Propolis and Bee Venom Effective in Treatment of Psoriasis

Apitherapy in Treatment of Psoriasis: A New Therapeutic Modality
By Fatma A. Abd Raboo, Ahmed G. Hegazi, Nahla E. Ramzy, Dalia M. Shaaban Faten K. Abd El Hady and Doha Y. Khader.
Department of Dermatology & Venereology, Tanta University and Department of Microbiology, National Research Center

[Presented at APIMEDICA and APIQUALITY 2008 in Rome.]

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease with unsettled etiology. It was suggested that T cells are of major importance in its pathogenesis through induction of different inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Several therapeutic modalities are used for treatment of psoriasis however, none of them are satisfactory.

Apitherapy is the medical use of different honey bee products e.g. honey, wax, bee venom and propolis. It was used for treatment of different dermatological conditions as eczema and herpes virus infection.

The aim of this study was to evaluate apitherapy, using bee venom and propolis, as a new therapeutic modality of psoriasis.

The study included 42 patients divided into: group I: (n=12) received intradermal bee venom, group IIA: (n=9) received topical propolis ointment, group IIB: (n=9) received oral and topical propolis and group III: (n=12) received intradermal bee venom and oral and topical propolis.

A significant reduction in both PASI score and serum level of IL-1β was observed in all groups of patients except group IIA which showed non significant reduction in both. Correlation between percentage reduction of PASI score and that of IL-1 β showed a strong positive correlation in group I. However, positive correlation could not be detected in other groups.

Conclusions: Propolis and bee venom are effective in treatment of psoriasis, with minimal tolerable side effects, when used either separately or in combination. However, combination of both can give better clinical and laboratory results.