Objective: To evaluate the effect of propolis, a natural bee product on
lung and liver schistosomules as well on adult worms of Schistosoma
mansoni in immunosuppressed mice.
Meterials and Methods: All groups were infected with 100±10 S.
mansoni cercariae/mouse injected subcutaneously. Immunosuppression
was induced by hydrocortisone hemisuccinate at a dose of 25 mg/kg b.w.
intramusculary twice weekly for 8 weeks, starting 10 days before
infection. Propolis was administered orally at a dose of 250 mg/kg/day,
starting 5 days before infection and continued up to 45 days postinfection,
to cover all stages of S. mansoni infection. Praziquantel (PZQ)
was administered orally at a dose of 500 mg/kg/day, on the 5th and 6th
and 45th and 46th days post-infection.
Results: The number of lung schistosomules showed a significant
reduction of 59.22% with propolis and 98.89% with PZQ. The
administration of propolis caused a marked reduction of egg counts in
stool (61.8%) and tissues (49.9% and 45.8%). Propolis produced a
significant reduction of 58.38% in adult worms. PZQ produced a
reduction of 83.65% in adult worms and 98.38% in stool egg counts and
(91.99% and 89.22% ) reductions in liver and intestine egg counts
respectively.
Conclusions: The effect of propolis when compared to PZQ is promising
in immunosuppressed S. mansoni infected mice. (Rawal Med J
2007;32:94-98)
Key words: Schistosomiasis, propolis, praziquantil
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