Antifungal Activity of Propolis against Vulvovaginal Candida Albicans

Propolis has been documented to work best in all the mucous linings of the body...

Antifungal Activity of Brazilian Propolis Microparticles against Yeasts Isolated from Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2011 (2011), Article ID 201953

Abstract

Propolis, a resinous compound produced by Apis mellifera L. bees, is known to possess a variety of biological activities and is applied in the therapy of various infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of propolis ethanol extract (PE) and propolis microparticles (PMs) obtained from a sample of Brazilian propolis against clinical yeast isolates of importance in the vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). PE was used to prepare the microparticles. Yeast isolates (n = 8 9), obtained from vaginal exudates of patients with VVC, were exposed to the PE and the PMs. Moreover, the main antifungal drugs used in the treatment of VVC (Fluconazole, Voriconazole, Itraconazole, Ketoconazole, Miconazole and Amphotericin B) were also tested. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined according to the standard broth microdilution method. Some Candida albicans isolates showed resistance or dose-dependent susceptibility for the azolic drugs and Amphotericin B. Non-C. albicans isolates showed more resistance and dose-dependent susceptibility for the azolic drugs than C. albicans. However, all of them were sensitive or dose-dependent susceptible for Amphotericin B. All yeasts were inhibited by PE and PMs, with small variation, independent of the species of yeast. The overall results provided important information for the potential application of PMs in the therapy of VVC and the possible prevention of the occurrence of new symptomatic episodes.



1. Introduction

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a disease caused by abnormal growth of yeast-like fungi in the mucosa of the female genital tract, classified by the World Health Organization as a sexually transmitted disease of frequent sexual transmission [1]. VVC is caused mainly by the genus Candida, the major agent being Candida albicans, and the prevalence of this yeast can reach 85–95% [2]. Moreover, studies have shown the increasing infections by non-C. albicans species (C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. pseudotropicalis, C. lusitaniae) in VVC [3, 4]. Because the disease strikes millions of women annually, leading to great discomfort, interfering with sexual and affective relations and impairing work performance, it has been considered an important worldwide public health concern [2]. VVC is the first cause of vulvovaginitis in Europe and the second in the USA and Brazil. It represents 20–25% of the vaginal discharges of infectious nature. It is estimated that about 75% of the adult women show at least one episode of VVC during their lifetimes, 40–50% of those will experience new surges and 5% will reach the recurrent character (RVVC), defined as the occurrence of four or more symptomatic episodes in a one year interval [4].

In recent years, drug-resistance to antifungal agents and optimizing therapy of Candida infections have been broadly focused [5]. Moreover, the therapeutic arsenal available for the treatment of fungal infections is quite restricted... 












Conclusion

Considering the antifungal activity showed by PMs and that the high ethanol concentration is a disadvantage of PE, this report clearly showed that PMs arises as a possible agent for the treatment and especially the prevention of the new symptomatic episode the VVC. Moreover PMs have the advantage of to be incorporated in some dosage forms, like vaginal ointments, and to be administered into the vaginal mucosa more easily and safely.

Malaysian Honey Boosts Sperm Count

This is a significant finding for those experiencing reproductive issues. Perhaps the next study will review the phenolic compounds in Malaysian honey and if it exists in all honeys...

Effect of Different Doses of Malaysian Honey on Reproductive Parameters in Adult Male Rats
Andrologia, 2011 May 19


The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of Malaysian honey on male reproductive parameters in adult rats. 

Thirty-two healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (eight rats per group). Group 1 (control group) was given 0.5 ml of distilled water. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were given 0.2, 1.2 and 2.4 gkg(-1) body weight of honey respectively. 

The rats were treated orally by gavage once daily for 4 weeks. Honey did not significantly alter body and male reproductive organs weights. The rats in Group 3 which received honey at 1.2 gkg(-1) had significantly higher epididymal sperm count than those in Groups 1, 2 and 4. No significant differences were found for the percentage of abnormal sperm, elongated spermatid count, reproductive hormonal levels as well as the histology of the testis among the groups. 

