The free radical scavenging ability of an ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) was demonstrated by electron spin resonance spectroscopy, when 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was treated with increasing concentrations of EEP. It was shown that the DPPH signal intensity was inversely related to the EEP concentration and to the reaction time. It is assumed that the ability of components in EEP to donate a hydrogen atom is responsible for the lowering of the DPPH-EEP signal, and reflect the anti-oxidative nature of EEP.

Antitum oral effect of ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) was demonstrated in mature mice-bearing Ehrlich carcinoma. Survival rate after EEP treatment was compared to that of bleomycin, given alone or in combination every two days for 36 days and follow ed up for 14 additional days. The survival rate at 50 days was 55% after EEP and 40% after bleomycin, while all the mice-treated with EEP + bleomycin combination demonstrated shorter survival than the controls. It is concluded that while the in vivo activity of bleomycin is reduced in the presence of cytochrome-C-reductase inhibitors (like some of the EEP components are), the antitumoral property of EEP in the tumored animal model studied is significant and lasting.

No abstract

No abstract

Ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) was tested as a protective agent against gamma irradiation in mice. The mice were exposed to 6 Gy gamma irradiation from a 60Co source, and were treated intraperitoneally with EEP, administered before and after their irradiation. While the non-treated mice expired within 12 weeks, the mice that received a series of EEP treatments survived the irradiation, and their leucocyte count as well as their spleens’ plaque-forming activity returned to normal. It is suggested that an antioxidant and a free radical scavanger in the EEP are responsible for the radiation protective effect of the extract of this natural product.