Received: January 26, 2004, Accepted: June 10, 2004, Published online: February 11, 2005.

EFFECT OF PROPOLIS EXTRACT ON GUINEA PIG LUNG MAST CELL

ORSI R. O. (1), SFORCIN J. M. (2), FUNARI S. R. C. (1), GOMES J. C. (3)

(1) Department of Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbrandy, FMVZ, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-000, Brazil; (2) Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biosciences, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-000, Brazil; (3) Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-000, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: The direct effect of ethanolic extract of propolis on guinea pig lung cell suspension containing mast cells, as well as its influence on the histamine release induced by antigen (ovoalbumin 10 g/ml) and ionophore A 23187 (3 M) were investigated. Propolis ethanolic extract (300 g/ml) increased the histamine release in guinea pig lung suspension containing mast cells by a cytotoxic effect. Lower concentrations of propolis had no effect on histamine release. Our results demonstrated that propolis (3, 10, 30, and 100 g/ml) shows no significant effect on the histamine release induced by ionophore and antigen. Based on these results, we suggest that propolis could directly activate mast cells, promoting inflammatory mediators release by cytotoxic mechanisms, what could be related to allergic processes in propolis sensitive people.

KEY WORDS: mast cells, allergy, histamine, propolis.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

J. M. SFORCIN, Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Instituto de Biociências, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, 18618-000, Brasil.

Email: sforcin@ibb.unesp.br