In conclusion, Malaysian honey at a dose of 1.2gkg(-1) daily significantly increased epididymal sperm count without affecting spermatid count and reproductive hormones. 
These findings might suggest that oral administration of honey at this dose for 4weeks may enhance spermiogenesis in adult rats.

Propolis Component Key in Treating Allergic Airway Disease

One of the many compounds of Propolis, CAPE has the super-hero force to aid the human condition...


Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Suppresses Eotaxin Secretion and Nuclear p-STAT6 in Human Lung Fibroblast Cells
J Microbiol Immunol Infect, 2011 May 19
BACKGROUND: 

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), an active component of propolis, has been proven to have anti-inflammatory and antiallergic properties. We have investigated the activity of CAPE in regulating cytokine-induced eotaxin production and its related signal protein, signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6), in human lung fibroblast.

METHODS: 

The CCD-11Lu human lung fibroblast cell line was used as an in vitro model. Cells were pretreated with CAPE followed by stimulation with interleukin-4 and tumor necrosis factor alpha. The levels of eotaxin in cultured supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The amounts of STAT6 and phosphorylated STAT6 in cellular nuclear protein extracts were determined by Western blot analysis. STAT6 DNA binding activities were detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay.

RESULTS: 

Pretreated CCD-11Lu cells with noncytotoxic doses (0.1-10μM) of CAPE inhibited the production of eotaxin under stimulation of interleukin-4 (10ng/mL) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (10ng/mL). CAPE pretreatment also decreased the amount of phosphorylated STAT6 and the STAT6 DNA binding complexes in nuclear extracts.

CONCLUSION: 

CAPE inhibited the production of eotaxin protein in stimulated human lung fibroblast cells in a dose-dependent manner. This activity is, at least, through STAT6 inhibition. We suggest that CAPE is a promising agent in controlling eotaxin secretion and subsequent eosinophils influx and may therefore have a potential role to play in treating allergic airway disease

Propolis Boosts Response to Vaccines in Hens

Propolis comes to the rescue, once again, to potentially reduce the overabundant use of antibiotics in our food chain...

The Effects of Propolis on Antibody Production by Laying Hens
Poult Sci, 2011 Jun;90(6):1227-33

Propolis is a honeybee product showing several biological properties that enhance the immune response, depending on the concentration and intake period. Because propolis possesses an immunomodulatory action on mammals, the objective of our study was to investigate the effects of propolis on the humoral immune response of laying hens by evaluating antibody production. Laying hens (ISA Brown) were divided into 5 groups with 7 birds each. Group 1 was a nonimmunized control, whereas birds in group 2 were immunized intravenously with SRBC, and those in groups 3, 4, and 5 were treated intraperitoneally with propolis (2, 10, and 50 mg/kg, respectively) on 3 consecutive days and then inoculated intravenously with SRBC. Hematological and serological analyses were carried out on d 0, 3, and 38. Natural and specific antibody levels were determined by hemagglutination with rabbit red blood cells and SRBC, respectively. Propolis-treated birds (50 mg/kg) showed a significant decline in heterophils and in the heterophil:lymphocyte ratio. After SRBC immunization, significant increases in levels of IgG were observed in groups 4 and 5. Furthermore, higher levels of natural antibodies were observed in propolis-treated laying hens. The administration of propolis to laying hens increased the production of IgG specific to SRBC and natural antibodies, and could be used to increase antigen-specific antibody responses to vaccines

Clinical Evaluation in Lower Limb Wound Healing under Honey

honey's capacity to heal wounds dates back to 1700BC, also well-documented during the 2nd Boer War (1902) and for the past 25 years at CHU in Limoges France; effective then and still effective today...

