Lung / Tobacco

Lung Function Improvement and Antioxidation Effect of Two Kinds of Brazilian Propolis for Tobacco Smoke Injury

Dr. Andreas Daugsch, PhD; Prof. Dr. Yong Kun Park, PhD, MD
State University of Campinas, College of Food Engineering, Department of Food Science, Laboratory of Food Biochemistry, Campinas-SP, Brazil.   

In this study, improvement of lung function and positive effects of antioxidation were examined using two kinds of Brazilian propolis (propolis 1 with botanical origin Myrceugenia euosma and propolis 2 with botanical origin Baccharis dracunculifolia) for overcoming injury caused by tobacco smoke. Propolis with botanical origin Myrceugenia euosma is found in the south of Brazil (classified by Park as Brazilian propolis group 1). It was found to be rich in melliferone and moronic acid, compounds that are being researched for having anti-HIV properties. Propolis with botanical origin Baccharis dracunculifolia is also well known as “Green Propolis” due to its green color and is produced in the southeast region of Brazil (classified by Park as Brazilian propolis group 12). It contains highly active compounds like Artepillin C, which was patented in Japan for its anti-cancer properties.

We orally administered a daily dosage of 250 mg/kg body weight of propolis dry extracts to ICR mice for three months. During that time we let the ICR mice breathe cigarette smoke in a special air control breeding environment and performed the comparison to mice that were exposed to cigarette smoke without daily intake of propolis. We examined the antioxidative effects of propolis using a blood test, a urine analysis, a pulmonary histological experiment, SOD-like activity and the AAPH method. With the method for antioxidation activity, we confirmed the antioxidative effect of propolis that was previously reported by many research groups. The antioxidative activity measured as SOD-like activity in the propolis treated group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The results were confirmed by the AAPH method and by a blood test. In a histological experiment of the lung, significant improvement of the lung function was found in the propolis treated group. The antioxidation effect is probably caused by antioxidative action of the flavonoids and substances such as Artepillin C, which are primary active components of propolis. In addition, propolis lowers the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and other dehydrogenases, thus, these factors probably improve cellular stress levels. Other mechanisms are also possible, so that further research is recommended.

The results were published in detail in: GU, Yeun-Hwa et al., Lung Function Improvement and Antioxidation Effect of Two Kinds of Brazilian Propolis Products for Tobacco Smoke Injury [JAPANESE].  Medicine and Biology, v. 151, n. 11, p. 361-366, 2007.