Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System

In Vivo and in Vitro Investigations of the Effects of Iranian Honeybee (Hymenoptera: Apis mellifera) Venom and Propolis on Leishmania Major

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Qasem Asgari 1
Seyedeh-Zahra Zandavi 2
Mohammad Djaefar Moemenbellah-Fard 3
Amin Hosseinpour 2
Mohsen Kalantari 3
Aboozar Soltani 3

1 Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

2 Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30476/jhsss.2021.91889.1248
Abstract
Background: Leishmaniasis, as a neglected health issue, is spreading in most parts of the world. It is one of the most important vector-borne diseases in Iran. Bee venom has shown a wide range of medicinal properties. The present study aimed to survey the effect of venom and propolis of Apis mellifera on Leishmania major in different environments, including in vivo and in vitro.
Methods: In this experimental study, bee venom was extracted using the modified Benton method, and propolis was prepared by the soxhletation method. The promastigotes of L. major were exposed to the different doses of the venom (0.03125-1 μg/ml) and propolis (2.5-80 μg/ml) and then evaluated by MTT assay and Flowcytometry after 24 hours. In vivo phases, 107 promastigotes of the L. major in stationary phase were intradermally inoculated into 48 mice based on the study design. After appearance of the wounds, the mice were topically treated with the lotion containing different doses (5 and 10 μg/ml) of the venom and propolis. The size of the ulcers was measured for four weeks.
Results: The results showed that propolis and BV had no significant effects on the vitality of Leishmania promastigotes. However, they had a high mortality effect on macrophages. The highest mortality belonged to propolis (78.39 %). In vivo results showed significant differences between some treated and control groups in terms of the mean ulcer size.
Conclusion: It seems that a combination of honeybee venom and propolis in a particular dosage can prevent the development of the ulcers caused by L. major. More studies are needed to evaluate the effects of their constituent compounds precisely.

Keywords

Leishmaniasis
Cutaneous
Bee venoms
Propolis
Wounds and injuries
Anti-ulcer agents
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Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System
Volume 11, Issue 1
January 2023
Pages 34-41

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