Immunohistochemical Evaluation of p63, E-Cadherin, Collagen I and III Expression in Lower Limb Wound Healing under Honey:

Abstract

Honey is recognized traditionally for its medicinal properties and also appreciated as a topical healing agent for infected and noninfected wounds. This study evaluates impact of honey-based occlusive dressing on nonhealing (nonresponding to conventional antibiotics) traumatic lower limb wounds (n = 34) through clinicopathological and immunohistochemical (e.g., expression of p63, E-cadherin, and Collagen I and III) evaluations to enrich the scientific validation. Clinical findings noted the nonadherence of honey dressing with remarkable chemical debridement and healing progression within 11–15 days of postintervention. Histopathologically, in comparison to preintervention biopsies, the postintervention tissues of wound peripheries demonstrated gradual normalization of epithelial and connective tissue features with significant changes in p63+ epithelial cell population, reappearance of membranous E-cadherin (P < .0001), and optimum deposition of collagen I and III (P< .0001). Thus, the present study for the first time reports the impact of honey on vital protein expressions in epithelial and connective tissues during repair of nonhealing lower limb wounds.

Introduction

Wound healing involves complex and multifactorial biological processes with overlapping stages [1]. However, in nonhealing wounds, successive repairing stages are affected by varied pathological happening including infection [2–4], imbalance in extracellular matrix formation and degradation [5, 6], impaired re-epithelialization [7] and nutritional supply, adverse microenvironment, and repeated physical trauma [8]. So, healing interventions need to address these pathological variables to facilitate cellular and molecular events towards re-epithelialization, connective tissue formation, and maturation of regenerating tissues [9–11]....

Honey, being a natural nutritional reservoir containing various organic/inorganic substances including major amounts of carbohydrates along with lipids, amino acids, proteins, vitamin, bioelements [30, 31] with acidic pH (~4) possesses multidimensional prohealing effects for infected/noninfected wounds [32], finds application as a topical agent with optimal moisture retention capacity, debridement ability and anti-inflammatory effect [33–35]. However, deeper understanding is required for biological validation of its impact especially on vital cellular and molecular events related to important repair processes like re-epithelialization, subepithelial connective tissue formation of wounds to guide clinicians...

Conclusion:

"The honey with its diverse chemical constituents (organic and inorganic) provide therapeutic support to nonhealing lower limb wounds with minimum trauma during redressing and debridement as well as in healing without hyper-granulation and less scarring. Further, therapeutic potential has been demonstrated at molecular levels through immunohistochemical depiction of prime molecular expressions in wound biopsies. The gradual increase in cell population and membranous expression of E-cadherin pointed out the transformation of nonhealing wound into healing one and achievement of collagen I and III ratio towards normalcy in posttherapeutic periods indicated proper deposition of collagens in the regenerated skin during healing."

Antioxidant Activity of Uruguayan Propolis suggests cardiovascular benefit

See the ORAC chart we found comparing a different source of propolis to other foods with antioxidant properties ... 


Antioxidant Activity of Uruguayan Propolis: In vitro and Cellular Assays
J Agric Food Chem, 2011 May 13

The antioxidant capacity of propolis from the southern region of Uruguay was evaluated using in vitro as well as cellular assays. Free radical scavenging capacity was assessed by ORAC, obtaining values significantly higher than other natural products (8000 µmol trolox equivalents/g propolis). 

ORAC values correlated well with total polyphenol content (determined by Folin-Ciocalteau method) and UV absorption. Total polyphenol content (150 mg gallic acid equivalents/g propolis) and flavonoids (45 mg quercetin equivalents/g propolis) were similar to values reported for southern Brazilian (group 3) and Argentinean propolis.

Flavonoid composition determined by RP-HPLC indicates a strong poplar-tree origin. Samples high in polyphenols efficiently inhibit low density lipoprotein lipoperoxidation and tyrosine nitration.

In addition, we found that Uruguayan propolis were able to induce the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and inhibit endothelial NADPH oxidase suggesting a potential cardiovascular benefit by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability in the endothelium.

Apitherapy Rx for Health, Products from the Beehive by Turtle Shell Health | Blog Talk Radio

Apitherapy Rx for Health Naturally from the Beehive 03/30 by Turtle Shell Health | Blog Talk Radio

a great explanation from friend and fellow Apitherapist, Frederique Keller, L.Ac., Herbalist and creator of BeePharm Apitherapy Rx for Health products... the medicinal use of raw honey, bee pollen, bee bread, royal jelly, bee venom and much more!