EFFECTS OF PROPOLIS ON THE TUMORIGENESIS AND THE GROWTH OF SPLENOCYTES AND MACROPHAGES IN MICE

Huh, Hong Yeol; Kim, Chin Soo

Abstract

The propolis, honey bee hive product, is a folk medicine for treating various ailments. Many important pharmaceutical properties have been ascribed to propolis, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunormodulatory and carcinostatic activities. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of ethanol extracted propolis(EEP) on the tumorigenesis and the growth of splenocytes and macrophages in ICR mice. Topical application of 0.2, 2 or mg/ml of EEP on the back of each mice 30 minutes before the application of 7, 12-dimethylbenz (a)anthracene(DMBA) and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate(TPA) inhibited the number of tumors per mouse by 61, 75 or 100%, respectively, and tumor size per mouse was decreased by 37, 75 or 100%, respectively. In 3-methylcholanthrene induced tumorigenesis, topical application of same doses of EEP inhibited the number of tumors per mouse by 19, 60 or 90%, and the tumor size per mouse by 58, 85 or 98%, respectively. Oral administration of mice with EEP at 0.2mg or more per day per mouse for 28days increased pulmonary metastases of the B16F10 melanoma cells in ICR mice by 240%, EEP of 3.75ug/ml or more inhibited the growth of ICR mouse spleen cells significantly(p<0.05), but EEP 0.94ug/ml or less did not affects the growth of the spleen cells in vitro. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester(CAPE), which is derived from the propolis, of 0.94ug/ml or less increased the growth of spleen cells, but at the concentations of 3.75ug/ml or more, decreased the growth of spleen cells. EEP of 3.75-15ug/ml increased the growth of mouse peritoneal macrophages, but at the concentration of 60ug/ml, decreased the growth of the macrophages significantly(p<0.01). And also, CAPE of 0.94ug/ml or less did not affects the growth of the macrophages, but at the concentrations of 3.75ug/ml or more, decreased the growth of the macrophages significantly(p<0.01). DDP or CAPE inhibited the nitric oxide production of mouse peritoneal macrophages in concentration-dependent manner regardless of the number of the macrophages in vitro. These results suggest the possibility that the EEP or CAPE might suppress the immune function by the inhibition of growth and activity of spleen cells and macrophages.