PROPOLIS PROTECTS AGAINST DOXORUBICIN-INDUCED MYOCARDIOPATHY IN RATS

Propolis (bee glue) is one of the major hive products of bees and is r ich in flavonoids, which are known for antioxidant activities. Doxorub icin-induced myocardiopathy is the consequence of oxidative stress thr ough the mediation of free radicals. The effect of intraperitoneal adm inistration of propolis (50 and 100 mg/kg) was studied on cardiomyopat hy produced by doxorubicin (10 mg/kg, iv) in rats. Serum creatine phos phokinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood and tissue glu tathione (GSH), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TEARS) in heart were estimated to assess the status of heart muscle. An elevati on of the levels of CK, AST, GSH, and TEARS was observed following dox orubicin treatment. Parallel experiments with a pretreatment of propol is significantly reduced the levels of these parameters. Biochemical o bservations were supplemented by histopathological examination of hear t sections. The protective effect of propolis was compared with that o f rutin, a known cardioprotective flavonoid. The study demonstrates th e cardioprotective effect of propolis in doxorubicin-induced experimen tal cardiotoxicity. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.