ANTIINFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF PROPOLIS

Propolis (bee-glue), known as a folk medicine, is a lipophilic materia l found in honeybee hives. In the present study on the anti-inflammato ry effect of Korean propolis, it was extracted with ethanol, and used as a test material. The LD(50) value with the oral administration of e thanolic extract of Korean propolis (EEKP) was higher than 2 g/kg in m ice. The oral administration of the propolis extract (100 mg/kg) signi ficantly inhibited the development of hind paw edema induced by carrag eenin in rats. The oral pretreatment of the propolis extract markedly inhibited the increase in vascular permeability and the number of writ hing induced by acetic acid in mice. Propolis extract, 50 and 100 mg/k g p.o. per day for 7 days, produced a significant inhibitory effect on granuloma and exudate formation in rats. This inhibitory effect was e nhanced with the concomitant use of prednisolone (2.5 mg/kg). These re sults suggest that Korean propolis apparently has a strong anti-inflam matory activity.