Propolis ameliorates renal, liver, and pancreatic lesions in Wistar rats

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of ethanolic extract of propolis on the secondary lesions of the liver, renal, and pancreatic that were derived by primary colorectal cancer, and comparison of the ethanolic extract of propolis with the vitamin E. The groups included the control, ethanolic extract of propolis, vitamin E, dimethylhydrazine, dimethylhydrazine + ethanolic extract of propolis, and dimethylhydrazine + vitamin E. After 13 weeks of treatment, the blood and tissue samples were taken from all the rats, and alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, uric acid, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, insulin, amylase, and lipase indices along with the tissue pathological examination of the kidney, liver, and pancreas were evaluated. Ethanolic extract of propolis effectively alleviated the colorectal cancer‐induced secondary lesions in the liver by significantly lowering the alanine transaminase significantly. Ethanolic extract of propolis significantly decreased uric acid in rats; and also significantly elevated the pancreatic insulin. In addition, inflammation and cell necrosis indices in all these tissues were significantly reduced when ethanolic extract of propolis was consumed compared to the dimethylhydrazine group. It seemed ethanolic extract of propolis showed high antioxidant, anticancer, and anti‐inflammatory potentials, and can be used practically to reduce the side lesions of colorectal cancer.