Stingless bee propolis, metformin, and their combination alleviate diabetic cardiomyopathy

Abstract Background and aim: Stingless bee propolis, a resinous compound processed by mandibular secretion of stingless bees, is used for maintenance of hygiene and stability of beehives. Research on stingless bee propolis shows therapeutic properties attributed to polyphenols exhibiting antioxidative, antihyperglycemic and antiischemic effect. However, the cardioprotective effect of stingless bee propolis on diabetic cardiomyopathy is unknown. Methods: Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomised to five groups: normal group, diabetic group, diabetic given metformin (DM+M), diabetic given propolis (DM+P) and diabetic given combination therapy (DM+M+P) and treated for four weeks. Body weight, fasting blood glucose, food and water intake were taken weekly. At the end of experiment, biomarkers of oxidative damage were measured in serum and heart tissue. Antioxidants in heart tissue were quantified. Part of left ventricle of heart was processed for histological staining including Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) stain for myocyte size and Masson's Trichrome (MT) stain for heart fibrosis and perivascular fibrosis. Results: Propolis alleviated features of diabetic cardiomyopathy such as myocyte hypertrophy, heart fibrosis and perivascular fibrosis associated with improvement in antioxidative status. Conclusion: This study reports beneficial effect of propolis and combination with metformin in alleviating histopathological feature of diabetic cardiomyopathy by modulating antioxidants, making propolis an emerging complementary therapy.

Review on effects of obesity on male reproductive system and the role of natural products

Obesity is a major complex disease caused by the interaction of a myriad of genetic, dietary, lifestyle, andenvironmental factors that lead to increased body fat mass. Over the years, it has grown to pandemic proportionsaffecting many children, adolescents, and young adults exposed to this disorder for a longer period. Overactivity ofaromatase cytochrome P450 enzyme which leads to increases of estrogen disrupting the hypothalamus–pituitary axis,leptin secretion in testicular tissues, scrotal temperature, adipocytes’ environmental toxins/other toxic species, andvascular endothelial dysfunction have been implicated in obesity. The use of natural products and their derivatives hasbeen historically valuable as sources of therapeutic agents in the treatment of several metabolic disorders includingobesity. This review aims at looking the effect of natural products on obesity at pre-testicular, testicular, and posttesticular levels of the male reproductive system which will be discussed.