Efeito benéfico da propólis sobre a hipercolesterolemia experimental em coelhos / Benefical effects of propolis on experimental hypercholesterolaemia in rabbits

ABSTRACT

Propolis (bee glue) is one of the major bee hive products and is rich in flavonoids, which are known for their antioxidant effect. To investigate the possible mechanism of propolis therapeutic action, rabbits were distributed into 4 groups (n=6) GI – control; GII – atherogenic diet; GIII – atherogenic diet and ethanol; GIV – atherogenic diet and ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEP=100mg/kg, day). Atherogenic diet (0.14g cholesterol, daily) induced hyperlipidemia in rabbits (male, body weight 2.500?2g) with significant increase of levels of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein and triacylglycerol. Treatment with EEP, for 56 days, significantly reduced the levels of these biochemical parameters. The activities of plasma aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and creatine phosphokinase were increased (p<0.05) by atherogenic diet and these increases were largely inhibited by EEP, whereas the adminitration of EEP produced a marked increase in the levels of high density lipoprotein. Treatment of rabbits with EEP resulted in a decrease of hepatic levels of triglycerides, triacylglycerol and total cholesterol. These results suggest that EEP exerts a hypocholesterolaemic effect in high-cholesterol-fed rabbits, and possesses a protective action against the acute hepatic toxicity caused by administration of atherogenic diet