resonance cholangiography were performed and liver, common bile duct, and duodenum were excised en bloc for histopathological examination. RESULTS: Liver function tests were slightly elevated 1 week after the procedure and were found to be normal at the end of the sixth month in both groups. No stricture in the biliary tree was found on the retrograde and magnetic resonance cholangiograms. The tissue samples of the propolis group showed no histomorphological difference from the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Propolis may be used as a scolicidal agent even in the case of cystobiliary communication with no side effects on liver and biliary tree. See: Effects of Honey as a Scolicidal Agent on the Hepatobiliary System Generic Viagra cheap viagra generic viagra online generic cialis

Tags: propolis, liver, group, agent, scolicidal

Propolis Component Boosts Brain Cells

Posted on June 14, 2008 in Medicine news

(Taiwan) NatureWise Announces Updates on Cancer Drug Candidate, Neurotrophic Factors for Neurodegenerative Disorders (Press release, NatureWise Biotech & Medicals Corp.) Botanically-derived drug discovery and development firm NatureWise Biotech & Medicals Corp. (TPO:4732) announced this week two major updates to its drug discovery and development pipeline, with research results to be presented at the BIO 2008 conference and exhibition in San Diego 17-19 June, 2008. The first is a drug candidate for targeted cancer therapy and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic disorder. The second relates to the company's breakthrough neurotrophic factors derived from prenylflavanone agents (PPLs), which, unlike conventional neurotrophic factors, can pass the blood-brain barrier and reach neurons in the brain. This has exciting implications for the development of new drugs for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease… About neurotrophic agents from PPLs for neurodegenerative disease therapy: Several prenylflavanone compounds of small molecular weight--abbreviated as PPLs--were isolated from Taiwanese bee propolis. At low concentrations (as low as 150 ng/mL), these PPLs increased both the survival of cortical neurons and the proliferation of neural stem cells, and induced differentiation of neural stem cells into large number of neuronal cells. They were also found in rat astrocyte cells to significantly up-regulate gene expression of neurotrophic factors, such as GDNF and BDNF. These results suggest that PPLs play an important role as neurotrophic agents to enhance the survival, differentiation and function of neural stem cells. Furthermore, PPLs have been found capable of greatly enhancing the outgrowth of neurites… buy cilais Generic Viagra buy cheap cialis viagra

Tags: neurotrophic, ppls, cells, drug, factors

Study: Propolis May Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

Posted on June 14, 2008 in Medicine news

Water-Soluble Derivative of Propolis Mitigates Scopolamine-Induced Learning and Memory Impairment in Mice Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, Article in Press, Corrected Proof Abstract: The water-soluble derivative of propolis (WSDP) was prepared from fresh Chinese propolis. Its major constituents were identified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. It has been reported that propolis possessed a broad spectrum of biological activities but including few studies on learning and memory by now. Thus, this study was aimed to investigate the effect of WSDP on scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment in mice… The results from 100 mg/kg WSDP group showed significant mitigation scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice. Furthermore, WSDP's effect on the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus was also assayed. As a result, WSDP (100 mg/kg) significantly inhibited AChE activity in the hippocampus of scopolamine-treated mice. These results indicated that WSDP may mitigate amnesia in vivo through inhibition of AChE activity in the hippocampus, which suggested propolis may have potential as a pharmaceutical of brain protection with elderly population for preventing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases.

Tags: propolis, wsdp, scopolamine, mice, learning

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