Table 2.
Studies of radioprotective effect of propolis in non-human animals.
| Type of Propolis Preparation (Concentration) | Radiation Type and Dose | Studied Sample | Main Outcomes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WSDP (per OS via gastral tube, daily for 20 and 40 days and the daily dose contained 50 mg/kg bw) |
60Co γ-irradiation (4–9 Gy) |
3-month-old CBA male mice | In mice treated with WSDP, both the number of endogenous and exogenous colony-forming units (CFUs) in the spleen was found to be higher compared to the control group. Notably, when using the exogenous CFUs assay, it was observed that CFUs derived from the spleen of WSDP-treated mice exhibited greater resistance to irradiation compared to CFUs from the spleen of normal mice | [15] |
| WSDP of Croatian and Brazilian propolis (50 or 150 mg/kg) |
60Co γ-irradiation (9 Gy) |
3-month-old CBA female mice | WSDP has been shown to possess radioprotective, stimulative, and regenerative properties on hematopoiesis. These findings suggest that WSDP could have clinical potential in the treatment of various cytopenias induced by radiation and/or chemotherapy | [16] |
| WSDP and EEP (100 mg kg−1 bw i.p. for 3 consecutive days before (pretreatment) or after irradiation (therapy)) |
60Co γ-irradiation (9 Gy) |
3-month-old CBA male mice | Their use has been observed to provide protection against hematopoietic death, which refers to mortality occurring within 30 days after irradiation | [17] |
| WSDP (100 mg kg−1 bw i.p. for 3 consecutive days before (pretreatment) or after irradiation (therapy)) |
60Co γ-irradiation (4 and 9 Gy) |
2-month-old CBA male mice | WSDP given to mice before irradiation protected mice from lethal effects of whole-body irradiation and diminished primary DNA damage in their white blood cells | [18] |
| EEP (100 mg kg−1 bw i.p. for 3 consecutive days before (pretreatment) or after irradiation (therapy)) |
60Co γ-irradiation (9 Gy) |
3-month-old CBA male mice | EEP, before irradiation, protected white blood cells of mice from lethal effects of irradiation and diminished primary DNA damage | [19] |
| EEP (100 mg kg−1 bw i.p. for 3 consecutive days before (pretreatment) or after irradiation (therapy)) |
60Co γ-irradiation (4 Gy) |
3-month-old CBA male mice | Mice that received pretreatment with EEP demonstrated reduced sensitivity to irradiation. On the other hand, mice that received post-irradiation therapy with EEP showed a slight increase in total leukocyte count compared to the irradiated negative control, although the increase was not statistically significant. Notably, EEP exhibited a protective effect against primary DNA damage in leukocytes of mice | [20] |
| EEP (injections of 100 or 200 mg/kg i.p. of EEP) | X-rays (a dose rate of 15 Gy in 9 min and 39 s) | 7–11-week-old Wistar male rats | Reduce and delay radiation-induced mucositis in this animal model | [21] |
| WSDP (5 mL/kg of the 13% WSDP solution (corresponding to 0.65 g dry extract/kg)) | 137Cs γ-irradiation (single radiation dose level of 2, 3 or 6 Gray (Gy) being the radiation dose rate was 0.48 Gy/min) | Wistar male rats | Reduce the number of gastric lesions as well as the plasma level of malondialdehyde (MDA) | [22] |
| 400 mg/kg propolis injections before irradiation |
60Co γ-irradiation (15 Gy, on the whole cranium for 7 min and 39 s) |
Wistar albino male rats | Protect propolis of effects on salivary gland function in animal models whilst it did not prevent radiation-induced histologic changes in tissues | [23] |
| Iranian propolis |
60Co γ-irradiation (5 Gy of irradiation for 7 min and 39 s) |
7–11-week-old Wistar male rats | Reduce and delay radiation-induced mucositis in animal models | [24] |
| Propolis was freshly prepared and administered to animals orally at a dose of 90 mg/kg |
60Co γ-irradiation (1 Gy every day up to 5 Gy total doses) |
Albino male rats | Propolis can be more effective than honey in the protection against oxidative damage induced by ionizing radiation | [25] |
| 30% in propolis, 40% in caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), 20% in Nigella sativa oil (NSO) and 50% thymoquinone (TQ) administered by either orogastric tube or i.p. injection |
60Co γ-irradiation (5 Gy) |
Sprague–Dawley male rats | Propolis, CAPE, NSO, and TQ could prevent cataractogenesis in ionizing radiation-induced cataracts in the lenses of rats, wherein propolis and NSO were found to be more potent | [26] |
| Hydroalcoholic Extract of Red Propolis (HERP) | 1.6 J/cm2 of UV B light | Adult Wistar male rats | HERP might protect the skin against tissue damages caused by UVB radiation | [27] |
| WSDP (3 days before exposure, rats were given WSDP orally and treatment continued for 2 more days) |
137Cs γ-irradiation (8 Gy) |
Wistar male rats | Diminish apoptotic indicators and oxidative stress parameters | [28] |
WSDP: Water-soluble derivate of propolis.