Propolis Protects Against Pesticide Toxicity

Effecs of Cypermethrin on Some Biochemical Changes in Rats: The Protective Role of Propolis
Exp Anim, 2008 Oct;57(5):453-60

Twenty eight female Wistar rats weighing 150-200 g were used in this study and these animals were divided into 4 groups, each comprising 7 rats. The first group served as the control group, and groups 2, 3, and 4 were administered a single dose of 250 mg/kg.bw propolis, a single dose of 125 mg/kg.bw (1/2LD(50)) cypermethrin, and a single dose of 125 mg/kg.bw cypermethrin followed by a single dose of 250 mg/kg.bw propolis 30 min later, per os using a catheter, respectively.

Twenty-four hours after propolis administration, blood and tissue (liver, kidney, and brain) samples were collected. Serum glucose, triglyceride, uric acid, cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities/levels, plasma and tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and erythrocyte and tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were determined.

Compared to group 1, significant increases in plasma and tissue MDA levels and kidney GSH-Px activity, and significant decreases in erythrocyte SOD and CAT, liver SOD and GSH-Px, kidney SOD and brain SOD, CAT and GSH-Px activities were determined in group 3. Compared to group 1, a significant increase in glucose and a significant decrease in triglyceride levels were determined in group 3. Values pertaining to group 4 were demonstrated to be closer to those of group 1.