PROPOLIS PROTECTS PANCREATIC BETA-CELLS AGAINST THE TOXICITY OF STREPTOZOTOCIN (STZ)

Propolis is a glue, prepared by honeybees from plant materials to stic k their hives on the beehive wall. It has gained popularity in Japan a s a healthy drink and people believe that propolis can cure inflammati on, heart diseases and even diabetes and cancer. We have evaluated the beta-cell protective effect of propolis against the toxicity of strep tozotocin (STZ) in rats. The water extract of propolis (PWE) completel y protected beta-cell destruction against STZ toxicity. The protective effect of PWE was found to be almost equal to that of nicotinamide. P WE also inhibited the interleukin-l 1 beta (IL-1 beta) generation from human leukocytes. The free radical scavenging activity together with IL-1 beta and nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitory activities are tho ught to be the prime factors for the protective effect of PWE against STZ toxicity.