الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Propolis or bee glue is one of the most powerful hive products of honeybees. It is considered as an important natural dietary supplement. The present study aimed to clarify the physiological effect of propolis on immunity, body weight, some haematological and biochemical parameters in male rats. This study was carried on 45 Wister male rats, 21 days old of average weight 30-40 gm. The experiment lasted for 2 months; rats were equally allocated into three groups, the control group, fed on a basal diet, low dose group supplemented daily with 750 mg propolis /kg diet and high dose group supplemented daily with 1.5 g propolis /kg diet. Whole blood and serum samples were obtained for measuring; some immunological parameters [total leucocytic count (TLC), lymphocytic and neutrophil %, lymphocyte transformation test (LTT), nitroblue tertrazolium test (NBT) and total immunoglobulin G (T.IgG)], some haematological parameters [red blood cells count (RBCs), haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV)], some biochemical parameters as total proteins, globulin and albumin, lipid profile [total cholesterol (T.C), triglycerides (T.G), high density lipoproteins (HDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL)], liver and kidney function tests [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatnine], monitoring rats body weight weekly. The obtained result revealed that, propolis is a powerful immunomodulatory natural product via increasing lymphocytic % and consequently increasing antibody production, also propolis improved all haematological parameters studied. Moreover, propolis supplementation led to increase in total proteins, globulin and high density lipoproteins (HDL). On the other hand, propolis led to decrease in total cholesterol (T.C), triglycerides (T.G) and low density lipoproteins (LDL). In addition, propolis improved liver and kidney function. Propolis has no effect on body weight. Conclusively, the dietary supplementation of high dose propolis (1.5 gm /kg diet) for 2 months is recommended for improvement of immunological, haematological and biochemical parameters, also propolis can be used for treatment of nutritional anemia. |