SEASONAL EFFECT OF BRAZILIAN PROPOLIS ON SERIC BIOCHEMICAL VARIABLES

J. M. SFORCIN(1), E. L. B. NOVELLI(1), S. R. C. FUNARI(1)

(1)Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Biosciences Institute, UNESP, 18618-000, Botucatu, SP, Brazil

ABSTRACT: Propolis has been the subject of recent scientific investigation due to its biological properties, such as antibiotic, antiinflammatory, anesthetic, healing, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and carcinostatic. The purpose of this study was to analyze the biochemical profile of propolis-treated rats to observe whether propolis might lead to side effects after administration. Evaluation of total protein, glucose, urea, creatinine, triglycerides, cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol concentrations and determination of aminotransferases (AST and ALT) and lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) in propolis-treated rat serum were performed. The seasonal effect on propolis activity was also analyzed, considering the biochemical variables evaluated. The lack of clinically important changes in seric biochemical variables is probably because propolis showed no biological side effects under these conditions. A possible seasonal effect on the biochemical determinations was not observed.

KEY WORDS: Propolis; season; biochemistry; serum.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

J. M. SFORCIN - Departmento de Microbiologia and Imunologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP, 18618-000, Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Email sforcin@ibb.unesp.br