Propolis Components Boost Immune Response to Vaccine

Green Propolis Phenolic Compounds Act as Vaccine Adjuvants, Improving Humoral and Cellular Responses in Mice Inoculated with Inactivated Vaccines
Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 2010 Nov;105(7):908-13

Adjuvants play an important role in vaccine formulations by increasing their immunogenicity. In this study, the phenolic compound-rich J fraction (JFR) of a Brazilian green propolis methanolic extract stimulated cellular and humoral immune responses when co-administered with an inactivated vaccine against swine herpesvirus type 1 (SuHV-1).

When compared to control vaccines that used aluminium hydroxide as an adjuvant, the use of 10 mg/dose of JFR significantly increased (p < 0.05) neutralizing antibody titres against SuHV-1, as well as the percentage of protected animals following SuHV-1 challenge (p < 0.01).

Furthermore, addition of phenolic compounds potentiated the performance of the control vaccine, leading to increased cellular and humoral immune responses and enhanced protection of animals after SuHV-1 challenge (p < 0.05)…

The data presented in this paper clearly demonstrate the adjuvant activity of phenolic compounds obtained from Brazilian green propolis when co-administered in mice with an inactivated vaccine against SuHV-1. This adjuvant activity was evident in the increase in both cellular and humoral immune responses. Prenylated phenolic compounds such as Artepillin C that act at the cell signaling level are likely the main substances with adjuvant activity.